The sleet hitting our bedroom window (which was closed!) woke me during the night Tuesday night so I know it was loud because it takes a lot to wake me. It must have been loud and scary for Boots too because he was so on edge yesterday. He never saw much snow in Texas. We got just a little snow during the day – a couple of inches but it started about 4 a.m. and went through the day til maybe 6 p.m. and then it just turned into almost white out snow for a while.
He was upstairs but he was so nervous. He would sit with me, then jump down; stretch out on the floor for 5 minutes, then get on the back of the sofa, then go downstairs, then come back upstairs. I felt bad for him and the only thing I can think of is that the weather had him on edge.
Is that possible? Do cats notice things like that? Would that explain him being so nervous?
Sara Fridley says
I do believe animals feel anxious when the weather does strange things. Our livestock on the farm certainly “felt” weather changes coming.
Paula Nordt says
Yes! I have a cat who adopted me two year ago. He is terrified of storms, especially thunder storms. He hunkers down next to the kitchen island and freezes. I feel so sad for him, but he will not sit in my lap during a storm.
Kathleen H Rountree says
Remember cats hearing is soo very acute. Sleet would have sounded very loud to him. But they can also sense the change in barometric pressure. sweet baby.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I didn’t know that about their hearing or that they can sense a change in barometric pressure. Thanks.
There’s plenty of snow outside now but it isn’t falling currently and he seems fairly calm today.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s exactly how Rita is. I feel so bad for her but I think trying to snuggle with her makes it worse since she doesn’t like to be snuggled. She’s getting older and may be losing some of her hearing (except for dog food packages) because she hasn’t reacted the last two times we had storms.
Nelle Coursey says
Cats and dogs can predict a lot of things. Many have predicted tornados and a lot have predicted earthquakes.
Deb says
Animals absolutely are aware of weather changes – our two little dogs get hysterical a few seconds before a storm hits….the storms with lightening, thunder, etc. They both love the snow, especially our Coton de Tulear, she acts like a pup in snow (and she’s nearly 13). When the 4th of July comes both dogs have to go on prescription drugs or they nearly go off their minds with fear – no amount of snuggling will make them feel better. Both of them are also little princesses when its rainy, they HATE getting their feet wet! Don’t they make life interesting for us?
Cilla says
They feel the barometric pressure change before humans do. One of my Dachshunds know when a thunder storm is coming about 20 minutes before it arrives. I know now when to give him his “doggie downer”.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Rita gets nervous before we hear thunder and I figured it was because her sense of hearing was so much better than ours. It’s weird now because I think she’s losing some of her hearing and the last two times we’ve had thunder, and the last time we had fireworks, she didn’t react. I’m not going to get my hopes up and I’d be very sorry if she’s going deaf (Speck did) but . . I hate that she gets so upset during storms and fireworks.