Let them hide. Many cats and even more dogs become terrified of loud, sudden and unexpected noises such as thunder and fireworks. With storms, the cats also have the uncomfortable sensation of the wind, lashing rain, change in barometric pressure, and lightning flashes. You know what’s going on—but they just know that crazy lights, sounds, and perhaps smells make things scary.
It can take a terrified cat several hours to recover from the fear. When the kitty brain feels frightened, there’s no room for thinking. They go directly into a fight/flight mode. Touching or trying to comfort them during this time could be met with slashing claws and teeth because they don’t recognize you through the fear.
If you can anticipate the storm, providing a noise distraction may help but may do nothing to calm fears from the lightening or barometric pressure. Try playing music, for example. Harp music can offer a sedative effect.
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