Can Cats See Ghosts? A Comprehensive Guide to Feline Senses

Has your cat ever stared at an empty doorway? Or been transfixed by something unseen in the corner of the room?

Well, congratulations your house is haunted! Don’t panic, I’m only kidding… hopefully. This does however lead to a question.

Why does your cat seemingly see and hear things you cannot? To attempt to answer this, it is worth a deep dive into our feline friends’ incredible senses.

How well do cats hear?

I am not exaggerating when I say that cats have remarkable hearing.

Their auditory system is far superior to ours. Cats are ambush predators that specialise in spotting, stalking, chasing and killing prey. Their ability to detect the tiniest of sounds is essential for their survival in the wild.

One of the most adorable features of cats is their big sometimes tufted ears. Their ears are made up of a few parts.

1. Pinnae -This is the visible cone-shaped part that helps to collect and amplify sounds. Cats can hear frequencies as high as 64,000Hz, whilst we are only able to hear up to 20,000Hz.

Noises from greater distances are easier for cats to hear in comparison to us. Cats can also move their ears up to 180 degrees, allowing them to capture sound by pointing their ear in most directions. The ear itself is controlled by 32 muscles; our ears have a measly 6!

2. Ear Canal - Shaped like a sideways L, at a 90-degree angle. This carries sound to the eardrum. Cats have a longer ear canal than us, which makes it much better at taking sound to the ear drum.

3. Middle Ear -This has a few parts including the ear drum which vibrates in response to sound. Sound travels to the cat's eardrum and hits it in waves making it vibrate.

4. Inner Ear -Deep within the ear, there is the cochlear. This holds nerves which transmit electrical impulses that allow hearing. The eardrum and associated parts push against this, transmitting sound from ear to brain.

There are also fluid-filled canals in this area of the ear. These allow the cat's brain to understand what direction they are moving in and if the cat is moving. It is because of this area of the brain that cats (for the most part) always land on their feet. Their incredible ears allow them to know where they are in space and right themselves appropriately.

So, one of the reasons why your cat seems transfixed on an empty corner could well be that they are hearing something we are not. Could be the otherworldly mumblings of a ghost… Or more likely it’s the sound of a spider wandering or a mouse scuttling and squeaking inside the wall. It could even be the faint sound of your next-door neighbour.

Our feline friends truly are primed to listen for the slightest sound, and this is what makes them impressive predators and endearing pets.

Want to test your cats senses? Learn how to make the most of their skills with our Guide to Playing with Cats.

How well can cats see?

Cat's eyes are so remarkable that we use this terminology to describe our reflective road markings. Their vision is impressive, and their eyes have many unique and interesting features.

Firstly, their eyes can adapt very quickly to different levels of light and in response to spotting prey. Cats also have a reflective membrane at the back of their retina. This reflects light and bounces it back.This is why in certain lower levels of light cats' eyes appear to be shiny and glowing.

As cats' prey is typically active during the twilight hours, their nighttime vision is far superior to ours. They only need one-sixth of the illumination we would need to see clearly in low light. This is why your cat has no problem spotting your tempting foot slightly peeking out of the duvet in the middle of the night…

So back to the topic of the supernatural. If your cat is staring into corners or peeking into empty doorways, they could well be seeing something… just likely not a spook. Once again, a fly, a spider, or even a lightly illuminated piece of dust could be enough to attract their attention.

Everything about our feline friends exists to better their chances of successful hunting and survival in the wild. Their senses are heightened to a level we couldn’t imagine, and they detect even the smallest changes in their environment. So, whether they see into the spirit realm remains to be seen but what we do know is cats are incredible predators.

So, you can breathe a sigh of relief that your home is likely not haunted… although hang on who is that behind you?

Happy Halloween! 

 Want to learn about more feline quirks? Read our Cat Myth blog.