Can pets have phobias??

[melanie2]

My cat won't go downstairs...for over a week now she's been acting rather strange..sleeps most of the time..she still eats, drinks, and poops...but doesn't play...she's only five...and when we try to take her downstairs, where the living, dining, etc area is, including the screened in back porch which she loves..she immediately rushes back upstairs...we think she might have gotten stung by a bee that got inside....is it possible she has a fear of the downstairs now? and when will she get over it?

 

[tff69]

Oh yeah, my dog hates cellers! yes, i believe they can

My one cat is afraid of bees

 

[TheJTickler]

I had a dog that got scared of someoen leaving the car. Even if someone was still in the car with her, she would race through the car, hyperventilating until that person came back into the car.

 

[RevolutionOfTK1]

I had a ferret who was afraid of being trapped in something small. He once crawled into a large tin, couldn't find his way out (though all he had to do was look up) and he started screaming really loudly. It was so sad and pitiful, but once I got up to grab him I made some noise and he realized he could get out by standing up.

Another time I bought my ferret a large ferret ball. And he was too afraid to roll around in it so he just sat inside shaking.

 

[melanie2]

O dear...those stories are just too heart breaking..i might cry now...

 

[Budweiserbob!]

Easily. The most common cause of trauma in pets is previous owners who mistreat them. Stuff like being hit, locked in cages, be deprived of food and water etc. It's quite a sad sight actually. 🙁

 

[melanie2]

*sighs* so it turns out, chelsea has fleas...we did a test this morning...you brush her fur really fast..over white paper...and then the little dark spots, the dirt so to speak will fall on the white paper...then you dampen it..and if the spots turn rusty or red...your pet has fleas...sighs..damn it...how can an indoor cat get fleas??? so David went to the vets up the hill, and bought those flea drops you put behind her neck...and we shall let off a flea bomb on the screened in back porch...well thank goodness it's nothing more serious..i was afraid she was dying..

 

[PlutoBum]

i would think any animal can have phobias!
and good for you, izzy! it's a blessing it wasn't anything worse *hug*