Weatherwatch: how cat’s paws helped point sailors in the right direction
Cat's paws are small, transient ripples on water caused by turbulent airflow, historically used by sailors to locate patches of wind for navigation. These surface disturbances, formed through a turbulence cascade, appear where terrain like cliffs channels wind. Sailors considered them lucky and would follow them to catch favorable breezes, sometimes performing superstitious rituals to attract them. The phenomenon remains a visible indicator of wind patterns on calm waters.
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The Isle of Skye at sunset. Cat’s paws may appear where cliffs channel winds, so ships would chase them to catch the breeze. Photograph: Daniel Lange/AlamyView image in fullscreenThe Isle of Skye at sunset. Cat’s paws may appear where cliffs channel winds, so ships would chase them to catch the breeze. Photograph: Daniel Lange/AlamyWeatherwatchEnvironmentWeatherwatch: how cat’s paws helped point sailors in the right directionSurface ripples known as cat’s paws, caused by turbulence cascade, show where wind is – and were once seen as luckyDavid HamblingWed 29 Apr 2026 01.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleOn a windy day, the surface of a lake is not a continuous pattern of ripples but instead marked with patches of disturbance, as though a giant cat were patting the water.
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