Use Your Cat to Predict the Weather

H.H.C. Dunwoody, an Army first lieutenant, suggested in 1883 that animals can predict the weather better than meteorologists. Dunwoody thought meteorologists could only predict weather for a couple of days and sometimes for only 24 hours. So, what do you look for in your cat? 

In his book, Weather Proverbs, found by NPR, he lists all sorts of folk lore about weather predictions, including signals from bears, foxes, and goats, but he particularly focuses on cats. Here’s what you should look for:

• When cats sneeze it is a sign of rain.
• The cardinal point to which a cat turns and washes her face after rain shows the directing from which the wind will blow.
• When cats are snoring foul weather follows.
• It is a sign of rain if the cat washes her head behind her ear.
• When cats lie on their head with mouth turned up [on their back] expect a storm.
• When a cat washes her face with her back to the fire expect a thaw in winter.

Lincoln (my old diabetic kitty) sneezed yesterday. Son of a....!