Why Is My Cat Scared of Movement?

Cats can have many fears — of strangers, startling noises, other pets — and some cats are scared of sudden movements. Even a minor movement, such as a person standing up, can spook these cats and cause undue stress. So why are some cats fearful of movement in their environment, and how can we help them?

Why is my cat sensitive to sudden movement?

The first thing to understand regarding a cat's fear of sudden movement is that this sensitivity is part of the animal's instincts. Throughout evolution, the ability to perceive and respond to sudden motion has helped keep animals alive. It’s a survival mechanism — alerting animals to the possible presence of predators, alerting them to food, and so on.

The problem arises when this normal instinctive behavior becomes heightened. An exaggerated startle response in cats can develop for a number of reasons, with the three main ones being these:

• It can simply be part of the personality of the individual cat.
• It's the result of some earlier traumatic experience that made the cat especially fearful of certain things.
• The cat did not receive adequate exposure to certain things as a kitten, which has caused the cat to be overly fearful of those things as an adult.

Avoiding cat anxiety triggers

Sometimes the easiest solution is the best. If you have a cat who is easily startled or frightened by sudden movements, you’ll simply want to do your best to make your cat feel at ease by avoiding making sudden movements.

Also, keep in mind that every cat has their own unique personality, just as every person does. Not every cat is suited for every type of household. For example, a cat who's very shy around strangers (perhaps as a result of some unpleasant experiences as a kitten) might be too stressed in a home where strangers frequently visit. This cat might spend a lot of time hiding and not enjoy life to the fullest. A bold and confident cat, on the other hand, might welcome visitors and thrive in that type of home.

While certain traits can change with time, every individual feline has limits on how much they can change. So we have to recognize those kinds of limits and not continue pushing the animal to change because it can cause them unnecessary stress.

Giving your cat the opportunity to retreat when fearful

Even more important than modifying your own behavior is always giving your cat the freedom to avoid or escape the things that startle or scare them. For example, if you exercise in your living room every morning and this movement might make your cat nervous, make sure a door is open so that your cat can leave that room and relax elsewhere. 

For the unexpected incidents that frighten your cat (such as something falling over), just knowing that they can always get away can allow an easily startled cat to live more comfortably. The cat won't have to constantly be on guard that something will scare them and they won’t be able to escape.

Being sensitive to an anxious or scared cat

Because of the wide variety of sudden motions, there is no way to make an easily startled or shy cat comfortable around everything that might be scary. But you can implement some commonsense measures, such as covering a window that looks out on children playing in the yard or cars speeding by. 

The bottom line is simply trying to be sensitive to your cat’s fears and doing what you can to mitigate the things that are causing them.