What cats fear the most: three things that cause stress in animals

Few people are aware that certain things can cause stress and panic in cats. Cats can experience intense fear, and a sudden fright can impact the physical and mental well-being of your pet.

Cats are typically afraid of dogs, loud noises, and strangers in the house. OBOZREVATEL explored what else might scare cats.

According to recent studies, cats are most afraid of vacuum cleaners. The loud equipment makes animals feel uneasy and stressed. While some brave pets might engage in confrontations with the vacuum cleaner, most tend to hide in secure places when they hear the characteristic sound of the equipment being turned on.

Interestingly, other relatively large and loud objects or appliances do not seem to frighten cats as much. A relatively small percentage of cats might be afraid of a car, food processor, or coffee grinder.

You've probably seen the popular social media videos of cats getting scared by cucumbers. It's true - cats can experience intense fear when they unexpectedly encounter cucumbers.

Veterinarians explain this by stating that the shape of a cucumber reminds a cat of a snake, and cats generally have a complex relationship with snakes.

When a cat sees a mirror for the first time, it can become very scared. The mirror ranks third in the cat's fear hierarchy. The cat simply doesn't recognize itself in the reflection, perceiving it as another, unfamiliar animal. Over time, the cat may realize that there is nothing to fear and might even start playing with the mirror. The sense of smell plays a significant role: if your cat doesn't detect a stranger nearby, it will eventually cease being afraid.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL informed you about how to quickly and easily determine a cat's age. In the first year, which is supposedly equivalent to seven years for humans, a young cat can already become a mother for the first time. Therefore, there are significant discrepancies in the 1:7 system.

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