Why cats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner: cat psychology

If a cat lives in your house, then for sure younoticed that it treats some household appliances very negatively. For most fluffy couch potatoes, the biggest daytime nightmare is a vacuum cleaner. What is it that frightens our dear fluffy (or smooth-haired) friends? Why cleaning the house with a vacuum cleaner causes them real hysteria? Cats try to hide in a secluded place, sometimes hissing, and sometimes even try to attack a hated enemy.

In this article we will try to understand whycats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner. The reasons and methods of fighting this enmity, according to experts, are obvious, and if you have the patience, it is possible to make your petfriend with a terrible, incomprehensible, buzzing "monster". But first you need to understand what the animal is frightening.

Why are cats afraid of a vacuum cleaner?

Among all household appliances that are todayalmost in every home, it is the vacuum cleaner that causes the cat panic. For example, most of the cats are treated quite calmly to the TV, and they feel very tender feelings toward the heaters or treat them with indifference. According to experts, this is due to the fact that the vacuum cleaner is the source of the biggest and loudest noise among other equipment in the house, and therefore he is the main applicant for the role of causative agent of cat's calm.

With this statement, someone may disagree: because a tape recorder or TV violates the silence much more often than a vacuum cleaner. But the whole point is that it is for this reason that cats perceive them calmly. In addition, the sounds that are produced by the TV or radio are familiar to the cat: these are the voices of the people to whom she is accustomed, the sounds she hears from the window (the noise of passing cars, for example). The noise of a working vacuum cleaner is unfamiliar and incomprehensible to her, and is therefore especially scary.

The work of a vacuum cleaner almost never happensabsolutely noiseless, and even the latest models, despite the significantly reduced noise level, still do not differ absolutely quiet work. The hearing of our pets is more sensitive than that of their owners, so the sharp sound of unknown origin causes anxiety in animals.

However, many owners feel the noise and lookdevice - this is not the main reasons. Why cats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner, if this is not related to noise: after all, they often do not react at all to a working drill, and after all it makes no less abrupt sounds?

Vortex flows

This terrible "monster" differs yet anotherextremely unpleasant for cats feature - he is able to create around him whirlwinds is not a friendly wind and at the same time sucks everything that meets on his way.

Dust

To understand why cats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner,we advise you to pay attention to the old models of these devices. During work, they not only clean carpets, furniture, etc., but also raise into the air the smallest particles of dust that prevent breathing the animal. Many watched as their pet during harvesting (if, of course, he did not hide) begins to sneeze.

More modern models, fortunately, no longer have this drawback, but the peculiar smell that is felt during their work, still worries cats.

Visual perception

How to explain why an animal hides duringcleaning? Why are cats afraid of a vacuum cleaner? Cat psychology is designed in such a way that in the animal's mind such a large and incomprehensible object, moreover, moving around the apartment, is associated with an enemy who at any moment can attack and certainly harm.

When a roaring object with a long wire andhose, incomprehensible tubes and brushes begins to move around the apartment, the animal covers panic. His only desire at this moment is to hide as far as possible and not to leave his shelter until the moment the mechanical enemy retreats.

Vibrations

Experts call one more reason, whichexplains why cats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner. Sometimes our pets are not afraid of the appearance of the device or the noise emitted by it. Cats are able to catch the slightest fluctuations on the surface of the earth: remember the known facts, when exactly the cats are the first to worry before the person feels the first weak tremors of the earthquake. They catch the weakest vibrations, while experiencing great excitement, foreseeing the danger. In order to protect yourself from it, the cat hides in a safe place.

Unsuccessful jokes of the hosts

It's strange to hear the question: "Why are cats so afraid of a vacuum cleaner?" - from owners who, for the sake of a joke, at least once directed a vacuum cleaner towards the cat or tried to "comb" their pet with them. This procedure provokes fear in the animal. Cats have an excellent memory, so that the very first, and perhaps the last time, is imprinted in the animal's mind so much that even after seeing the device disconnected from the network, the cat will be nervous.

Encroachment on the territory

Most representatives of felines perceivethis device as a living being: he moves around the apartment next to the owner, makes some sounds. It is this perception, too, that explains why cats are afraid of a vacuum cleaner. For the animal it is quite obvious that an enemy has appeared in the house, claiming for its territory, shamelessly studying all its corners.

With this perception, the behavior of the animal may be different: some cats prefer to hide, given the size of the enemy, others prefer to die on the battlefield, but attack the "occupier."

Why are cats afraid of a vacuum cleaner? How to make friends with them?

There is no unequivocal answer to this question and should not becan, because it all depends on the nature of your pet. However, every animal owner must make an attempt to stop this hostility. We offer you some advice from veterinarians and experienced cat-owners. Perhaps, among them you will find suitable for your situation.

If possible, replace the old model with a more modern vacuum cleaner. The new device will make less noise, will not lift dust into the air, which your pet will surely appreciate.

Do not start vacuuming when the animal is asleep. This does not mean that the cleaning should be postponed until the cat sleeps. Before turning on the device, call your pet: the sleeping animal can get even more stressful.

If you have the opportunity, during harvestingsend the cat to another room. Do not close the door: let the cat decide for herself whether it is worth it to leave the shelter, or better to postpone acquaintance with the unexpected visitor at a later time.

Leave in the room for a while offfrom the vacuum cleaner network, so that the cat could come to him, inspect, sniff. If your pet has already stopped feeling fear of the vacuum cleaner turned off, approach him without fear of provocation, praise him and stroke him.

Breeders recommend to treat your favorite delicacycat in the immediate vicinity of the vacuum cleaner. In this case, the animal at the sight of the device can be pleasant associations: for example, thoughts of delicacy. Do this first before the vacuum cleaner is turned off, and then you can try to turn it on.