Cat's Phobias

Even a healthy and happy cat can be nervous in some moment of his life. The movement to a new house, the birth of a child and the family or the arrival of a new domestic animal they are the most common facts that concern the environment of a cat. As the cat adapts so quickly in these cases depends partly on what we do and partly to the character of the animal, which is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In general terms, the cats can have three types of personality: bold and sociable, active and aggressive or shy and nervous. The fearful character is most influenced by the inheritance and the one that has more probability of generating problems to adapt to new situations.

This type of cats has exagerate-physiological and psychological reactions - before any disagreeable or familiar fact. The reactions can go from hyperventilation (rough breathing) until hide under a bed, happening for refusing to eat or do his needs inside house. If the nervous reaction extends during some time, it is called a "disorder" and can turn and a chronic disease.

There are cats that can show suddenly a real persecutory obsession; an extreme and seemingly irrational fear of certain things, places and even persons. The cat seems to be calm until he faces what displeases him and, suddenly, he becomes hysterical. The children, the dogs, the portable cats and the strong noises -like rockets and thundercaps- are the detonates of the phobia's reactions. A gradual exhibition can do that the cat becomes less sensitive to the persons, to other animals or to his basket of transport- or even to the vacuum cleaner- but it is more difficult to overcome the strong unforseeable noises. The veterinarian can prescribe a medication to sedative the cat and recommend an expert in behavior.