Is it just me or does Luna get more affectionate right before a storm?
This might sound a little out there but I think I've noticed a pattern and I'm curious if anyone else has seen something similar. The last three or four times we've had a thunderstorm coming, Luna gets noticeably clingier a few hours before it actually arrives — wants to be held, follows me room to room, that sort of thing. I don't know if cats can sense pressure changes or if I'm just noticing a coincidence because I'm paying more attention lately. Has anyone else's cat done something like this?
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I think I've maybe noticed something similar with Pebble, though I'm honestly not sure if I'm just noticing it more because of this conversation now? Don't quote me on this but I think she does get a little more underfoot when the weather's about to turn. Interesting to see this confirmed isn't just a coincidence though.
This is so interesting, and now I'm going to pay closer attention with Sage. I've heard something similar about pets sensing storms before but never had it explained this clearly. Glad you're not imagining it!
This is a documented phenomenon, not just a coincidence you're imagining. Cats (and many animals) are sensitive to barometric pressure drops that precede storms, and behavioral changes — increased clinginess, restlessness, or hiding — are commonly reported responses. The exact mechanism isn't fully settled, but the pattern itself is well supported anecdotally and in some veterinary behavior literature.
Agreeing with David — this is a real and recognized pattern, particularly in cats and dogs alike. Some animals may also be responding to subtle changes in static electricity in the air or distant low-frequency sound humans can't perceive, in addition to the pressure shift. Worth noting if it happens consistently, since it can actually serve as an early warning that's useful to you, not just an odd quirk.