Thunder and Lightening

My big guy, Montanna, a 19 lb Tabby (part Maine Coon) is the biggest chicken when it comes to thunder and lightening. Half an hour before the storm is moving in, he puffs up like a his fur is all static charged and he gets as close the ground as possible, then starts on his retreat to the basement. He walks in slow, slow, slow motion.. I call it his "tortoise nervousa walk" It takes him longer to get to the basement then the storm lasts.. it is so funny. I am a little worried about the stress it causes him though, he is a nervous guy anyways but he hides under a desk downstairs for hours and is really nervous when he does decide it's ok to come up. Anybody else have a "cat burometer"?

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"Bloomer"
WWW.i.am/bearmaker

http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif I had to laugh when I read your post. That is so funny. We don't have may storms where I live, so I haven't had any experience with this, but I think that as long as it doesn't happen often, he should be ok.
The only time my kitty puffs up is when he hears someone running towards him. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

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...>^..^<...
TheCatsMeow

As a person owned by a Maine Coon I sure understand the storm slink! Our Molly trots off about 15 minutes before I can hear the thunder. She slinks down and sort of slithers upstairs to hide under a bed. Yesterday I scooped her up to try and comfort her, she tolerated it for about 1 minute and when I put her down I was rewarded with a "HISS". Ungrateful child!
Guess they are just sensitive souls!
:-)


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Molly's Mom

Interestingly enough, my cat isn't afraid of thunder and lightning, but is upset by the sound and feel of high wind (she's a rescue, which may explain this).

Oh yeah, the infamous thunder and lightening storms sure make me smile when I see my three year old male cat conform to the term "scaredy cat". http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

He is so funny the way he acts like he his king of all the world until boom the thunder hits...his tail gets stiff, his body slivers like a snake and his hiding spots are so good I'm looking for him for hours after the storm ends.

The interesting thing is that his birth sister could careless about the sounds of the storm. She acts as if everything is calm and peaceful. Although, she is more afraid of new people then he. Their personality characteristics never cease to amaze me. They are wonderful little beings! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Fear of loud noises is inherent to every species of mammals I know of, including us humans. Just make a loud noise in a room with a baby and see what happens.

Living in California, thunderstorms are fairly tame and infrequent. My cat Burrl sprints for the shelter of beneath our bed at the first rumble. In fact he is suspicious of loud vehicles that rumble by and seems poised to run and hide. The sounds of fireworks on New Year's Eve and Independence Day are just as bad for him.

Our other cat, Mush-Mushi, doesn't take flight so easily. But does, after being convinced the thunder won't let up, amble off to someplace like a closet where she feels safer.

When I lived in Biloxi, Mississippi, thunderstorms were nearly an everyday occurance. Even though I didn't have any pets then, I can tell you even I was scared! To see an old tree get split in half by lightening right outside your window http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif will put the fear in your soul real quick. You might say I am "hiding" from thunderstorms in California. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif