Do cats hate rain? There is no mystery that cats dislike water, being washed, and generally getting wet. But there are always some exceptions.

Depending on the breed and personality, one can expect different reactions to rain. In general, cats hate rain because they do not have adequate undercoats that can protect them adequately from the water, but some cat breeds do, and they do not dislike water.

Do cats hate rain? Check out these THE reasons why your cat might hate the rain and some ways to make your cat feel safe during a rainstorm.

DO CATS HATE RAIN?

Most cats hate rain, while some do not mind watching the rain pouring outside. In my experience, the cat’s personality, breed, and upbringing affect the cat’s relationship with rain.

For example, one of my cats is shy, and as soon as the first drop of rain hits the ground, he is already hiding under the bed or the closet. My other cat, with an open and friendly personality, doesn’t mind being around in the rain or even going outside.

Some cat breeds are dealing with water better too—some cats like swimming or even getting in the bath or the shower with their humans.

WHY DOES YOUR CAT HATE THE RAIN? AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

If you’re a cat lover, chances are that you’ve seen your cat flatten her ears or disappear under the bed or into a closet during a thunderstorm. Most cats make a run for shelter at the first raindrop or crack of thunder.

This has made experts and feline fans ask the question, do cats hate rain? 

Cats are mercurial animals with a sophisticated sense of atmospheric changes like barometric pressure drops, natural scents like wet earth and rain, and electromagnetic forces.

These unfamiliar sights, sounds, and sensations can give cats anxiety and ignite a behavioral response that reveals they are uncomfortable or afraid.  

Here are the main reasons for your cat hating the rain:

1.    GETTING WET

There’s a good reason that most cats don’t like the rain. Even though their top fur coat resists water, a downpour can quickly penetrate this layer and soak them to the skin.

A wet coat isn’t just damp and uncomfortable. A soaked coat makes a cat lose its body heat faster and compromises its capacity to keep itself warm. 

Even if you continually keep your cat inside during the rain, your cat might have a history of traumatic rain experiences.

If your cat is a rescue or experienced homelessness, she might cower, shake, and meow at a drop of rain because she associates it with cold, wet, or miserable experiences.

2.    HEIGHTENED ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE SENSITIVITY

If you’ve seen your cat flatten his ears and bolt for the nearest shelter when he gets caught in the rain, it might not be due to the sound.

According to feline veterinarian experts, it’s likely that more cats experience thunderstorm fears than we think. Since many cats vanish during a storm, their owners don’t realize how much rain can bother their pets. 

That’s because cats have super sensitive hearing that makes them react to sudden noises like thunder, loud rain drumming on a roof, or wind roaring. In addition, uncomfortable pressure on their ears from atmospheric changes can make cats flatten their ears in discomfort.

3.     STATIC ELECTRICITY IN THE FUR

Cat fur is a magnet for static electricity. So if you see your cat’s fur standing up during a thunderstorm and he seems nervous, it’s likely that any electrical discharges occurring outside during the storm affect your cat physically.

4. THE CAT COATS DON’T RESIST WATER

In most cases, cat breeds do not have a suitable undercoat that will protect them from the negative effects of getting wet. The coat can take a while to dry and add extra weight that the cat needs to carry around, thus putting them in danger in case they needs to run from a predator.

But there are exceptions for cats with a water-resistant coat, like the Turkish Van, and other cat breeds like water or swimming.

5. THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WATER

Most cats are not familiar with water or getting wet. Of course, the cats that lived indoors and got used to getting a bath early might react better in case of rain or storm. But, in general, indoor cats rarely get into the water.

It is natural that in case of rain they get scared. This is because they are dealing with an unfamiliar sound and element.

HOW TO CALM A CAT WHO HATES THE RAIN

If your cat seems unusually fearful, doesn’t come out of hiding after the storm passes, or acts afraid a day later, you can take several steps to calm your cat down and help your pet learn to handle storms.  

Here are some of the things you can do:

1.    CREATE A SAFE SPACE

According to Lore Haug, a veterinary behaviorist who works in Sugar Land, Texas, creating a safe space in a dark or windowless room like a basement, bathroom, or closet. Set up a white sound machine or soft music to drown out any scary rain sounds and help calm your pet down.

It’s a good idea to train your cat to come into the room when called. That way, you can lead her to a safe spot to reduce your kitty’s stress reaction when a storm strikes.

2.    ADD A NATURAL SUPPLEMENT 

A nutritional deficiency can exacerbate the issue if your cat hates the rain. If you want to help calm your pet down naturally, you can give him or her a supplement with naturally calming ingredients such as Soliquin, Zylkene, or Anxitane that won’t sedate your cat.

You can also ask your veterinarian how to boost your pet’s diet by adding ingredients like B vitamins, hydrolyzed casein, and L-tryptophan that support the central nervous system.

3.    TRY A THUNDER SHIRT 

This one’s at the top of our list for giving your kitty all the good feels during a storm. Order a calming shirt like a Thundershirt, an Anxiety Wrap, or a Storm Defender Cape before the next storm.

These clothes can help your cat feel snug enough that they come up and want to wear their calming shirt or cape when the rain comes.

Here are some ideas for thunder shirts for cats:

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4. RAINCOAT

If your cat likes to go out or you want to bring your cat out for a walk on a rainy day, make sure your cat is not getting too nervous by providing a raincoat. If you do not find a raincoat for cats, you can find rating cats for small-sized dogs.

For example, here are some ideas:

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5. PET DOOR FOR OUTDOOR/INDOOR CATS

To help a cat during a thunderstorm or rain, especially if the cat is used to going outdoors, it is essential to have a pet door that the cat can use whenever it is necessary to find shelter in the house.

6. PROVIDE YOUR CAT WITH A SAFE PLACE TO HIDE

When the rain starts coming down, some cats are terrified and need to find a place to hide and feel safe. Some cats feel safe going under the bed or inside an enclosed space.

It would help if you make sure your cat has many safe places to hide and release stress in case of a thunderstorm or rain. Don’t make your cat come out of hiding, but try to make him comfortable.

WHAT DO CATS DO WHEN IT RAINS?

When it rains, most cats try to find shelter under cars, porches, or anything that can stop the rain from falling on them. Most cats try to find warm and dry places to stay when it rains.

Fortunately, cats can be pretty savvy when it comes to finding small places to hide. The main danger for cats is to get hypothermia, when it is raining, they can get wet, and if it is cold at the same time, they can get sick.

ARE CATS SENSITIVE TO RAIN?

It is common to hear people saying that cats can sense rain, and if they do or act in a specific way, it is about to rain. But is that true?

Indeed, people have looked at their animals for centuries to get a clue about the upcoming weather. People have observed through time that pets and animals act in specific manners when the wheater is changing.

Although there is no scientific evidence, there are empirical observations made by many people who have had cats and have deduced they act in a certain way before rain or thunderstorms.

Here are some things people have observed that cats do before weather changes:

• Cats wash both ears
• Cats are suddenly frisky (usually before a thunderstorm)
• Cats sleep with all four paws tucked under (usually means cold wheater about to come)
• Cats stare out of the window for a long time
• Cats hiss (storm about to come)
• Cats sneeze
• Cats are snoring

Cats have very acute senses and can detect pressure changes in the atmosphere and associate it with rain or other wheater conditions. In addition, when it is about to rain, there are different smells in the air, and cats are very good at sensing it.

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