I was picking up some dropped paper clips with a magnet when my cat entered the room. Just for the sake of it I passed the magnet over her and she quivered. Each time I passed the magnet over her she did the same thing. I passed the magnet over my hair ( whats left ).. no effect at all. Does anyone know why my cat should be so sensetive to magnetic fields and could I use this discovery to make a fourtune ?
2006-09-04 11:20:40 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
They are sensitive to magnets because of the magnetite in their brain.
Some animal brains contain magnetite, otherwise known as iron oxide. Magnetite is a naturally occurring magnetic compound that has been found in animals ranging from bacteria to mammals. It is thought this is used by birds for migration, or homing, as in homing pigeons.
In 1982 Thomas H. Maugh reported the finding of magnetite in mammals. The magnetic particles appeared to be surrounded by nervous tissue, suggesting the possibility of interaction between the particle and the brain.
The real question however is, why are we not affected in the same way?
In 1983 Baker, Mather and Kennaugh of the University of Manchester discovered "Magnetic bones in human sinuses".
2006-09-04 11:52:13 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Clueless 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some animals have a small spot of the brain that is sensitive to the earths magnetic lines, and serves as a built in homing device.
2006-09-04 11:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haven't got a clue - and I thought there wasn't much about cats I didn't know about!
That said, my cats both wear magnets on their collars for their cat flap - and I haven't noticed them walking around quivering! Maybe you have a magic *****??!!
2006-09-04 11:24:05 · answer #3 · answered by Lily & Stu Too 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about the magnet thing, but my cat is terrified of empty toilet paper rolls. I just show it to her, she runs and hides for a long time.
2006-09-04 11:47:14 · answer #4 · answered by davinerg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go with what some of the others posted; animals are very sensitive to electromagnetic fields, which is why they can usually predict a storm is coming long before humans know about it.
2006-09-04 13:49:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be the electrical currents in her body. I know that that is why dogs can sense, and are very scared of, thunder and lightning. The static in the air is passed from carpet to their coats giving them small electric shocks.
Your cat may be experiencing something of a similar nature.
2006-09-04 11:24:19 · answer #6 · answered by pamsiebaby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats will do that just by running my hand very lightly across even a single spot of their fur. By nature, cats are very sensitive to touch so they can sense danger and practice self-preservation.
2006-09-04 11:57:56 · answer #7 · answered by mamaofcats 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should stop feeding your cat iron filings. It's only a matter of time before she becomes a magnet herself and her backside will always point north.
It's not big and it's not clever.
2006-09-04 11:30:11 · answer #8 · answered by Never say Never 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your cat made of metal?
2006-09-04 11:31:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
interesting. wish i knew
2006-09-04 11:30:05 · answer #10 · answered by AmericanWoman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋