Our cat is terrified!

@GemmaR (8517)
May 13, 2011 7:59am CST
Whenever there's a noise outside our cats jumps out of its skin. It won't go out of the house if it can see a dog in the street (which is more often than not, we're on a long street) and it hates sudden noises. Does anyone else have such a nervous cat? Is there anything that we can do about it?
1 person likes this
7 responses
• United States
13 May 11
My cat is that way to. I think all cats are. But we live in a horrible situation. An apartment (I hate it) and there is noise everywhere. Especially this time of year. He is always looking at the front door when there is noise. And when he looks out the window to watch birds, there is always someone making noise and it scares him out of the window. I hate that he can't even enjoy looking out the window!!! My poor baby!!
@GemmaR (8517)
13 May 11
A noisy apartment really isn't the best place for a cat, the poor thing, have you always lived there or is it something that he's had to adapt to? If you've always lived there then it won't know any different and will be okay I suppose. I have bought my cat a lot of toys so that he doesn't get bored because I know cats like to hunt mice and birds.. well mine can't do that because he's too nervous to even leave the house!
• United States
13 May 11
I have lived in this apartment for almost 6 years. I got boots about 6 months prior to moving in here. It was not this bad when we first moved in. I have been looking for a different place but I cannot find anything. Ive been looking for over a year. I live in a small town, and the rents have gone sky high and I just cant afford most of them. I pray for my sake, my son, and my cats sake that something will come up.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
13 May 11
Keep your cat indoors, the outsie world is a very dangerous place for a house cat. You have no way of knowing what has happened to the cat outside, it probubly has very good reason to be scared and may never get over it. If the cat hides someplace indoors just let it be and make that place as safe as you can. Remember cats can't talk and like all animals they don't have understanding of the future. By that I mean, a human can be told the future will be better but an animal can only respond to the information of past and present. Blessings
@GemmaR (8517)
13 May 11
Yes I do try to keep him inside; but I just think it's a bit cruel as he does sometimes like to go out. I just wish I knew why he was so scared all of the time. Maybe he got attacked by a dog or something, as he is specially scared of those. He wasn't always our cat, we adopted him, so I guess he could have gone through a lot before we even met him.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
14 May 11
I haven't owned a cat in a very long time. I had a dog that was scared of just about everything too though. I think the only thing we can do is try to introduce them to noises and at the same time, tell them, while petting them, that it's okay.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Jun 11
Scamp used to be, well, he never went out except once and it scared him pretty badly, but he's calmed down some as he's gotten older.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
14 May 11
It's acting like a human.. haha =D SOme pets or animals are like your cats too. They get frightened over sudden noise or movements. It's something natural, i guess? As long as they dun develop a phobia to it, it would be all right. Because most of us will react in the same way when we get a scare suddenly.. haha Just let it be, and your cat will 'recover'.. haha
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
2 Jul 11
It sounds like the cat had been abused, the only thing I can suggest is showing affection when it's storming or maybe going outside with it when there is a dog. Perhaps it'd been hurt by a dog before, I would assume that would be the reason for it not wanting to go out when it sees a dog.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
13 May 11
hi I have never had a cat that terrivied so they must have been traumitized at some time. the best I can suggest is just do not make them more scared. be gentle and do keep them inside where its safe. they may become more trusting as they getg' used to you and your home.they have probably been scared by a vicious dog or something of that nature. just take it easy and in time they may settle down some.