Why is my cat scared of the spray bottle, perfume, and anything that "squirts"?

Question

Everytime I put on perfume and she hears the "squirt" noise, she goes nuts and runs and hides under the bed, and then when i spray febreeze she does the same thing, i also have to give her this medicine for a sore on her that i have to squirt her with on the sore. it doesn't sting or anything, it just feels wet to her skin. i litteraly have to hold her down to spray her with it, shes goes crazy and runs like a racehorse if shes around anything that "squirts" why does she do this?

Answer 1

possibly she was previously abused with something that squirted??? my sister used to have a cat that was afraid of aerosol cans because her previous owners used to spray her with hairspray when she was bad...how terrible huh?

Answer 2

My cat does the same thing. She panicks at the first sight of anything that may "squirt" perfume, deodorant, air freshener, she squints her eyes, and either runs away or backs into a corner. It is very obvious she is completely somewhat scared of the "squirt" even if she knows its not aimed at her. I am not sure what causes it and I really don't think its because they have been mistreated with spray bottles, because its to common. I have never EVER punished my cat with a spray bottle thats absurb! I have a suspicion it could just be a phobia the cat builds up, maybe relating to something that automatically comes alive when you push its button. the cat will see you pick it up... then... oh wait... oh my god it just made a freaky noise...what was that... PANIC!!!! Cats unfortunately aren't as intellectual with things like that, even though they are pretty smart. Hope this made sense.

Answer 3

Did you rescue her? Or was she given to you? If she had a previous home, then she was probley teased with a spray bottle, or she misbehaved alot, and got the spray bottle.

It's an instinct for animals to become allert to a "shh, chh or hiss" sound. Cats are usually afraid of those sounds because they make them, and they are usually used as warning sounds.

Also, cats dispise water. They aren't afraid of it, but because they are so neurotic, they know that if they get wet, they'll look funny, and feel awful. So they avoid anything that has to do with water. That's why people say to squirt them with a spray bottle. So because it feels wet to her, she won't like it. At all.

If you want to avoid having to hold her down, try and put the meds in a syringe, or something that won't make the squirt sound. When I say syringe, I don't mean one with a needle. You can get one without a needle from your vet, a hospital, or even a doctors office. Something quiet should keep her from bein so afraid of it. But once you get her to be still for the meds, just throw it on her, or pour it down her throat(litterally) and let her go.

Answer 4

Because she understands that squirt noises mean liquid. And if liquid is just being sprayed everywhere, she does not want to be sprayed. After all, cats are afraid of water. When my dad squirts my cat, she runs like crazy. It's just a natural instinct.

Answer 5

She's probably scared of anything that "squirts" because of the medicine you give her! Cats don't like being restricted like when you have to hold them down, and most definitely do not like having to take any kind of medicine. So she's probably associating the squirting noises with having to get her medicine. For my cats we use a squirt bottle when they are being bad. When they get on top of a counter, they get a squirt! It works very well, and you don't have to get up! =)

Answer 6

My kitty hates not things that squirt but strong scented things like you said with perfume and febreeze. I think the smells are just too intense for him. The medicine could freak her out because it feels foreign to her skin and most kitties don't like to be wet anyway. I usually try not to spray stuff when he's right near me in case it burns his nose. Yeah, I know, he's spoiled :)

Answer 7

Because either you or her previous owner used a spray bottle as a punishment. It's normal for cats to dislike water bottles but she shouldn't be this afraid.
Can you apply the spray medication with a soft cloth instead of spraying? Or can you depress the plunger very slowly so it just trickles instead of sprays?

Anyway, don't use a spray bottle to punish her (if you did before) and put a spray bottle on the flood where she can investigate and get used to it.

Answer 8

my experience with cats is that they don't like getting wet. even though the medicine may not sting, i think its the wet feeling in general. and the spray sound will be associated with the medicine until you stop using it. i don't know if they make something like this, but if you could find something in a spray that she enjoys - like a flavored spray to put on her dry food - it may take away the negative association with the spray sound. Good luck!

Answer 9

Some animals, cats included, have rear glands and they "spray" as a way to exert dominance or mark territory. Apparently, your cat thinks you are exerting dominance over her when you squirt or spray anything in the house.

Answer 10

Because the squirting sounds exactly like another cat hissing. My cats are the same way!

Answer 11

Are you her first owner? If not, chances are her previous owners would spray her alot with a bottle so that conditioned her to be afraid of anything that sprays. If not, then she just must have a serious fear of things that spray. I have never sprayed my cat before, but if I am just messing around and point a bottle at her she winces...so it must be somewhat instinctual for them!