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 will put the fear in your soul real quick. You might say I am "hiding" from thunderstorms in California.