Dogs are known for their bravery. Cats for their curiosity. Still, our steadfast companions can be oddballs with weird fears; they'll make mountains out of molehills. 🙀 So, how many of these silly scares spook your pet?
The puzzling world of peculiar pet phobias
Here are some unexpected things that send dogs and cats into a tizzy.
Freaky fruits
Do cats go bananas at the sight of, well, bananas? Are they anything but "cool as a cucumber" in the presence of cucumbers? Do felines have an irrational fear of fruits? 🤨 If you've seen these viral video compilations, those are very valid questions!
Fact check: Fruits per se are not likely to freak your fraidy cat out. Not unless you're pulling a (mean) prank on your unsuspecting kitty.
So why do these types of produce give cats the jitters?
The element of surprise: Trolling Mr Whiskers with a random banana here or an unexpected cucumber there triggers your kitty's fight-or-flight instinct versus potential threats. Especially when it wasn't there a moment ago…
Instinct: Experts say cucumbers resemble snakes—predators kitties and humans typically try to avoid. (Although the jury's still out on this theory.)
As for bananas? They elicit the trademark jumpy reaction for another reason: Ethyl acetate. Cats don't like the acetone-like smell banana peels emit as the fruit ripens. You learn something new every day!
Technological terrors
From doorbells to dishwashers and vacuum cleaners to smoke alarms—tech can easily send your fur baby into a frenzy.
Noise: Some pets develop a heightened sensitivity to sounds. In fact, the aversion can be so severe that all sorts of beeps, buzzes, bangs, and booms can scare the living daylights out of your furry friend.
Vibrations: Pets can chicken out at the earliest hint of unknown tremors. Even when it's just your phone on vibrate mode!
- Vibrations may be linked to memories of a bad experience or uncomfortable sensations. For example, you used a shock collar on your pup.
- From lack of exposure, say because you missed the crucial socialisation period.
- An animal's natural instinct vis-a-vis unfamiliar vibrations. These can signal impending natural disasters, like an earthquake, that your pet knows it must seek shelter from.
Sudden movements: Our now-domesticated pets were once hunters in the wild. But they were also prey! As such, they're innately wary of sudden movements that may pose a threat.
Baffling balloons
If your pet loves chasing balloons, consider yourself lucky. Some pet parents can't throw a birthday party without their fur baby having a meltdown. Seriously, what gives? The pros have a few suggestions.
The popping sound: It's sudden and comes out of nowhere, which is startling. Plus, that "Pop!" is much louder for our furry companions—they have superior hearing.
Unpredictable motion: Like robot appliances and battery-operated toys, balloons move erratically. They bounce off surfaces. They float and then descend without warning. Makes sense that some pets might confuse your New Year balloons with an airborne threat.
How it feels: Get close enough to the balloon, and your furball may experience the shock of a lifetime. Yes, it's "just static electricity", but getting zapped is still scary!
Wary of water
Wet grass. Puddles. Rain. Some pets just ain't feelin' it. 😅 While the reasons vary from species to species, behaviourists say:
- Your pet may have a previous trauma involving water.
- Bodies of water can be new and alien experiences that take getting used to.
- Getting a feline's fur wet interferes with scent signals—and Mr Whiskers didn't spend half a day meticulously grooming himself for that outcome. 😑
- Damp fur can be heavy, uncomfortable, and take forever to dry. (Unless you have the Grubby Paw Grooming Mitt or Shammy Towel on hand. Then, it's a breeze!)
Random reflections
Last but not least, we have mirrors. Reflections, actually. Some pets are indifferent. Some react with curiosity. Others are scared stiff.
Because, unlike humans, our furballs can't recognise themselves. "Who you?!" indeed! Also, reflections don't emit scents—and that's concerning. Friend or foe? Without odours, it's hard to know.
Fortunately, this skittishness towards reflections (and, by the way, shadows) is most common in pups and kittens. They should eventually get used to it or grow out of it.
We've barely scratched the surface of some of the strangest scares out there. But what bizarre or mundane things are your furry friends frightened of? Sound off in the comments below!
