In the collective imagination, cats are considered very quiet animals , who love to sleep, nap at any time of day and relax in the most disparate places …

This is true, but only partially . In fact, cats are predatory animals that, in reality, live in a constant state of vigilance towards everything around them: prey or any predators.

In fact, in nature their survival depends exclusively on themselves : they cannot rely on the herd (as happens instead for the dog) and this means that they are always on alert , ready to sprint to chase a prey and get food or to flee. in case of danger.

This innate characteristic of theirs, sometimes makes our cats rather fearful animals … but often it is we humans who do not know how to catch those danger signals to which they instead pay constant attention, even when they seem in a state of complete relaxation!

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FEARED CAT

It is important to be able to recognize when our cat is in a state of alert to take the right attitude towards him.

Cats explicitly communicate their emotional state through a series of body language signals :

  • Tail and ears back and lowered
  • Straighten and puff up the hair
  • Do the famous “hump” (it serves to look bigger and more threatening, like swelling the hair)
  • Crouches and remains motionless (self-defense position).
  • General body shaking
  • Wide eyes and dilated pupils
  • It hides in tight, hidden places that it deems safe
  • Engages in aggressive behaviors

THE SIX MOST COMMON FEARS IN CATS

Most cats typically have some fears that we can easily find in these animals.

We keep in mind, however, that in addition to these there will always be “specific fears” of each animal , based on their own experience and character …

But let’s see together what are the most common fears , which are found more frequently:

1. Fear of strangers and strangers (especially children).

It is normal for our cats to be afraid of people they have never seen , especially if they are children, who, due to their ringing voice and their sudden and often unpredictable movements, tend to trigger a very accentuated state of alert in cats. . In these cases the cats will therefore tend to hide, or to remain nearby in the distance, in a very vigilant way.

An expedient that can help them get used to new presences in their territory could be to facilitate the meeting through the offer, by these people, of their favorite food (maybe some tasty crunchy or some snacks from Life ). appreciated by our furry friends.

2. Fear of other cats or other animals (especially dogs).

Cats are very territorial, and do not tolerate the intrusion into their habitat by other animals , be they other cats or animals that they perceive as threatening towards them, as sometimes happens with some dogs.

However, a peaceful coexistence is possible if we manage to bring the animals closer in a gradual and serene way. It is important, in the event of the arrival of a new puppy in the house, not to neglect the cat already present, to avoid stressing the animal and to ensure that jealousies and aggressive behaviors towards the new arrivals are not triggered.

(Here are some tips on how to get cat and dog to get along ).

3. Fear of loud and / or sudden noises (appliances, New Year’s barrels , etc.).

All the noises produced by household appliances ( vacuum cleaners in the first place, which also has the aggravating circumstance of moving around and around the house) are a source of enormous annoyance for the ears of our cats, which have very fine hearing.

Furthermore, these noises are perceived as a source of danger since they cannot identify them and are therefore often very afraid of them. Their instinct will therefore be to escape and hide in a safe place.

In these cases the best thing is to limit the use of these appliances to the real necessity, and leave your pet alone, which has hidden away from these annoying noises.

4. Fear of some specific places , linked to negative experiences or memories.

Each animal has fears of specific places, such as, for example, in the house it could be the room where the washing machine is placed . Or our car because it is associated with a visit to the vet.

Among the scariest places, the vet’s office cannot be missing, which is often associated with an unpleasant place not so much for the doctor’s visit as for the waiting room where strangers and other animals are present at the same time.

5. Fear of water .

There are certainly exceptions of cats who are great swimmers and water lovers, but in general we can say that felines often have an atavistic fear towards this element .

This is probably due to the fact that these animals originally lived in desert areas and began to become familiar with water late.

Furthermore , the water alters the smell of the animal , which for him is a distinctive trait of fundamental recognition.

6. Fear of objects that I cannot identify and / or related to negative experiences.

Cats often show signs of very pronounced fear towards objects that are very common to us, which we never thought could trigger alarm reactions.

One of these is the famous cucumber or courgette , which seems to frighten our beloved furry ones a lot. The reason for this reaction was probably traced back to the fact that the appearance of these plants can remind cats of snakes , which for them are certainly a source of danger.

Other objects can then frighten our animals if they are linked to negative past experiences … There are those who are afraid of scissors , if they associate it with cutting their nails, or those who are terrified of the pet carrier , which is often associated with a visit to the vet.

When we find ourselves facing one of these cases, it is important not to force the cat to move away or to do anything that it does not want to do of its own free will. The best thing is to do nothing: let the cat react according to his instincts and leave him alone .

Only if we perceive that he may need us, can we then speak to him in a calm tone of voice, at a low volume and offer him food to reassure him.