Keeping A Fearful Cat Calm During A Storm
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
United States
April 3, 2007 9:41pm CST
Usually I don't have a problem with keeping my cats calm during severe weather, but have noticed the older one of my cats becomes, the worse her fear is of loud noises and of lightning.
Today we had a severe storm come through here, which produced lots of lightning and large hail which was hitting the windows hard and creating a lot of noise. It scared my cat so bad it had her shaking so bad that she started having troubles breathing normally and caused her to go into coughing fits.
I have talked to the vet about this and the only advice she could give me was to keep the cat as calm as possible during such times, which I tried very hard to do today.
Any of you out there have some suggestions about keeping a cat calm during such times without risking a limb or two?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@amwoodke (57)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I have two cats and have noticed that one of them really freaks out during thunder storms. He runs all over the place all hunched down, not really sure where to go. Picking him up or petting him is pretty much out of the question because he's so scared, so I started building a little tent with a blanket. I just drape a large blanket over the chair and ottoman, leaving a little room for him to crawl under. Now he can still be around my husband and I, but can feel like he's hidden from the sounds outside. And both of my cats also enjoy playing or sleeping under here even when it isn't stormy outside.
2 people like this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
4 Apr 07
That's a good idea, and inexpensive as well. I will try out a combination of this and a few of the other suggestions I have gotten. I know my cats like to sleep in or under things all the time, so I may create a little space for her to feel comfortable in and place her kitty sleeper under there as well. Thanks for the suggestion.
@samrat16 (2442)
• India
4 Apr 07
I had a cat for some 2 years . She was very calm sort of and very understandin too. She used to wait for me to come home. She used to play with me whole day . I did't noticed any change in her . I have kept her on my farmhouse and now will enquire about any changes if she has. Thank you for providing information that cats behaviour changes as they turn old.
2 people like this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
4 Apr 07
You're welcome! :) I have learned over the years that sometimes a cat's behavior will change, even if it is just a slight change, as they grow older. Sometimes it is not noticeable, other times like with my cat it is very noticeable. In general I am basically able to handle my cat's changes, but had run out of ideas for keeping my cat calm.
@moonshadow68 (723)
• United States
4 Apr 07
When that storm rolled through here this afternoon, my cat was freaked out too, especially when the tornado sirens started going off. We live about a block from the fire station so they were very loud.
As strange as it sounds I reassured my cat, by reassuring myself. I got out the flashlight in case the power went out and then told her we could go to the basement if we needed to. I talked to her in the calmest voice I could muster as bad storms tend to freak me out too and told her it was nothing to worry about. Worrying about her calmed me down and me being calm helped calm her down.
1 person likes this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I'm normally calm through severe weather, so it is a natural thing when one or more of my cats starts spazzing I talk to them in a calm manner. But for some reason my calmness wasn't of any help to my cat today. The only thing I can think of is that it has been calm weather wise here for sometime now, so she got use to the calmness, and it really threw her off guard with that storm that came through here today.
1 person likes this
