Psychology of cats-Is my cat scared?

Fear and anger at cats have some common elements, both of which come from the same set of instincts-instructing them to fight, run away, or freeze. These instincts are used by most animals to determine the situation and their reaction to it. But are there any other signs that the cat is scared, and what can be done to calm the cat?

Signs of fear

Frightened cats often show signs related to anger because they are better than showing fear. By raising fur called arrector pili, they make themselves look big and scary, while causing hiss, spitting and growling due to fear. As the cause of fear approaches them, they scratch, swipe, or bite the object and try to leave it alone. This can be annoying if your hand is the object in question.

Frightened cats are most likely to retreat behind the couch, under the bed, or hiding in other dark, protected areas. This is where they feel safe and defend their position from attackers. Alternatively, if a cat is caught in the field, it can freeze because many predators work in motion and cannot detect completely stationary prey as easily as moving prey.

Another sign of fear is loss of bladder and bowel control outside the toilet. This is especially common in young and older cats with poor water control for the same reason. This may involve a freeze in one place, as fear provokes a reaction and tells them that their instincts are completely stationary.

Cause of fear

Many things can cause a horror reaction in a cat, some that look natural and some that look completely irrational. Cats can even suffer from phobias, often beginning when they are young and having a negative experience formed by the phobias of the stimuli involved.

Cats can be afraid of other animals, especially those that are considered predators, such as dogs. They can also be afraid of people they do not know, or even certain people they know, if they have a negative connection to their minds. Children often scare cats because they move fast and make loud, random noises that they don’t understand. Loud noises also cause fear. Therefore, if you drop something, the cat will often escape without touching the dropped item. This is why fireworks are especially stressful for cats without looking at the lights-a big bang makes the cat jump and they can’t see what causes it.

Deal with scared cats

The most important thing to remember when dealing with frightened cats is that you can’t talk, calm them, or force them not to frighten you. If you approach in this state, you may be injured. Give them space, keep everything relatively calm and quiet, and keep them in a hiding place until calm.