Nicron #77 26 февраля 1998

Miscellaneous - the possibility of cats predict the weather.

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        * Fluffy weather-prophet. *
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 One June evening, Patricia Pelton was sitting watching 
television and embroidering gift for a grandchild. In addition 
to her cats and Josephine Tri-color color, in an apartment on 
North Plett, Nebraska There was no one.

 The clock struck six o'clock. Josephine suddenly jumped up and 
ran away from home. A few moments later the window was raging 
powerful tornado - tore the shutters, windows and beat raze a 
nearby garage. Patricia was in shock. "In heaven there was no 
cloud "- she said later.  Tornadoes broke into the house, tore 
off the tablecloth from the dining table in dining room, and 
gently lowered antique dishes Patricia on the floor, without 
breaking a single subject.  Apparently, the cat sensed that 
something extraordinary is coming. How does she know that? Is 
the cat can predict weather?

 At least the first settlers faring America, believed
in it.
 In everyday life, the settlers depended greatly on the home
animals. Bulls, horses and mules carried out work on the farm 
and served as a means of transportation. Pigs, chickens and 
dairy cows provided the food. Dogs help cope with living 
creatures, and warned of the approach of strangers. But what 
practical settlers needed a cat, which, although they catch 
mice and rats, but did it is only when they had the right mood, 
and more just slept, curled up. The point is that the settlers, 
carefully watching the behavior of the cat discovered the 
relationship between models of cat behavior and weather. So 
gradually cat has become a popular character of proverbs about 
the weather.  In 1883, the U.S. Defense Department has ordered 
the lieutenant 4 Artillery Regiment United States Army Dunwoody 
collect the proverbs relating to the weather. As a result, was 
born a weighty book, which includes no more, no less and 14 
statements in which "operates" the domestic cat.  Some of them 
apparently contradictory, for example, "cat purrs and washed 
before the rain" and "When the cat washes, wait for good 
weather. "Perhaps this is due to the independent nature of 
cats, capable in similar conditions to behave differently.  
However, American settlers were not the only one who watched 
the grooming their cats and draw appropriate conclusions. "If a 
cat washes its face behind the ear, it means that the weather 
will be good and clear. "

 Compare this with another English saying: "When the cat
rubs its face with his paw, it's a sign of rain, especially if 
it is at This holds pads on the ears. "

 Cats - the big Sony, and more often we can see them sleeping.
Observant people and is not lost. From 1883 to us
came the following observations: "When the cat's snoring, 
expect bad weather" and "When a cat turns on her back and opens 
fall, the case for the storm. "Or, as mentioned in Kent:" If 
cat sleeps on my head, so just be trouble. "  From Germany come 
here is sufficiently detailed prediction more concerned about 
the impermanence of the most weather than cats: "If a cat 
basking in the sun in February, then in March she again will 
lie at the stove. "  Other features of cat behavior, too, 
became the basis for predictions. It seemed that the cat can 
not do anything that is not would indicate some change in the 
weather. For example: "It is position to which the cat turns 
its head during washing after the rain, indicating the 
direction from which wind blows. "And Also: "A cat with a 
raised tail and electrified hair suggests that he would soon 
blow a strong wind."  So what can a cat to predict the weather? 
Does it make sense old sayings or all of the solid story?

 Dr. George Freyer, an expert on the physics of atmospheric 
phenomena the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis, says that

these old-fashioned methods of weather prediction is not always 
wrong. "I believe that animals show a clear response to changes

weather, "- he said. As an example, Freyer Recalls
believed that before the onset of rainy weather cats and dogs
eat grass. Such curious behavior is explained been very
difficult, says Dr. Freyer. However, perhaps eating grass
is a way to reduce stress in the stomach caused by a change in 
atmospheric pressure. Also known as grass - source of folic 
acid, which cats need for proper growth and maintain normal 
blood composition. Therefore, cats will eat grass to improve 
the well-being in Low pressure, or when approaching rainy 
weather, because at that time the cat feel uncomfortable. 

    Cats have exceptional hearing and a stunning
ability to perceive odors - in their body is so
called the auxiliary system recognizers odors
which allows them to identify the various flavors.
Perhaps these are extremely delicate senses give to cats
to determine appropriate changes in the environment
environment before it can make us.
 For example, turning the head while washing a cat really
may reflect the direction from which wind blows, provided
Of course, that the cat is already zaviksirovala slight change 
in motion air. Cat turns in that direction, so that less

rastrepyvalas wool.
 Statement in 1883 relates this to the static
electricity: "If when stroking the cat on the back visible
sparks, it is necessary to wait for rapid weather changes. "Dr. 
Freyer explains this saying as follows:" Static electricity 
occurs in the dry air and non-conductive medium, such What is 
the cat's fur, have good insulating properties. When there are 
such sparks, the cats do not like affection. They can 
predotvroschat arcing through licking, doing so thus their fur 
more conductive, that is, reducing the possibility of 
accumulating an electric charge. "This explanation sheds light 
on the statement associated with washing and good weather.  So 
what happened to Josephine, a cat, Patricia Pelton? All 
explained simply enough. We know that cats can distinguish 
between sounds, which for us are the ultrasound and then that 
they can respond to the approach of something noisy, and even 
before we hear the noise. Apparently, Josephine heard 
approaching tornado and quickly retreated from the room.