Mary Allen
There is hardly a cat that is not afraid of the vacuum cleaner. A few particularly brave house tigers brave the noisy monster, but most furry friends take to their heels, at the latest when the dust-eating monster crosses their path with a roar. Unfortunately, cleaning the house cannot be avoided, otherwise, the home will be engulfed in a flood of dust bunnies. But how can the fear of the vacuum cleaner be alleviated in velvet paws?
Vacuum cleaners are a great help in the household, after all, not every cat hair and fluffy dust can be swept away with a broom. Unfortunately, some cats are afraid of the vacuum cleaner and feel a lot of stress when it’s cleaning day again. What can you do about it?
Why are So Many Cats Afraid of Vacuum Cleaners?
It is certainly mainly due to the noise that the device makes when a cat is afraid of the vacuum cleaner. The loud roaring is often unpleasant even for human ears, but cats have a much more sensitive hearing and perceive the humming rumble of the vacuum cleaner as torture. However, other household appliances also make quite a noise, such as kettles, washing machines, or dryers – and these seem to frighten the sensitive furry friends much less than the dust-eating monster.
With the vacuum cleaner, there is also the fact that the device moves, and your cat can feel pursued by it. In addition, the monster is usually larger than the velvet paw – just like their natural enemies in the wild. It is quite possible that cats, therefore, do not perceive vacuum cleaners as inanimate objects, but rather as menacing predators that pose a threat to their lives. So it’s not surprising that many cats flee and hide when they see the vacuum cleaner.
Getting Your Cat Used to the Vacuum Cleaner: Is That Possible?
So, cats’ fear of vacuum cleaners is partly instinctive, making it difficult to take away. However, you can help your cat to lessen its fear. Ideally, your furry friend will have learned as a kitten that vacuuming is not a bad thing, but a normal part of the household. This is achieved by allowing the little kittens to watch and listen to the vacuum cleaner at work while still staying safe with their mother cat and siblings. Then they perceive the vacuum cleaner less as a threat and accept its occasional presence.
Adult Cats & the Fear of the Vacuum Cleaner
In an adult cat who has not been raised in such a safe environment, the fear of the vacuum cleaner can be extremely pronounced. Here you have to proceed with a lot of patience and in small steps to familiarize them with the household item. The first step is to ensure that your furry friend can stand the sight of the supposed monster without panicking. So don’t hide the device in a cupboard or storage room, but leave it open. That way, it becomes a normal part of the household and your velvet paw doesn’t get a fright just walking towards the grooming closet.
However, do not place the monster next to your house tiger’s important places, i.e. not where it eats, sleeps, or sharpens its claws. It is best to choose an unused corner of the apartment so that your kitty is free to sniff at the device curiously or avoid it. From time to time you can place the vacuum cleaner in a different place so that your furry friend is prepared for its presence in other places as well. Reward your cat when she fearlessly walks by the vacuum cleaner or explores it with interest. You may be able to get your cat used to a less menacing vacuum cleaner, such as a robot vacuum that’s at least smaller and moves more smoothly around the room.
Provide Cats with Opportunities to Retreat when Vacuuming
If your cat is no longer terrified of the vacuum cleaner just by looking at it and accepting its presence when it is switched off, you can move on to the next step. Here you turn on the vacuum cleaner, but not in the room where your kitty is. It is ideal if someone else vacuums while you keep your furry friend company and do something nice with it, for example, play, cuddle or give it treats. Then she gets used to the loud roar and no longer associates it so much with negative experiences, but with pleasant feelings. However, you can just leave the vacuum running in another room for just a little while rewarding your cat for putting up with the noise.
Then, when you want to vacuum, leave the appliance turned off for a few minutes after taking it out. You can also try introducing a specific signal, such as “Attention!” or “Hoover!” announcing your intention. This gives your cat the opportunity to avoid the device and find a quiet hiding place until the spook is over. The number one priority is for your kitty to feel safe and secure, and if she’s doing better in her retreat as far away from the vacuum as possible, you should respect that. Point the device away from your cat when sucking so she perceives it as less of a threat. Change the room, wait a moment with the vacuum cleaner switched off and see if your velvet paw wants to retreat.