Storm Phobia: Do cats get scared of thunder?

If you have concerns that your cat is scared of storms and thunder, there are steps you can take to help them feel better, and be calmer and more secure during thunderstorms.

From early awareness to creating a cosy and secure space, we’ve put together a few ways that you can help them get through the storm season with less stress and fear.

Read on to learn why storms can be so scary for cats, how to recognise if your cat has a thunder phobia, and how to help them in these potentially challenging situations.

Why is my cat scared of thunder?

While we often think that it is only dogs who develop astraphobia (fear of storms), cats suffer just as much. Thanks to their sensory hyperawareness and their instinctual survival responses, our feline friends are incredibly sensitive to storms – especially if they have not been habituated to them by their breeder or owner as kittens. 

Cats hear a wider range of frequencies than we do and so the combination of low thunder rumbling and high pitched electrical static sounds louder and more chaotic to them.

Cats are solitary hunters and, as such, have a high survival instinct that can be triggered by loud, unpredictable sounds, causing the urge to flee or hide, but because they do this with far less drama than dogs, owners are not so aware of their distress and fear.

How good is a cats hearing?

For some reason, owners often don’t realise just how good a cat’s hearing is – and it is certainly far better than ours. They have a far wider frequency range they can hear than we do. We hear from about 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz whereas cats hear from about 45 Hz up to 64,000 Hz (and in some tests, up to 85,000 Hz). This allows them to hear the squeak of a mouse or the buzzing of insects that are totally silent to us. And it doesn’t stop there – cats are solitary hunters and so need to be able to detect prey, so they can hear sounds four or five times further away than we can. Not only that, they have 32 muscles in each ear and can rotate them independently up to 180 degrees which means they can detect precisely where a sound is coming from (important when hunting small rodents) – whereas we have a measly 6 muscles and our ears don’t move! 

What all this means is that what we hear as low rumbles of thunder or distant claps feel far louder, far more threatening and far more stressful to a cat than they do to us.

It’s not just the noise

It’s not just the noise that cats are sensitive to when it comes to storms. They have a specialised inner ear and an atmospheric sensitivity that lets them detect drops in air pressure long before a storm arrives. This can often trigger anxiety and a ‘flight’ or ‘hide’ response that will kick in long before an owner has any inkling of an impending storm.

No wonder thunderstorms are scary for cats!

Symptoms of noise phobia in cats

One of the reasons that noise phobia in cats is under-recognised by owners is that while dogs are very obvious in their symptoms, cats are far less so. In the same way they hide pain well, they often hide the signs of fear, stress and anxiety just as well. 

As they predict storms very early, often they will just vanish – and either hide somewhere outside or else under a bed, in a dark secluded place, or in a perceived ‘safe space’, and stay there until it is all over. In an outdoor cat who comes and goes at will, and even in an indoor cat, an owner might not even notice their absence let alone be aware of their fear and distress. 

Others are more obvious and these symptoms can include:
•    Trembling or shaking
•    Restlessness
•    Unusual stillness
•    Overgrooming
•    Panting
•    Loss of toilet training
•    Decreased appetite 
•    Clinginess
•    Aggression/reluctance to be touched

Preparing for a storm

As a cat owner, be very observant when it comes to weather forecasts and storm alerts. Don’t wait until the weather changes or you think it might, as your cat will already know a storm is coming and will have taken action.

If a storm is forecast on a given day, try to ensure they are indoors (if they are an outdoor cat or have access to outdoors) so you can keep them safe and give them the support they need.

Lock the cat flap and make sure all windows are secure to prevent flight. 

Set up a dark sanctuary, ideally in a windowless room (or even a walk-in closet), where your cat is comfortable so they have somewhere safe they can hide.

Provide other hiding spots. You don’t get to choose where your cat feels safe, it is up to them. Leave out igloo beds, cardboard boxes with blankets, and duvet bags so your cat can choose where feels safe. Make sure these are off deep pile carpets and away from soft furnishings to reduce static electricity build-up. A non-carpeted room is best if possible.

During the storm

Block out the light and turn on the TV. These will not prevent your cat hearing the thunder or lightning flashes but they won’t seem as loud as they would in a quiet room.

Stay calm and relaxed yourself, and be guided by them. Offer comfort if they need it – or let them hide away – whatever makes them feel safe. Most cats prefer to hide so let them do this wherever they feel safest.

If your cat is only mildly concerned, you could try a game, or a high value treat, licki mat etc

Consider using a pheromone plug in diffuser – as these work very well for some cats.

While they may want to be close to you or sit on you for comfort, avoid stroking them, as this can cause static shocks which will make things worse. 

Don’t encourage them to come out of their safe space. Let them stay there until they come out themselves.

Seeking professional help

There is no doubt that climate change is affecting our seasons and weather, and storms seem more common than ever. If you cat is stressed and fearful every time there is a hint of a storm, this can affect their quality of life. Talk to your vet, as while there are currently no specific noise phobia medications for cats (unlike dogs), they can refer you to a specialist accredited feline behaviourist who will be able to help.