Recently, a TikTok video from @barns_adventures revealed that cats do have a soft side. Nala the tabby can be seen comforting April, her golden retriever friend. The on-screen text says that there was a thunderstorm in their hometown of Houston and that they've both always "been scared of thunder."
The clip, captioned "[Be right back] crying my eyes out," has amassed 165,000 views and 35,400 likes since it was shared Tuesday.
The footage shows Nala licking April's head, and their owner points out that they "both love each other so much."
"A literal emotional support animal," said another.
"I'm crying but also cackled at how the cat was like "ooop we got caught being vulnerable," said another, referring to the end of the video where Nala appears to play it cool by acting as if nothing had happened when she notices her owner is watching.
Five Tips to Help Your Dog Weather a Storm
While these adorable animals can rely on each other for support, not all pets have a companion. Newsweek previously spoke to Joe Nutkins, a dog trainer based in the U.K., about ways to help a dog during a storm. Here are his suggestions:
Create a safe space for your dog to retreat to, as dogs naturally seek out den-type areas when scared. This could be a crate with a cover over it and cozy bedding inside or a table with a large blanket draped over and the dog bed underneath. Or open a cupboard or provide access under a bed. Finding a space where dogs feel secure means they can stay more grounded and work through their fears. Their safe space also may be lying behind you on the sofa so they have contact with you.
Look at foods known to help with calming, such as blueberries, pumpkin seeds, whole oats and even beef, which helps with the body's production of the stress hormone cortisol. By feeding your dog some calming foods during heavy rain, you can help your dog ahead of possible thunder.
If your dog loves to play, try inviting it to play with you and a toy when you hear the first rumble of thunder or see the first flash of lightning. It may be far enough away, or timed well enough with the play, that your dog's adrenalin can lift and help settle its fears. A game while the storm takes place can help in some cases, but if your dog is too worried, let it go to its safe space.
Walk your dog during the daytime where possible. It can be a good idea to use a harness as well as a collar for any walks when rain starts or thunderstorms are forecast. Scared dogs, when startled, can bolt, and this means they can easily get out of collars and harnesses. Dogs can go missing during sudden thunderstorms when they panic.
Keep a selection of favorite toys nearby or prepare an interactive toy with favorite treats as soon as you hear the first sign of thunder or see lightning. Then you can start a game with the toy or encourage your dog to use the interactive toy and find the treats. This can help create a positive association with the storm.
Newsweek reached out to @barns_adventures for comment via TikTok and could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Your cat might start to show signs of stress when a storm is on its way and typically show their fear by trying to find somewhere to hide until the storm passes. Some cats will have a strong fear response where they may show a raised coat and bushy tail, sometimes even hissing at anything or anyone.
Many theorize this fear comes from hundreds of years of learned survival instincts. Couple the survival instinct with the fact that dogs can hear a minimum of twice the frequencies that of humans and they can hear sounds more four times farther than humans creates a recipe for canines to freak out a bit.
Cats' inner ears may detect the sudden fall in atmospheric pressure. A cat is also more sensitive to sounds and smells. Therefore, your cat will hear the rumble of a thunderstorm before you do. Likewise, your cat is more likely to smell the incoming rain or that metallic odor of lightning in the air.
Our cats can be sensitive to pressure changes, and they may show signs of discomfort before a storm arrives. There may also be an increase in static electricity, which can also make your cat feel less comfortable.
One surprising tip that works on a fair number of dogs: Take an unscented dryer sheet from the laundry room and wipe your dog with it lightly. This eliminates the static electricity that builds up in a dog's coat during a storm, and for some dogs this is all they need to settle down.
Talk with a soothing voice. It's okay to cuddle your dog if that's what they want – but if they take themselves to their den or even under your bed, that's fine too - let them go where they feel comfortable.
Dogs may also feel static electric shocks during a storm, which is understandably terrifying if you don't know why it's happening! Static electricity is a big reason why some dogs try to hide in grounded places like in a bathtub or behind a toilet—ceramic material doesn't conduct electricity.
If your dog acts afraid again, don't attend to the fearful behavior. Redirect him to a pleasant activity, such as playing ball. Gradually increase the volume until your pooch can handle a more realistic sounding storm. This process may take several days to a few weeks.
Many cats, however, do become anxious during storms, and they typically show their fear by hiding in closets or under furniture until the storm passes. Thunderstorm phobia is far less common in cats than in dogs, says Petplace, but it does occasionally happen.
If your cat is outside when a storm breaks, they're usually pretty good at finding some form of shelter, whether it's in a porch, a shed or a garage, in a doorway, underneath a car, or in an area of woodland where they're protected from the rain. So if your cat is caught out in a storm, don't be too concerned.
Cats with their tails up and hair apparently electrified indicate approaching wind. It is a sign of rain if the cat washes their head behind their ear. Cats clean table-legs, tree-trunks, etc, before storms.
French fishermen, in particular, would watch their cats closely to predict weather changes. They believed that is the cat pressed her paw behind her ears while grooming, it was going to rain. From that belief came this little rhyme: “When the kitty washes behind her ears, we'll soon be tasting heaven's tears.”
Can Cats Sense That You're Sad? Yes, cats can sense when their human is sad. While they may not understand sadness as we do, cats can recognize the behavioral shifts that come with our mood changes.
Is Your Cat Scared of Thunder? Like some dogs, some cats couldn't care less if it's storming outside, and remain as calm and collected as they would be on a sunny day. Many cats, however, do become anxious during storms, and they typically show their fear by hiding in closets or under furniture until the storm passes.
Just before a storm, your cat's inner ears may detect the sudden fall in atmospheric pressure, and she may have learned to associate this with an impending storm. If a storm is already raging in the distance, she may be able to perceive the faint rumble of thunder.
We know they're scared. But cats, too, can be fearful of the atmospheric light and sound shows, reacting to pressure changes, loud wind and rain, and electrical discharges. “It's suspected that there are probably more cats bothered by thunderstorms than we realize,” says Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, who practices in St.
Whenever your pet senses a storm coming, they may seek shelter and hide where they feel safe. Although they may be able to ride out a regular thunderstorm in this spot, for a tornado, you must be able to locate and remove them so that you can safely get them to your designated tornado area.
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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