Help! I Am Absolutely Terrified of My Cat and I Don’t Know What To Do
For many pet parents, our fur babies are a part of the family we love dearly. We couldn’t imagine them bringing us anything but joy and happiness. But, despite the mutual feelings of love and affection shared by pets and their humans, sometimes there can be friction.
For example, recently, a cat owner, who we’ll call Sheena, took to an online pet forum describing a deep fear of their feline friend, who attacked after being startled by the loud noise from an AMBER Alert.
Sheena loves and wants to keep her cat but is unsure how to proceed. So she asked people on the pet forum for practical advice on overcoming her dilemma. Here are some suggestions for the baffled and battered owner on the steps she needs to take to calm the kitty cat and keep herself safe.
Promptly Seek Medical Care for Wounds
Sheena describes receiving deep scratches to her face and scalp that bled profusely. Numerous folks advise seeking medical attention as soon as possible to have their injuries checked out.
Scratches and bites seem like minor annoyances, which are part of the cost of having a cat, but they can be serious. For example, these wounds can easily get infected with bacteria and may even require a tetanus shot.
Cats and Loud Sounds Don’t Mix
Humans find sudden loud noises (like AMBER Alerts and other emergency alerts) startling. So imagine how cats, with their super sensitive hearing, must feel.
A feline parent states, “Loud sounds just freak some cats out. Repeated exposure may help here. I’d also bring this up during your next vet appointment to see if anything medically might need to be done.”
Multiple owners agree with the advice, recounting incidents of their cats attacking them after being startled by loud noises.
From the Cat’s Perspective
A forum member urges Sheena to view it from the cat’s perspective, writing, “This happens sometimes. The panic you had while being attacked? He was feeling the same panic without context or understanding.
All he knew was something loud and frightening was happening, and his little cat brain chose ‘fight’ rather than “flight.'” Multiple users agree the cat acted instinctively and not maliciously.
Other Noise Triggers
The piercing sounds of an AMBER Alert or other emergency alerts aren’t the only noises that can cause cats distress.
Others describe how the sounds of people arguing, furniture being moved across a hardwood floor, a breaking vase, hand clapping, and even the Mario Kart 8 video game cause their cats to panic and attack.
Awareness of these triggers can save a cat and its human from a terrible, frightening experience.
Redirected Fear Aggression
One scientifically explains why Sheena’s cat reacted violently: “redirected fear aggression.” The cat was terrified by the sound of the AMBER Alert and took its aggression out on the nearest available target.
They advise, “Give your cat some time to settle down. Try not to take the attack personThe odds. Odds are extremely high that this was a one-off event, and in a week or less, your cat should settle down and resume its normal behavior with you.”
Remember, a Cat Is Still a Cat
As much as cat owners love their fur babies, one person writes it is important to remember that a cat is a cat, and cats going toonna cat.
They warn Sheena to “Be careful around them for a bit. Slow movements, try not to act scared around them, and focus on positive interactions for a while. For example, hang out nearby while they’re eating, use some toys and treats, etc.”
Understanding feline behaviors can go a long way in minimizing the stress cats feel when exposed to loud or startling noises.
This thread inspired this post.
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Terrified of My Cat first appeared on Floppycat
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
