I don’t like loud noises. The sound of the ironing board being set up. Graham blowing his nose or sneezing (he’s very loud). Elaine yelling at football matches on TV (again, very loud. And most unladylike). Thunder. Fireworks. They all make me jumpy and distressed.
It’s hardly surprising really when you consider cats’ hearing is supremely acute. Apparently my hearing goes up to something called ultrasonic which means I can pick up very high-pitched sounds. Cats’ ears swivel like satellite dishes to pinpoint the source of a sound, and our ear-flaps can independently point backwards, forwards and sideways.
If you want to get very technical, we cats can hear 100,000 hertz compared to you humans who can only hear 20,000. That’s a big difference isn’t it?
It’s perfect for hunting; not so good when Elaine is watching football or Graham has a cold. And don’t mention the vacuum cleaner, although that doesn’t come out very often.
This hot weather has brought a couple of storms, and I’ll admit I was pretty scared.
Then there’s fireworks, which I’ve noticed you don’t just bring out on bonfire night. Any excuse isn’t it? Especially during the summer when you seem to like setting them off at concerts and festivals.
So please spare a thought for the cat in your life. Here are some things you can do to help us through thunder and fireworks, and other dins.
1) Stay calm. Try to distract your feline friend with their favourite toys – my Kickeroo and laser pointer would do it for me.
2) Some of us hide under the bed or behind the sofa because it muffles the sound. If your cat hasn’t found anywhere in particular, encourage them into a nice dark hiding place by putting their favourite treats there.
3) You could try a pheromone spray or plug-in. They help to relieve stress and you can get them from pet shops or the V.E.T.
4) The best thing you can do though is be reassuring, soothing, and make your cat feel safe and secure.
Thanks to the following sites for the information: