Can Cats Detect Electricity? Feline Abilities & Facts

Cats have heightened senses compared to us humans. Their incredible senses allow them to perceive even the most minute changes in their environment that would normally go unnoticeable by humans. With their heightened senses, you may wonder—can cats detect electricity? Physically, cats cannot sense the presence of an electric field or current. However, with their heightened senses, they are able to detect changes in the environment that may be caused by electrical devices.

In this article, we tackle all things cats and electricity!

Can Cats Sense Electric Fields?

Cats have exceptional senses including vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—all of which allow them to sense small changes in their environment. Electricity and the fields they produce, however, are not included in the things that cats can extraordinarily perceive.

Many animals, such as the echidna, platypus, and even honey bees use electricity to detect electrical pulses in order to communicate and find prey. This is called electroreception, which allows animals to analyze electric fields in their environment. Cats, on the other hand, are not electroreceptive and rely on their other senses to survive.

Can Cats Hear Electricity?

Cats have an extraordinary sense of hearing. While humans are able to hear frequencies from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, cats are able to hear from 48 Hz to 85 kHz—giving them the ability to hear sounds at a much higher frequency than humans.

While cats don’t necessarily hear electricity, as the sound of electricity is silent, they may be able to hear the faint sounds produced by electrical devices. Many of these electrical devices produce high-frequency sounds that are inaudible to the human ear but are within the feline frequency range. With their heightened hearing, they may be able to hear the electrical sounds from your walls, sockets, and other gadgets!

Can Cats Smell Electricity?

Smell is the sense that detects volatile chemicals in the environment. These are picked up by a cat’s olfactory receptors in the nose and sent to the brain, giving cats the sense of smell. Electricity does not have any chemical properties and, therefore, cannot be detected by the olfactory receptors—meaning, cats cannot smell electricity.

Similar to hearing, electrical devices can emit odors from fumes or smoke, which cats can readily perceive. While cats can’t smell electricity, their sensitive sense of smell can detect the odors that these electrical devices emit.

Can Cats Feel Electricity Through Their Whiskers?

Whiskers are highly sensitive hairs that allow cats to navigate through their surroundings and detect changes in their environment, such as air currents and pressure. While they are incredibly sensitive, they do not have the ability to detect electrical fields and currents.

The sensitivity of cats’ whiskers comes from the sensory neurons located in the hair follicles. These follicles respond to touch and movement as cats navigate the world. Even if these follicles could detect and sense electricity, hair is non-conductive and would not be able to detect or transmit electricity anyway!

Can Cats Detect Electric Fences?

You may wonder why cats are able to avoid getting electrocuted by electric fences. Is it because they can sense the electricity from the fences?

Cats do not necessarily detect the electricity in the fences, but they can detect the physical characteristics of the fence using their incredible sense of hearing, smell, and touch. They can feel the vibration and the faint hums and crackles of the electric fence, and can also smell the burning odor when something comes into contact with the fence.

Cats may be curious creatures, but they are also cautious in nature. They avoid electrical fences—not because of the electrical current, but because they would rather stay away from the unappealing sounds and smells produced by the fence. Better safe than sorry!

Why Is My Cat Hanging Around Electrical Sockets and Devices?

Many pet owners may observe that their cat spends a lot of time around electrical sockets and devices. While we’ve discussed that they do not sense electricity, there are other reasons why these devices catch their attention.

Cats are curious creatures, and the faint sounds that electrical sockets may produce can be enough to catch their attention. Smaller electrical devices can also have interesting lights and shapes that pique their curiosity even further. Some devices are small and can easily be seen as prey, triggering their hunting instincts.

Electrical devices can also produce warmth, which can be a source of comfort for cats. Devices like televisions and computers are also often located in places that are easily accessible to the cat, giving them a place to lounge and stay warm at the same time.

Sometimes, cats simply find the space where the socket happens to be located to be comfortable and secure. No need to overthink it!

Tips for Keeping Your Cat Safe From Electricity

The best way to address dangers is to prevent them. If your cat spends a lot of time around electrical sockets or devices, they are at an increased risk of electrocution and other injuries.

Final Thoughts

Cats are gifted with an extraordinary set of senses that allows them to experience the world in ways that humans can’t. While cats are not able to detect and sense electrical fields, they are able to detect the physical changes brought about by electricity. They can feel vibrations, hear faint crackles and hums, and smell the burning odor sometimes brought about by electrical devices.

Electrical devices can be quite interesting to the curious cat, and although they are naturally cautious, proper safety precautions should be taken to keep our cats safe!

Featured Image Credit: OKcamera, Shutterstock