Shyness of cats: causes of behavior and ways to eliminate them

Cats are brave but cautious creatures. They react to any discomfort, noise, suspicious smell, and try to avoid danger. Such reinsurance saved their lives more than once. Some fears are justified, some are unfounded, but the cat owner must take them into account, find and eliminate the cause. In this article we will tell you what cats are afraid of and what to do about it.

Basic fears of cats and kittens

Cats are predators, but they are not at the top of the food chain, so they can easily become prey. Pets know this and behave accordingly. They study the situation, sniff, listen. Having discovered danger, the cat is afraid and hides.

The main fear triggers for them are:

• loud noise;
• unpleasant or suspicious odor;
• other/new animals, especially dogs;
• new people, close contact with them;
• children.

Symptoms that require you to see a doctor

Not every stress and its impact on a pet should cause anxiety for the owner. A healthy cat copes with a stressful situation quite quickly on its own. However, there are symptoms that require the owner to show the pet to a veterinarian.

These clinical warning signs include:

• constant licking of the fur until it is wet;
• agitation, hyperactivity, jumping for no reason, hunting for imaginary prey, beating the air with paws, colliding with objects, hitting walls;
• aggression, hostility towards the owner and household members;
• fear and panic of familiar things;
• increased reaction and excitability to familiar sounds, rustles, smells, things;
• depressed state, apathy, detached gaze at one point, lack of response to external stimuli;
• clonic-tonic convulsions;
• changes in heart rate and breathing.

After a clinical examination, your veterinarian will perform specific physical tests to look for abnormal neurological responses.

To exclude neoplasms and other pathologies, X-ray and ultrasound examinations, general and biochemical blood tests are used. Magnetic resonance therapy helps in making a diagnosis. Based on the results of the examination, a consultation with a neurologist is scheduled.

What are cats afraid of at home?

Fear in a cat can be caused by working equipment - a hair dryer, shaving machine, blender, drill. A particularly strong reaction to a vacuum cleaner. This is a very noisy unit associated with danger. When pets hear a hum, their survival instinct is triggered, which explains why cats are afraid of the vacuum cleaner.

Other pet irritants include:

• new people;
• children;
• bathing in the bathroom;
• suspicious sounds;
• some odors;
• complete darkness.

Why are cats afraid of humans?

Fear of people is more common in wild cats that live on the street and have little contact with humans. If an animal is naturally dominant, it may be aggressive towards people. When he has a compliant disposition, he will simply run away from them.

Domestic cats may run away from a person if they have had a negative experience with each other. This can be either a consequence of abuse or simply an unpleasant contact (for example, vaccination at the veterinarian). If the cat avoids hands, it may have been beaten, or does not like the touch of strangers.

Fear may be a reaction to a new person who:

• is too noisy;
• smells unpleasant to the cat;
• I accidentally hurt my pet.

The cat at home is afraid of the child, if he is too active, constantly climbs on her, suppresses her. Do not allow children to pester pets when the animals do not want it. Fear can develop into serious behavioral and health problems.

Sounds that scare a cat

Cats are very sensitive to noise, so if they were isolated as children from the everyday sounds of people and animals, there will be fear. They will react especially strongly to loud, fast, sharp sounds.

What sounds are cats afraid of?

• fireworks, salutes;
• thunder;
• noise from equipment (vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, motorcycle, drill, etc.);
• growls;
• loud bang, bang;
• whistling;
• doorbell;
• sirens.

Cats can react to high-frequency sounds from appliances that we don't hear, don't pay attention to, or don't even know are making a sound. The list includes computer monitors, televisions, fluorescent lamps and even remote controls.

Cats may be wary of hissing. It is a territorial, defensive, attack sound made by another cat. Of course, this is very alarming for the pet; he is looking for the source. If he doesn’t find it, he prefers to leave.

What smell are cats afraid of?

A cat's sense of smell is 14 times more acute than a human's, so pets do not like strong, pungent odors. They easily distinguish aromas that are toxic to them, and will never voluntarily approach their source.

Cats are afraid of the following smells:

• Lavender, geranium, eucalyptus are toxic to cats, causing increased salivation, nausea, vomiting, depression, and dermatitis.
• Citrus fruits - cats can eat the pulp without negative consequences, but the peel causes vomiting, diarrhea, and dermatitis.
• Coffee grounds, mint, rosemary, thyme – I don’t like the smell.
• Predator urine - commercial cat repellers often contain this scent.
• Ruta – can cause poisoning.
• Pepper, curry and cinnamon worsen a cat's sense of smell.
• Mint, menthol - causes vomiting and diarrhea.
• Pine, cedar - some pets are scared off by their smell. Therefore, if you bought a cat litter with a pine scent, but the cat refuses to go there, try buying another product without the scent.
• Chemicals (paints, varnish, pest repellent, etc.) – if you are planning renovations or pest control, ask your friends to let your cat live with them for a while.
• Cleaning products (for toilets, sinks, etc.). If you have a cat in your house, buy odorless products.

Cats are picky eaters, so they won't go into a dirty litter box. They can also refuse the litter box if there are several cats in the house and one of them goes there regularly. To solve the problem, buy each cat a separate litter box.

Cats are afraid of the dark

Cats see well at night due to the special structure of their eyes. But if cats find themselves in complete darkness (for example, in a closet without a light source), they can become disoriented and afraid. Especially if there are dangerous, suspicious sounds around.

Factors provoking the disorder

The factors that most often provoke the development of nervous disorders in domestic cats, veterinary experts include the following moments in the life of an animal:

• moving to a new place;
• change of owner;
• traveling by car or public transport;
• visit to the veterinary clinic;
• exhibition events;
• the appearance of another animal in the house;
• the arrival of a new family member;
• weaning kittens from their mother cat;
• changing furniture in the room;
• new tray, bowl, filler;
• change of food or diet;
• guests or a noisy party;
• fireworks, firecracker explosions.

A special group of provoking factors includes physical ailments of the pet. Experiencing pain and discomfort, the cat feels fear and helplessness.

Emotional distress over the loss of an owner or companion animal causes deep neuroses that last for months.

Not all cats develop a nervous disorder; individual mental characteristics are of paramount importance in this illness. Some animals calmly react to noisy companies, do not notice changes in the environment, and feel comfortable in a car.

The nervous system of other pets reacts negatively even to changing the usual litter box. Owners need to take these features into account when keeping cats, be able to recognize the symptoms of neuroses and provide timely assistance.

Why are cats afraid of water?

Cats are not so much afraid as they do not like water. It makes their fur wet and heavy, making the animal vulnerable to other predators. They especially do not like to get under cold water due to the sudden change in temperature.

Another reason cats don’t like water is the smell, especially when it comes to an outdoor pond. They can be put off by the smell of chemicals that they consider toxic. Therefore, a cat’s refusal to drink water that you pour for him is a reason to be wary and check the quality of the liquid.

Symptoms of stress in cats at different phases (stages)

Signs of stress in a cat are not always clear. Their visibility depends on the phase of the violation. The longer your mustachioed pet is tense, the worse he feels.

Initial: fright

A slight fright usually goes unnoticed. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• decrease in body temperature and drop in pressure;
• prolonged licking or scratching;
• leaving odorous marks throughout the house;
• deterioration or perversion of appetite;
• increased breathing;
• apathy (lethargy, prolonged sleep) or aggression (uterine meowing, hissing);
• vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
• increased salivation;
• dilated pupils, arched backs and raised fur;
• manifestation of restlessness and sudden change of direction while moving.

All of the above does not have to occur at the same time. An animal with a strong nervous system is unlikely to urinate past the tray because a couple of friends come to visit you, but it is likely to become anxious or show aggression.

If the influence of the provoking factor is not prolonged, then the “mustache” comes to its senses on its own. After this comes the recovery phase.

IMPORTANT!

Licking has a calming effect on all cats. Despite this, chronic nervous tension can lead to the formation of bald spots.

Second: recovery

During this phase, the body tries to resist the stimulus and return to a physiologically normal state. After eliminating the source of concern, the symptoms gradually disappear, and the animal comes to its senses and calmly makes contact with the owner.

If the cat is not able to cope with the irritant on its own, then at this stage there is only a visible lull. In fact, the recovery phase smoothly passes into the third phase, and short-term stress turns into chronic.

Third: apathy and exhaustion

This phase is extremely dangerous. Its symptoms include:

• complete apathy and passivity;
• loss of appetite and severe exhaustion up to dystrophy.

The third phase causes dangerous physiological and psychological disorders that threaten health and life. Without timely help from the owner, the cat may die.

Cats and other animals

Cats can be afraid of both strong (dogs) and weak (mice) animals. They may also be afraid of their equals - other cats.

Why are cats afraid of dogs?

Cats have every reason to fear dogs because they are larger than cats and smell like predators. Many dogs instinctively chase moving objects, especially those that are smaller than them. Even dogs that have lived with cats since childhood can attack a cat. They don’t touch their own people, but they don’t touch strangers easily.

Cats see the predator's gaze, smell it and run away. Some cats under stress are capable of attacking a dog. This can be fatal, especially if the cat attacks a bull terrier, shepherd or other large dog.

Cats are afraid of mice

Fear of rats and mice is not uncommon. The reason is simple - rodents bite. When the prey begins to resist and hurts, the cat understands that the hunt must be approached with caution and a realistic assessment of the enemy’s strength. Some cats refuse to hunt rats and mice altogether.

The cat is afraid of the new cat

If your pet did not grow up with other cats, it will be wary of them due to a lack of communication skills. A stronger and more confident cat will send a signal: “Stay away from me.” Your pet takes the warning into account and moves away from contact.

The danger of stress

The life of a domestic cat is closely connected with the actions of its owner. However, this does not mean that the animal likes everything. Sometimes people are forced to expose their pets to any stress factors.

It is impossible to explain to a cat that she just needs a bath, a haircut or a trip to the vet, that people move or die, and sometimes just betray their friends. Pets become attached to both people and places of residence, they worry, experience emotions, and their range is almost as wide as that of a person.

The nervous system reacts instantly to circumstances that are negative from the animal’s point of view. Acute stress is characterized by the following physiological manifestations:

• pulse and heart rate increase;
• breathing becomes faster and shallower;
• pressure rises.

Such symptoms, just like in humans, are associated with a sharp release of stress hormones. The nervous system is able to cope with an acute condition, but with prolonged exposure to negative factors, the pet can fall into a chronic depressed state. The animal's cardiovascular system changes, digestive processes are disrupted, and immune defense is reduced. That is, emotional problems are reflected in the functioning of the body.

If a cat experiences prolonged exposure to a stress factor, this significantly changes the nature of all processes in its body. As a result, the functionality of vital organs may be impaired, and the animal will become physiologically ill.

How to recognize fear in a pet

When a cat is afraid, he reacts like this:

• runs away;
• hiding;
• shows aggression;
• freezes in place;
• cries (meows pitifully);
• lick themselves too actively;
• curl up into a ball, pretending to be asleep.

If he doesn't like the smell (eg aerosol/perfume with citrus scent), he may shit in the wrong place, including. into the owner's slippers. Your task is to correctly understand the signals of what the cat is most afraid of, find and eliminate the irritant.

Sedatives for cats

If the cat has a lot of phobias, talk to a veterinarian who will advise how to prevent the cat from being afraid and prescribe sedatives. They contain herbs that have a sedative effect on pets, relieve tension and fear (extracts of valerian, catnip, motherwort, hops). They are usually released in the form of capsules or solution.

Drugs can enhance the effect of tranquilizers, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. But before combining them with other medications, be sure to ask your doctor. The drops have an attractive aroma for cats, so they should be stored in an inaccessible place.

Buy cat sedatives only from certified pet stores. It is dangerous to take medicines at the market, since you can buy a counterfeit or expired product, which will negatively affect the health of your pet.

Prolonged chronic stress

If the unfortunate animal is constantly depressed, her body will gradually adapt and may not show the symptoms described above. However, she develops other habits and signs that indicate serious, advanced mental and physiological problems:

• The pet has a craving for secluded places.
• He sleeps a lot and for a long time. The more aggravated the condition, the more time the patient spends sleeping.
• In addition to intestinal dysfunction, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, and nausea are added.
• Indifference to food or, conversely, extreme appetite appears.
• The slightest noise or appearance of a person causes anxiety and fear.
• The animal begins to defecate past the tray and mark corners in the apartment.
• Aggression appears towards everyone present in the house, from people to other animals. Sometimes this even extends to objects.
• Passivity and lethargy appear, the cat avoids any company, preferring it to solitude.
• She becomes unkempt, does not take care of her fur, or, on the contrary, manically licks her fur coat, sometimes until bald spots appear.

Such animal conditions require prompt treatment, which will require maximum affection, patience and care.