What are Cats Afraid Of Or Hate?

Cats are creatures that like to explore their environment. Because of that, they have a very delicate sense of hearing and smell which can cause a variety of fears in cats, especially those that live in the house and not in the wild.

Cats are afraid of high-pitched sounds, water, surprises, car ride, strong odors, balloons, strangers, dogs, and other animals. These oversensitive animals hate lower temperatures, dirty litter boxes, lack of routine, too many hugs and kisses. The cats absolutely detest when you blow into their face or cradle them like a baby. Usually, kids are not on the cats’ list of favorite things. The best way to help your cat is to stick to the routine, not to scare her intentionally, provide her own secure/hiding place, avoid exposing your cat to the things she is afraid of. If the cat suffers from anxiety vet’s assistance might be needed.

What Are The Things Cats Are Most Afraid Of?

Cats are oversensitive creatures and many things can scare them.

Strong, Unpredictable and High- Pitched Sounds

They have a very strong sense of hearing so they might hear very well some sounds we don’t hear at all. Cats and humans have a similar range of hearing but cats can hear higher-pitched sounds than us. This means that ambulance sirens, vacuum cleaners, or a phone ring tone can really terrify your kitty.

Strong, unpredictable sounds like fireworks, alarms, thunders are also things that cats are afraid of. Especially cats that haven’t been accustomed from the youth to the traffic noise, music from the radio or TV, the clatter of dishes might end terrified with many different sounds you wouldn’t expect.

Strong Smells

Strong smells are next on the list. Felines’ sense of smell is 14 times stronger than ours which means that some smells we consider as pleasant, the cats may find repugnant or even scary. Strong odors like gasoline, vinegar, lemon ( citrus in general), onion, strong perfumes, Lavander … Spicy aromas like cinnamon, mint, curry, or pepper are also very unpleasant for a cat.

Cleaning Agents and Essential Oils

Cats are very sensitive to aerosols and have a very sensitive respiratory system. Because of this, a cat can get an asthma attack if inhales too much detergent or another cleaning agent.

Cleaning products that contain bleach are especially uncomfortable for cats.

Don’t use strong chemicals to clean a cat’s litter box, instead of that use, unscented, pet-friendly solutions.

Essential oils pose a real threat since they are toxic to cats. Apart from the fact, the cats are not fond of intense odors ( which essential oils definitely are), our feline friends don’t have one important liver enzyme ( glucuronyl transferase ) without which the cat’s system cannot metabolize and eliminate certain chemicals found in essential oils.

Dogs and Other Animals

Cats are solitary animals and they are very territorial. They are not fond of the company of other animals. Even though they share the same living space with another cat, each feline has to have its own hiding spot/safe place.

Cats are especially sensitive and scared of other animal’s urine scents. That’s why many cats repellents copy the predator’s urine.

Generally, cats are afraid of dogs since most dogs are larger in size and smell like predators. On the other hand, dogs like to chase fast-moving objects that are smaller than themselves so I guess you see where is the problem.

What Household Items Cats Are Afraid Of?

Cats, especially those who are not accustomed to life in the house, might be scared of many household items and kitchen gadgets. Most household items terrify poor kitty thanks to the loud noise they make like a vacuum cleaner, blowdryer, tea kettle, food processor/blender…

For the same reason ( strong sound), cats can be afraid of Radio or TV. But TV can provoke fear in cats for a totally different reason. Imagine that you are watching the movie on DVD and after the show is over you turn off the DVD player. Your cat which was napping just next to you suddenly freaks out and you don’t know why. Well, after a noise the movie made, sudden silence may scare your feline pet.

Why Cats Are Afraid of Water?

Cats are extremely rarely exposed to water, do not know how to react, and have no idea how to behave in water. Most cats originally come from desert areas of the Middle East and Asia where these animals simply didn’t have much contact with water. The reason they don’t like water is usually justified by a lack of exposure to water.

Interestingly, domestic cats have partially joined toes with skin resembling cuticles. Some types of cats, such as the Turkish Van Cat, will even play in the water, and cats, in general, like to eat fish, which means that it is possible to desensitize a cat to water. This basically means that your cat can learn to love water.

Maybe your cat has had a negative experience with water in the past, and maybe you made the situation worse, even though it was not your intention. This could happen if you tried to bathe your cat. Cats remember their bad experiences which means that over time your cat may learn to associate water with something bad, uncomfortable.

As we mentioned before, cats have a really sensitive nose and sense of smell. So they might detect some chemicals in tap water which we don’t. The odor of the chemicals might be the thing that makes water unattractive for cats.

Another reason is purely physical. If a cat’s fur is soaked in the water, your kitten won’t be able to move normally. This feeling might be very scary for your pet as she feels like not having control over her body since she cannot move properly.

Why Do Cats Hate Low Temperatures?

Even though a cat’s fur might look like a good coat that keeps your pet warm during cold days, the truth is something else. The cats originally come from areas with high temperatures so the fur they have is designed to protect their delicate skin from the sun and extreme heat.

Cats are usually comfortable if the temperature is about 70-80 degrees. Anything below 45 degrees is dangerous to a cat’s health. Bear this in mind during wintertime. Also, pay special attention if you have an old cat (older than 7 years old) or an ill pet, or a baby cat. Those groups are super sensitive to colds and easy to get sick.

Make sure you feed your cat a little bit more during cold days so she gets all nutrients necessary to cope with cold weather. Also provide some cozy, warm place where she can have a nap. That can be a heated bed for cats or a simple cardboard box with a nice, soft blanket that will keep your kitty warm.

Why Are Cats Scared of Strangers?

If not socialized properly and on time ( at the age of 3-9 weeks) cats may develop a fear of strangers. There are cats that are afraid of humans in general but this is the case if the cat had a really bad experience with humans in the past or she /he lived isolated or in the wild without any contact with humans.

Cats are capable of making bonds with their humans but no matter how this bond is strong, they can still have a certain fear of strangers. Cats are creatures that like to be in control of their environment. If some intruder ( for example your friend, neighbor, relative, your cat doesn’t know) comes to her territory, brings new smells, different sounds your cat starts to feel uncomfortable and scared.

Early socialization is a must if you want to avoid anxiety and fears in your cat.

Do Cats Hate Dirty Environment?

Cats hate a dirty environment. These animals are pretty clean, plus their sense of smell is super sensitive so they don’t handle strong and funky odors that well. This means that you should take care of your cat’s litter box, clean it on daily basis. But remember not to use any kind of scented sprays to cover the smell of a cat’s bed or litter box. Also, avoid using covered litter boxes since airflow in these is bad, it takes longer for litter to dry, and the smell is more intense.

Cats also hate stale food, they prefer fresh one. Stale food has a different smell and taste so cats are not excited about leftovers.

Cats Hate Surprises

Cats don’t like surprises! You surely have seen the cat that jumps scared to death with a cucumber. I have noticed a lot of people asking the same question – Are cats afraid of cucumbers? It’s not about cucumbers, at all! Cats are afraid of surprise, plus cucumber has the similar shape of a snake which is a predator cats are afraid of.

Our feline friends are creatures of habit. They are highly sensitive to any change. They like to stick to the routine and if you need to change something in their everyday life, please make that change gradually as cats don’t tolerate changes very well.

What Else Cats Are Afraid of Or Hate?

Cats are afraid of balloons. Silly, right? But only from our perspective. From the cat’s point of view, a ballon looks like some threat, intruder and naturally creates fear in cats.

Cats hate posing for a photo. People like to exaggerate, taking a lot of photos of their pets. Cats are not meant to be models, they don’t like that.

Cats are independent creatures. Even though they make a bond with the owner, and show some affection, they don’t like too much kissing, a lot of hugs, or forcing them to do something they don’t want to do at the precise moment.

Cats don’t enjoy car rides like dogs for example. The car ride is not a regular part of a cat’s routine so any break from the daily schedule makes your cat feel uncomfortable. Sometimes you really need to get your cat into the car for a vet visit for example. The experts recommend that the cat should have its own travel carrier which she will try before the first ride. It’s important that she is already familiar with the carrier before you go on the trip. You can put it inside her favorite blanket or soft towel or anything with her scent on it.

Some cats are afraid of kids. Kids can be pretty loud and unpredictable, everything that cats don’t like.

Conclusion

Cats are wonderful and independent creaturs but many things can scare them. Fear in cats may lead to anxiety, appetite loss, and destructive behavior. I hope this article helped you learn what are cats usually afraid of so you can have a happy and healthy pet. Never scare your cat intentionally, for a joke. It’s cruel and the consequences can be rather severe.

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