So This is Love
Odie is terrified of storms and either takes refuge in the bathroom or slinks over to me to be wrapped in a blanket and cuddled. My cat is a man-child, and I’m completely fine with that.
We had some storms roll through here the night after Labor Day. Odie was in bed with me, hiding. I thought the worst had passed so I rolled over to get more comfortable (one of us has to get up and go to work in the morning, right?). My back was to Odie as a large bolt of lightening lit the sky.
Devoid of cuddles, Odie wet the bed.
As I realized what was happening, my heart broke for him. People without pets may not understand loving something that pees all over you (hmm… unless they are parents), but I hate not being able to comfort Odie. I hate knowing he’s so scared. He’s never wee’d in the bed before, so he must have been completely beside himself.
This pee-bacle also reminded me how much I love Will. As soon as I said “wake up, Odie wet the bed!” he was off getting towels and clean sheets. There was some Googling on how to handle cat urine and then we went back to bed.
Will even let Odie come back to bed with us after I wiped him off.
I love my boys.
Poor baby. My heart broke a little reading that. Odie is lucky to have you and Will to love on him.
My little fuzzballs don’t have any storm-related fears, but there are definitely times when they both need momma to snuggle them.
The last time we had to take the kitties in their carriers in the car, Lowell had a panic attack. The cat was panting and hyperventilating. I had to take him out of his carrier and hold him like he was a baby, curled up against my chest, until we got home. Hearing him not being able to catch his breath was so scary, and I knew I couldn’t do anything other than be there for him.
So give Odie an extra snuggle from me today. Hope he’s feeling better!
My parents’ cat used to pant like he was about to lose his mind when he was in the carrier in the car. I think part of this was because he KNEW it meant he was going to the vet.
Poor boy! None of my furbabies have storm anxiety quite that bad, but when there’s thunder, they do typically cluster around me like “Hey, we just wanted to make sure YOU’RE ok, mom. It’s totally not because we’re scared!” and they try to play it cool.
I feel so sorry for any animal who is so frightened. Odie is lucky to have such an understanding mom and dad.
I love when our cats try to fake cool. It usually happens when they accidentally flop off of a chair onto the floor and then are like “meant to do that!”
I’ve been peed on (and thrown up on) by babies and overexcited pets, so I get it. Poor fuzzball. But you are definitely a great cat mama.
Poor thing. My parents’ dog is terrified of storms, too. My mom just bought a “thunder jacket” for him. it’s supposed to relieve stress, something akin to swaddling. I wonder if they make one for cats…
We’ve discussed getting him a Thunder Shirt! They do have cat ones (or, rather, small dog ones you can put on your cat). Poor Odie may be rocking one soon.