Ceiling fan jitters

My cat and I recently moved into an apartment that has a ceiling fan in the livingroom. Everytime I turn it on, she looks at it, runs and hides and refuses to come out until it's off. All I have to do is reach for the switch and she is darting into the bedroom as fast as she can! I have tried to coax her out with treats, but that doesn't seem to be working. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions? I am completely open for ideas, because I would love to have it on and have her by my side too!

Leave it on.
I have six in my home that all run 24/7.
I'll bet it is just the sudden changing of the movement and air that she is reacting to, not the fan itself.

I agree. Just leave it on and give her time. My cats love watching the fans. Also it makes the light dance on the walls which entertains Hope to no end!

I've left it on for a whole day before (while i was home) and she didn't come out at all. When she does finally come out after it's off, she looks up at it and moves around very slowly, keeping her eye on it. I will keep leaving it on for long periods and i guess hopefully she will get used to it. Thanks!

You might try lifting her up to see and smell the fan when it is off. Then, with your hand, nudge the fan so it moves slowly. Perhaps when she sees it up close and realizes that it won't hurt her, she won't be so frightened.

lotsocats gave the best advice. You may want to see if it's the speed of it that bothers her. Try a different setting

I have the exact opposite with my Callie. She cowers when the ceiling fan is OFF. She's fine if the blades are the same color as the ceiling, but if the blades are natural or stained wood, she freaks! It's taken a year for her to get used to the ceiling fans in our house (we moved in a year ago), but there are still times when she's spooked by them.

Maybe time is the answer and the fan set on a low speed.

Stephanie

I've had new cats scared of ceiling fans for a while and they get over it eventually - either leave it on or off but switching between the 2 will scare them.

Here is a really weird thought that may be a trick for you. One year at Halloween we made little ghosts out of kleenex (wad 1 kleenex in a ball and wrap another over that and drape it down, then tie a string around the neck), then tied them to the end of the ceiling fans. I turned the fans on low and the cats sat and watched those ghosts for hours, absolutely enthralled by the movement. I have no idea if turning the fan into a prey game would help you.

Knowing mine they'd find a way to get up there and then where would I be??
Oh, the mess!!! Kleenex snow!!

Originally Posted by cuddles2

My cat and I recently moved into an apartment that has a ceiling fan in the livingroom. Everytime I turn it on, she looks at it, runs and hides and refuses to come out until it's off. All I have to do is reach for the switch and she is darting into the bedroom as fast as she can! I have tried to coax her out with treats, but that doesn't seem to be working. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions? I am completely open for ideas, because I would love to have it on and have her by my side too!

Click to expand...

My baby did the same thing when we moved. It took him 6 months before I was able to really use the fan. He stills looks at it funny.