Fear in cats and anger have a few elements in common and
both come from the same set of instincts - the ones that tell them to fight,
flee or freeze. These instincts are used by most animals to judge a situation
and their reaction to it. But what other signs are there that a cat is
frightened and what can be done to calm them down?
Signs of fear
A frightened cat will often show signs associated with anger
because this is better than showing fear. They will hiss, spit and growl at the
cause of their fear while making themselves look big and fearsome by standing
their fur on end, called piloerection. If the cause of the fear comes closer to
them, they will scratch, swipe or bite the object to try to get it to leave
them alone and this can be nasty if your hand is the object in question.
A frightened cat is most likely to retreat to a hiding spot,
often behind a sofa, under a bed or other dark and sheltered spot. This is
where they feel safe and that they defend the position against an attacker.
Alternatively, if the cat is caught out in the open it is likely to freeze as
many predators work by motion and cannot detect prey that stays perfectly still
as easily as moving prey.
Another sign of fear is losing control of their bladder or
bowels outside the litter box. This is particularly common in younger cats who
have less control of their waterworks and in older cats for the same reason.
This may accompany freezing in one place as the fear causes the reaction and
their instinct tells them to stay perfectly still.
Causes of fear
Lots of things can cause a fear reaction in a cat, some seem
natural and other completely irrational. Cats can even suffer from phobias,
often beginning when they are young and have negative experiences that form
into a phobia of the stimulus involved.
Cats can be afraid of another animal, especially one seen as
a predator such as a dog. They can also be frightened by people they don't know
or even a specific person they do know if they have negative connections in
their mind. Kids often frightened cats because they move quickly and make loud,
random noises that the cats can't understand. Loud noises also cause fear,
which is why if you drop something, the cat will often flee even if the falling
item doesn't touch them. This is why fireworks are particularly stressful for
cats even without seeing the lights - the loud bang makes them jump and they
cannot see anything causing it.
Dealing with a frightened cat
The most important thing to remember when dealing with a
frightened cat is that you can't talk them down, calm them down or force them
to stop being frightened. If you approach them in this state, you are likely to
receive an injury. Give them space, try to keep everything relatively calm and
quiet and leave them in their hiding place until they have calmed down.
Credit: Angela Tempest
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