Why Are Cats Scared of Spray Cans?

Phoenixbird

Just thought I'd ask this one out of interest. All the cats I've had in the past have been scared of spray cans and I always put it down to the fact that they used to be sprayed along their backs with flea spray from a can (which upset them a lot). Poppy, the current mog, was living semi feral when we got her and so I don't know if she was ever sprayed with flea spray or not (she has flea drops now), but she is also terrified of spray cans.

So, does anyone have a cat who's never been sprayed with flea spray and, if so, are they still afraid of spray cans?

spike7451

I think it's the 'hiss' sound & not just spray cans.Sometimes if Daisy's on my lap,she'll shoot off like a rocket if I undo the top of a bottle of pop.

missmontana

Peaches squints her eyes when she see's me get the deodorant ready!

Padstow

It's the hizzzz, sound like another cat. In the days when cats used to visit the bird table, I too would make that sound and they'd be off.
Can't feed the birds anymore as I have an anti, any other animal dog.

PixieDust

because it sounds like another, bigger cat hissing at them, I think

Buttonmoons

My cats are the same, but I think it's more the fluid coming out that bothers them, like spraying air freshner, they are fine until perhaps a piece of moisture touches them (or has done) so they now relate it to WATER ATTACK.

walwin

Mine isn't scared of them. She takes no notice

marmiterulesok

Spray cans sound like another cat hissing.That's how I've always understood it.Plus they don't like having 'wet' sprayed on them.

My cat's never been sprayed with flea spray,but doesn't like spray cans (but I don't use many TBH).

zzzLazyDaisy

I only have to shake a spray can at my cat and he's off!

(I keep one near the TV because he attacks the moving objects with his claws - I wasn't so bothered with the old glass screened one, but now I have one of these fancy flat screen jobs I nearly had a nervous breakdown when he started getting his claws nicely tuned up...)

picklepick

Cats are sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure and their whiskers can pick up changes in air waves in a room. I'd imagine that a spray displaces the air in the room.

It's a combination of noise and air pressure that I think they don't like. Mine hate sprays, my hairdryer and the vacuum cleaner. However, my husband drilling holes in the wall doesnt bother them at all!

rising_from_the_ashes

Archie's decamped to his winter bed (in the bathroom as the hot water pipes run underneath it so his bed's lovely and warm!) and he doesn't move when I spray the deodorant. Mia, I'm not sure about as she's never in there.

They both flatten their ears if I open a pop bottle but tbh they've grown up with these constantly (I like pop!) so don't run away etc.