Thunderstorm Phobias in Cats
The persistent and exaggerated fear of storms, or the stimuli associated with storms, is referred to as thunderstorm phobia. To treat this condition, your veterinarian should have some grasp of pathophysiology, as this phobia involves physiologic, emotional, and behavioral components.
Thunderstorm phobia occurs in both dogs and cats, but dogs are often more susceptible to this type of fear.
Symptoms and Types
Stimuli that elicit fear include rain, lightning thunder, strong winds, and possibly changes in barometric pressure and static electricity. This fear may then induce one of more of the following signs:
– Pacing
– Panting
– Trembling
– Hiding/remaining near the owner
– Excessive salivation (ptyalism)
– Destructiveness
– Excessive vocalization
– Self-inflicted trauma
– Fecal incontinence
It may also affect some body systems in a variety of ways, including:
Cardiovascular—tachycardia
Endocrine/ metabolic—increased cortisol levels, stress-induced hyperglycemia
Gastrointestinal—inappetence, gastrointestinal upset
Musculoskeletal—self-induced trauma resulting from escape attempts
Nervous—adrenergic/nor-adrenergic overstimulation
Respiratory—tachypnea
Skin—acral lick dermatitis
Causes
The exact cause of thunderstorm phobia is unknown, but it may include a combination of the following factors:
– Lack of exposure to storms early in development
– Unintentional reinforcement of fear response by owner
– A genetic predisposition for emotional reactivity
Diagnosis
A veterinarian will rule out any conditions which can cause similar behavioral responses such as separation anxiety, barrier frustration, and noise phobias. Otherwise, they will conduct further tests to identify any conditions or abnormalities that may have arisen from effect of the fear to the thunderstorm.