Cats are very funny animals. We can say of them that they are sleepy, capricious and, in most cases, fluffy, characteristics that make them one of today's favorite pets.
Now, although most cats think they are the king of the house, they have some enemies that manage to make their hair stand on end. Do you want to know what they are? What are cats afraid of? Then you can't miss this article on our site about l the 10 things cats fear most! Ahead!
1. Water
Water is one of the things cats hate the most. Even if only a few drops fall on your body, you will most likely speed away from the dangerous site. It is true that some felines do not have any problem with getting wet and even love baths, but that is not usually the most common.
Among the theories that explain this aversion to water, the most deeply rooted is based on the fact that many feline breeds come from desert areas located in the Middle East and China, where have had little contact with water through the centuries.
two. Strong odors
Did you think dogs were the only animals with a sensitive sense of smell? You're wrong. Although it is true that the sense of smell of cats is not as sensitive as that of their canine companions, this does not mean that their noses miss out on the great variety and intensity of the smells that surround them.
Because of this, felines are repelled by strong odors, such as vinegar, onion, gasoline, alcoholic beverages, among others. If any of these scents are present in the air, your cat will become alert and try to get away as soon as possible. Check the 10 smells that cats hate the most and avoid them.
3. Holding them by force
Cats are very independent animals, so they like to keep their space and be free. That's why cats hate feeling caught in your armss when they don't want to be loved, or forced to do things they don't want to to the point of feeling true fear. Without a doubt, this is one of the things that they fear the most but, above all, that they hate the most about humans. To learn more, check out this article: "5 Things Cats Hate About Humans."
It's a lie that cats are not very affectionate, but for them everything has a dose. So, in case you pick up your cat and you notice that he is trying to escape with all your might, he calmly lets him go. If you refuse, you will most likely get a scratch or a bite, you have been warned!
4. Unknown people
If you keep wondering what scares cats, one of the things they fear most is the arrival of strangers on their territory. Not all cats are afraid of strangers coming to your house, but most will run to hide when they realize someone from outside the family has arrived.
Apparently this is because cats don't handle being dealing with unfamiliar situations, and a strange person with a number of smells and sounds he has never heard fit perfectly into this category for him. However, if that person stays at home for days, they will get closer little by little until they feel confident. Now, if you have just adopted a cat and you have noticed that it fears you, consult the article "How to gain a cat's trust".
5. Loud noises
Cats have highly developed senses and perceive the world differently from humans. One of the things that characterizes them is their acute sense of hearing For this reason, loud noises annoy and scare cats, being another of the things that most fear.
Screams, firecrackers at Christmas, loud music, vacuum cleaners, storms, horns and a long etcetera cause fear to the cat and even can cause stress and anxiety. Check the main symptoms of stress in the cat and act quickly.
6. Changes in routine
Eat, sleep and play, then eat, sleep and play. It may sound familiar to you, and this is surely your cat's day-to-day life, since they are animals that love to have routines in their lives. Due to this, the changes tend to disorient them quite a bit and even produce a feeling of fear.
If you have plans to change something in your pet's life, such as his diet, where he sleeps, or even planning to move, it's best to introduce changes gradually andbe patient in the adaptation process of the feline.
7. Surprises
It's no secret that cats are skittish and cautious animals, so they hate being surprised. Videos go viral on the Internet showing people scaring their cats with cucumbers and other things, but the truth is that cats are not afraid of these objects themselves, but the fact that they have approached them without being able to notice it. For more details, don't miss this article: "Why cats are afraid of cucumbers."
Although it may seem funny, surprising him is something that scares your cat, so this only creates anxiety and stress in him, so we recommend you find he althy ways to have fun with him.
8. Balloons
Round, silent, slow-moving and, last but not least, flying! Balloons are one of those things that will make your cat run for cover without thinking twice, since they provoke true fear.
Why do balloons scare cats? For the feline it is difficult to understand what they are about, especially if they are the floating balloons filled with helium. In most cases, they are mistaken for a menacing predator, so they prefer to flee.
9. Dogs
Although there are exceptions, this is usually another of the things that cats fear most, and that is that they tend to feel insecure in the presence of the dogs. The reason? Canines tend to bark and run after cats when they come across one of them on their way. However, it has been shown that both races are capable of living together in a pleasant way after an adaptation process.
If you already live with a dog and a cat and you've noticed that they can't stand each other, check out our tips for a dog and a cat to get along.
10. Let them stare at you
No animal likes long, penetrating stares, and cats are no exception. With their guardians, they may not show any kind of fear or reaction, however, with unknown people they may feel threatened when they look them in the eye. In the face of danger, they can react violently or flee.
If for some reason your cat's gaze and yours meet, the best thing you can do is blink very slowly so that the animal feels safe.
