On Sat, 30 Aug 2003 10:29:09 -0400, "Bobcat"
wrote:

Of all the cats who've ever owned us, Martha our er, full-figured tortie is
the most afraid of thunder storms. She senses them long before they arrive,
and dives for her basement "bomb shelter" - a dark, quiet nook under my
workbench where I've left a chair cushion for her. She's more accurate than
the official weather forecasts, which makes me think that Environment Canada
should hire Martha part time. They could a detail to their local forecasts,
e.g.: : "The cat scan reading for the Toronto area indicates mid-afternoon
thunder storms..."


My Lucy, who interestingly is also a tortie, does the same thing.
It's erie, even if there are no storms forecast, if one's coming she
sits on the back of the couch where she can see out the west-facing
window. She ordinarily doesn't sit there, because the a/c vent blows
there and she doesn't like the breeze, I suppose. At the first sign
of storm, she either runs for my bed and gets underneath or hits the
floor and dives under the couch. Getting under the couch is a bit
tough for her but really enjoyable for me to watch her. She's a
little big to be getting under there but she just ducks her head and
keeps pushing with her hind legs until she pops under!