If your cat is afraid of the dark, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why is my cat afraid of the dark? Possible reasons why your cat is afraid of the dark are that it had bad previous experiences in the dark, it has separation anxiety, or that it is unable to see anything at all.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat is afraid of the dark and it could be due to a combination of causes. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why is my cat scared of the dark?
Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat is afraid of the dark and what would make them more likely.
Previous experiences
The reason why your cat does not like the dark might be that it had bad experiences, when it was dark, in the past. This would be more likely if your cat has started being afraid of the dark, suddenly, since a traumatic event that occurred while it was dark.
It can’t see anything
Cats have better night vision than we do. However, if the room it is in does not have any light coming into it at all, your cat still will not be able to see anything. If the room is completely black, it would be likely that your cat gets afraid because it is unable to see at all. In this case, it would help to let some light enter the room such as by opening a door or curtains.
Related: Why is my cat scared of the doorbell?
Separation anxiety
Another possible cause is that your cat has some separation anxiety. This is where your cat does not like being without you and being without you causes it to become anxious. This would be more likely if your cat only starts being afraid of the dark when you are leaving it alone.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always been afraid of the dark
If your cat was not always afraid of the dark, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started being afraid of the dark.
For example, if it started being afraid of the dark since another pet mistreated it in the dark, the cause could be that your cat is anxious about what could happen when it is dark. Whereas, if your cat started doing it since you stopped letting it sleep with you, the cause could be separation anxiety.
What is different when your cat is not afraid of the dark
If your cat is not always afraid of the dark, it would also help to consider what is different when it is not afraid. For example, if it is not afraid until you leave, the cause would be more likely to be separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat being afraid of the dark
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
It would help to limit reasons why it might get anxious when you are not around. Ways to do so could include ensuring that the room it stays in has a safe space for it to go to, is not too loud, and that your cat is not forced to stay with other pets that it does not like.
Make the room slightly brighter
If the room it stays in is completely dark, it could also help to let some light into the room. Ways to do so could include by opening a door or some curtains so that light can come in from outside.