| Are you startled by unexpected loud noises? If you | | | | especially harp music, is particularly soothing. |
| are, just think how it must be for your cat. Cats do | | | | 3. You need to demonstrate to your cat that it is |
| not necessarily understand what varied and strange | | | | safe and you are its protector. Because cats look to |
| loud sounds mean. They have to determine if they | | | | humans as maternal substitutes, you need to pet and |
| are threatening. If so, they have to determine what | | | | distract your cat until the noise passes. |
| they should do-where they should go to be | | | | 4. If you find there is a residual effect to the original |
| protected and safe. On top of that, cats have | | | | startle response, you need to consider dealing with |
| sensitive hearing-not yet having been diminished by a | | | | this as a potential long-term fear. You can desensitize |
| Metallica concert or watching a Steelers game in | | | | your cat to loud sounds by |
| person. | | | | - Exposing it to a low volume of like sound and |
| While your cat companion can become used to loud | | | | slowly over time increasing it. |
| sounds on his or her own, frequently the intensity of | | | | - During this exposure to the sound, you soothe and |
| the startle and lack of compensatory positive | | | | distract your cat. |
| attention can develop into a fear. Think of your cat | | | | - Afterward, you give your brave little kitty a special |
| as a child becoming scared when it encounters | | | | treat for what it has endured. |
| something overpowering and frightening. | | | | 5. Eventually your cat will be less likely to be phobic |
| Fortunately, if your furry love becomes fearful, you | | | | to such sounds and not act anxiously. |
| can help your cat get over the cringing, hiding, and | | | | While this desensitization may generalize to other loud |
| freaking out when the loud noises occur. Noises that | | | | sounds, you may have to repeat the process |
| often create fear in cats are thunder and fireworks. | | | | depending upon how arousing and anxiety-provoking |
| However, a revving Harley-Davidson or construction | | | | the sound is for your cat and how your cat reacts to |
| equipment can do the same. | | | | it. |
| So what can you do to help calm your cat and | | | | Your cat companion needs you to understand that it |
| eradicate the fear if necessary? | | | | cannot act as you do and simply think about and deal |
| 1. You can take your cat into a more centralized | | | | rationally with loud noises. It needs you to help it |
| room of the house where the noise is less. | | | | understand and function within such circumstances, as |
| 2. You can play soothing music to help cover the | | | | you would your own frightened child. |
| noise. Research has suggested that classical music, | | | | |