My cat is afraid of the ceiling fan. He looks up fearfully at the fan anytime he is in the room. When there is a sudden noise, he will look up at the ceiling fan and then bolt out of the room at top speed. He will not stay in the room at all if the fan is on, even if it is only on low. I can’t remember any traumatic experience surrounding the fan. The ceiling fans have been here ever since we moved in.
Cat afraid of ceiling fan? Does this story sound familiar? You are probably wondering why your cat has this strange fear. I’m sure that you’ve heard of them being afraid of cucumbers and seen the videos on Youtube- but a ceiling fan?
Keep reading to find the answers to your questions. More cat owners have experienced this strange (or maybe not so strange?) phenomenon before than you may think. Continue reading to help your cat with their fear of ceiling fans, and restore peace and tranquility to your home.
Watch out Kitty-cat! There’s a ceiling fan behind you!
There are many reasons why your cat may be afraid of your ceiling fan, and many options to help you solve this problem. Your cat may be scared because:
- they see the fan as a predator
- they had a negative experience surrounding the fan, perhaps when it was installed
- they are reacting to a new experience, ‘neophobia’
- they are disturbed by the loud noise
And, there are many more, which we will discuss in detail in this article. To help your cat you can try a new fan like a desk fan, desensitize them to the scary experience, and positively reinforce the new, good experience with something that they love.
In another house down the street, since the ceiling fan has been installed, Garfield enters the main room of the house with great caution. Nervously glancing up at the ceiling, he skitters off to hide under the table. The ceiling fan is clearly a monster in the sky. Garfield continues to stare up at the fan.
But, its boiling out, and your house doesn’t have air conditioning. So, you head over to the switch and toggle the fan on.
Garfield makes a break for it- dashing at top speed into the guest room, where he hides under a bed.
Uh-oh! Wait- is this just my cat?
No way.
I’ll tell you how I know.
For some reason, cats being afraid of ceiling fans from time to time is not a fact that’s well known.
However, people are talking about it. Popular social media platforms like Reddit and Quora are discussing it. Cat care forums are also buzzing about the topic.
Additionally, if you research what people are asking Goggle about cats, many people are asking about ceiling fan fears! According to Goggle, many cat owners are also asking, “Am I the only one who has a cat that’s afraid of the ceiling fan?”
To add a cherry on top of all this, users are even emailing in SOSs about ceiling fans to editorials like BeChewy. Take Tigger, for example, who has taken to hiding under the guest room bed to avoid the ceiling fan monster.
So the next time it’s toasty warm in your house and you tug on your ceiling fan to start it up, your cat looks nervously up and then goes berserk- know that your cat isn’t crazy and you’re definitely not alone.
Those cucumber videos got all the glory- we need to spread awareness about the ceiling fan!
Of course, there can be many reasons why your cat is afraid of the ceiling fan, and of course, every cat is different.
However, there are a few common causes.
One of them is that the ceiling fan resembles a flying predator. It’s big size, fast movements, and even the color, if it contrasts to the ceiling, adds to this effect for your cat.
To add to all of this, the fan creates air movement like a real flying bird of prey would. The fan also generates a sound, although some fans are quieter than others.
I know it may not seem like a bird is really a big predator typically for a cat, but big birds- hawks, eagles, will try to scoop up small animals.
My cat is way to big to be picked on by an eagle or hawk, and we have lots of them around here. But, he has literally been picked on by a bird of some kind!
One day he came home with a gouge out of his back, possibly from a beak, and the hair has never grown back over that spot. Some large bird appeared to be quite literally, picking at him.
When I was really small I was afraid of those Jurassic Park movies. Why? Because those dinasours are massive compared to a small person (and an adult), and they. try to eat you with razer sharp teeth!
This may not be far off from what a ceiling fan appears to be to a cat.
Sometimes it may not be the fan itself, but an experience surrounding the fan. BeChewy suggests that it may have been something that happened to your cat during the installation of the fan, and now your kitty is avoiding the scene of the crime.
Moreover, just the fact that the fan may be a new experience for your cat period could be the reason for the reaction. If the fan is a new thing for your fur friend, they may be adjusting to a new experience.
Cats, like humans, can fear things simply because they are new.
According to ArchieCat, this reaction is called a neophobic reaction, and it is a natural defense mechanism.
Your cat innately and instantly assumes that this new being on the ceiling will threaten their life. Moreover, this reaction will be worse if the fan is loud, is moving quickly, and even has colors that contrast with the ceiling. This all makes perfect sense since these things will make the fan seem like an even larger threat than it is.
Humans also have this reaction to the unknown. It is built into us to freeze, fight, or run. Maybe you heard a very loud noise once from the sky and instantly ducked and covered your head, even though you didn’t know what the sound was or if you were necessarily in danger.
Cats really don’t like loud noises. If your ceiling fan is loud, that could be the problem right there.
Many studies have shown us that cats have great hearing. Their hearing is better than ours and even better than a dog’s. Because of this, loud noises to them are amplified. Loud noises can be very annoying, and very scary.
When you think about it, it’s hard for humans not to jump or be at least a little startled by a sudden, loud noise. This is similar to what your cat is experiencing.
Think of trying to stay calm or sleep with a fire alarm blaring, or someone playing their music loudly in the next room.
Annoying, right?
If you can get a quieter fan, or keep the fan at a lower, more quiet speed, this may be enough to address the problem if it is related to sound.
For more reading, check out our article on things cats hate.
Did you know that you can actually get slipcovers for the blades of your fan? If the color contrast is bothering your cat, it may be worth a trip to the department store to see if they have slips that are the same color as your ceiling.
Is it possible to stay cool with the fan going at a slower speed? If so, maybe you could turn the fan down and add a deskfan to keep yourself cool, and your cat unafraid.
The fast movement of the fan could be the problem here.
Also, your cat may not like the feel of that breeze pushing them around, from that fan.
It should be noted that if your fan is shaking, that may be scaring your pet, too. As well, your fan may not be mounted properly and might actually be dangerous. Try getting it reinstalled properly.
If your cat is afraid, try slowly adjusting him to the fan and its environment. You can do this with baby steps. First lure him into the room of the fan with treats, playtime, or other enticements. Once he/she is okay with the room, slowly move the ceiling fan blades with your hand.
If your cat can handle this, be sure to reward them with treats and love.
If this step is too much, start again but move more slowly. Patience and time will be needed. Remember to use their favorite things, like a favorite toy, as enticements.
If your cat gets used to you moving the fan with your hands in an environment of positive reinforcement and encouragement by yourself, the next step could be to have the fan on low.
This could also be a bit of a leap, so you could try a small desk fan as an in-between step. You can also try to distract your cat immediately with play, toys, and cuddles if you see him starting to get worked up. This may be enough to help bridge. the gap from one step to another.
If your cat will stay in the room with the fan but doesn’t go near it- maybe he mews at it- you could give them a high place to hang out in that room. Cats love high places and this might do the trick. Safety for them is up high. From a perch, they can survey their kingdom and feel in control.
For more on what cats love, consult this article.
It’s really important to first try and diagnose the cause of your cat’s fear. This is because, if you treat the situation as if your cat is afraid of the fan when he just doesn’t like the sound, you might not get anywhere with the tactics you choose to address the problem.
Sometimes, newly installed ceiling fans can make your cat stressed out. If you just had ceiling fans installed in your house, and your adult cat refuses to enter the rooms with the new fans, this could be what is going on.
But what do you do if newly installed ceiling fans scare your cat out of the rooms they are in?
You will need to allow for a period of adjustment. Be prepared to be patient, because this can take time. Your cat will gradually learn that those rooms aren’t really as scary as they might think.
Erika Raines, DVM, gives some practical suggestions for this exact situation. She suggests feeding your cat their meals in the next-door room, where your cat feels comfortable. Then, slowly and over time as your cat feels comfortable, move their meal bowl closer to the room with the fan. When the time is right, move their bowl into the room itself.
As you do this, be sure to reward your cat with good things as they complete a step: for example, treats, attention, or a favorite toy. You want to transform the area to a place full of good feelings for your cat, and this is the way to do it.
Throughout your day, continue to make sure that good things happen near that room with the fan. Even if something happens totally unrelated to the fan, say, you accidentally step on your cat’s tail near the room, this can set you back with your progress.
This process is called “desensitization” and can sometimes take months, so there is no need to be alarmed if it is taking a long time.
Another recommended step by Erika is to purchase Feliway, a synthetic feline pheromone, to diffuse into each room with the fan, (or wherever its needed; possibly in adjoining rooms). “This scent may make your cat feel more comfortable in the rooms,” Erika, DVM.
Feliway is a bit on the pricy side, but it can be purchased easily on Amazon. The extra dollars could well be worth speeding up your recovery process, although every cat is, of course, different. Moreover, this practical ‘hack’ could be worth it if your cat’s fear is dramatically changing your relationship with them. For example, you can’t spend quality time anymore with your cat because of their fear.
But what if you are trying everything and nothing works?
For example, maybe your cat is still hiding in a ‘safe room,’ and will not be lured out by their favourite food. Perhaps you even tried pheromones like Feliway. Even a favourite treat or toy fails to please. And, time is ticking – it. is taking a really long time to get anywhere with this!
According to Lifewithcats, “There is no timeline on fear. To get her over fear, you must use desensitization techniques first and foremost and allow her to de-stress. Flooding her (exposing an animal to his/her fear at levels that cause panic) will usually compound the problem and make fearful behaviors worse,” says cat behaviour expert Alana Stevenson.
Stevenson recommends the same desensitization process that we have talked about above. But first, your cat needs to be comfortable.
For example, for a cat who will not enter the room with the ceiling fan, she suggests setting aside a ‘sanctuary room’ with no fans, where your cat feels comfortable. It’s important to first build this safe space away from the fans, to allow your cat to destress, come out of their shell again, feel comfortable, and as if they belong again.
Once this is done, Stevenson suggests implementing the desensitization process. However, if you feel that ‘nothing is working’ with your cat, these steps may need to be very small and very slow. You will need to be patient because the process can take a very long time- especially if your cat is very scared!
Here are some of the small steps that she recommends:
(Some have been discussed already, but see this list for an easy reference)
I would personally add to this list, rewards for every step! Other experts have also recommended this. You most likely know what your cat absolutely loves and can’t resist. If they complete a step, no matter how small, reward. Them with that special something.
This speaks very loudly to them that they can fear less and that the space is again safe. As you have probably witnessed, they may tend to ‘forget’ that fan threat completely as they joyfully snarf down their favourite wet food.
A big, juicy carrot is a great motivator!
Additionally, I would add- for a cat that is very scared- you may really need to ‘micro-step’ it. By that I mean, if they are really spooked even by you turning the blades of that fan by hand, don’t be afraid to make that step so small it may seem silly. Instead of rotating the blade, you could even just reach up and push it slightly.
ArchieCat makes a practical suggestion: a desk fan. Trying a desk fan can be a simple fix in some cases. If you need to stay cool, try a mobile fan of some kind. Sometimes these fans are less frightening to your pet. But remember to switch the ceiling fan off!
It should be noted that mobile fans can be a slight danger to your cat if your cat is active and jumpy. They can fall off of desks, topple over, etc. Make sure your fan is in a safe place and mounted safely if you have an active cat.
Of course, this is not going to be possible if your fan is in a communal room, or another room that you would like to keep open to your cat.
However, if your cat does not need to be in the room with the fan, you can make sure that the door stays closed.
But please do help your cat face their fear and overcome it if this is a room your cat needs access to or if it’s a room you would like your cat to be in. Especially, do not block off this room if it is a room where they interact often with you in!
This cuts them off from you and may give them the message that they are not wanted, not part of the family, don’t belong, or are not as safe in the house as they once thought.
One Reddit membered posted an SOS on ceiling fans, “What to do about my cat being scared of the ceiling fan?” It’s interesting to note that members responded with many ideas that we have already gone over in this article, giving us more evidence that these strategies work!
Feeding under the fan, a desk fan, and checking for the shaking of the fan were some suggestions by members.
However, this member had two cats in this scenario. Upon moving into a new apartment with ceiling fans that were new to both cats, one adjust right away, but the other hid under the bed.
It’s interesting to note that the cat who was the most afraid was adopted from a shelter. This raises a good point to consider. Your cat’s background can significantly impact their response to the ceiling fan.
For cats who do not come from a stable background, and possibly have a history of past trauma, it will be no surprise to see them afraid of the ceiling fan.
Extra grace, patience, and time will be required for these fellas!
This is a great opportunity to help your cat overcome the past and strengthen their ties with their new family 🙂
You may be surprised to find that a friend of yours with a cat has had the same experience and can offer a hand. Moreover, if you’re really stuck, even your vet could have a solution.
Researching online or consulting a pet behavior expert could also be good things to consider.
You may be wondering, how do I keep my cat cool on a really hot day if we can’t use the ceiling fan? Cats don’t need fans to cool themselves during the warm months of the year, because they don’t sweat through their skin as humans do. In fact, they only sweat through their paws.
Although cats tolerate heat much better than humans, it’s still important to keep an eye on them when the temperature rises. Hot days inside and outside can be miserable for your cat and, at times, a danger to them.
Specifically, keep your eyes on senior cats and kittens.
Here are some suggestions to keep a cool cat.
According to Archiecat, there are some very practical and simple steps you can take.
Always watch for signs of dehydration and hyperthermia, as you would for a small child. Signs of dehydration include panting, sunken eyes, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and fatigue. Things to look for with heatstroke (hyperthermia) include rapid breathing, stumbling, vomiting, lack of energy, racing pulse, and a red tongue or mouth.
From personal experience, I find that when the sun goes down and things cool off, it’s great to throw open the windows and enjoy the cool evening with your cat. I have been known to lie down on the floor beside my cat, who is basking in the cool air from an open window, to finally enjoy some relief from the heat.
Enjoying those cooler times of day together is good therapy for warm days that can be a drag. This can ward away discouragement while providing a space for some quality time with your pet.
If it’s still too hot to have a play session, even sitting beside or lying down beside your cat will be appreciated by them. They enjoy your company, and probably understand that it’s too hot to play!
Just don’t get too close, since they will probably move away from you because of all your body heat!
For some ideas on play, see this article about great toys for your cat.
For more ideas on how to get your cat exercising, see this exercise for cats article here.
Yes, some cats can be afraid of them, but not all. The most common reason is that the ceiling fan looks like a flying predator. Add the movement of the fan, the sounds, and even contrasting color with the ceiling, and the fan looks even more like a real, live danger in the sky to your cat.
Pam Johnson Bennett, a feline behaviorist, has explained that if a ceiling fan is brown, it can even make your cat think of a hawk looking for lunch.
NO. But YES. If you have a cat that likes to jump onto the fan when it’s on (or off) you may have a problem.
But since you are here and are reading this, your cat probably has the opposite problem- a phobia of the fan!
Other than this, as long as your ceiling fan is mounted safely (isn’t shaking like crazy!), your cat is safe with the fan. They just think that they are not safe with the ceiling fan!
This is definitely a question that needs to be addressed in consultation with your veterinarian. But, in most cases, the answer to this is a firm no.
There are many techniques out there to help your cat, and it’s best to first try them before introducing medication into your cat’s body.
However, if your cat’s phobia is extreme and persistent, and/o interfering with their health or quality of life, then it’s time to go and see a vet.
But, many times owners just need to be patient and stick with the phobia-removing strategies, even if it is taking a really, really long time. Fears can take a while to remove. More often it’s us who just want to get the job done, rather than stick it out and see it through to the end. And, our fast-paced culture doesn’t help us as humans, here.
It’s hard to place a timeline on removing a fear.
Although it could be funny, or maybe even endearing, to see your cat afraid of a ceiling fan, fear of ceiling fans can actually be a problem.
When your cat’s routine is disrupted and you can’t interact with your pet anymore in the way that you used to be able to, something has to change.
Experiment and tweak your results and you will be well on your way to a happy cat again and a happy you.
Remember to be patient and to give your cat time if it’s needed.
-Written by Beth!
Holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Beth is skilled in and fond of writing. She is no stranger to animal care, having owned a cat herself for a decade and counting! Beth also grew up with dogs and enjoyed helping out with the animals on her grandparent’s farm. Beth’s cat never fails to surprise her, from socializing with a pack of raccoons to joining her on walks, there is never a dull moment in pet stewardship!
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