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Why do cats gag when owners scrape their fingers on a comb?

News - Jan 19, 2024
Why do cats gag when owners scrape their fingers on a comb?

A video captures a cat's strange reaction to the sound of combing teeth. Why?

Even though cats always call cats "boss," their boss seems to find ways to make fun of them. 

In numerous viral videos on social media, cats are shown being teased in various humorous situations, from the classic game of shining a laser on the wall to make the boss pounce to placing a cucumber behind your back to scare them. 

Numerous owners wonder why the sound of a comb makes cats react so strangely. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube
Numerous owners wonder why the sound of a comb makes cats react so strangely. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube

One of their trolls became a trend that spread for a long time. 

Cat gag, tongue after  owners scrape their fingers on a comb

Recently, someone came up with a new trick. So a series of cat-owning communities are sharing videos of how to make cats sick with just a comb.

Specifically, according to the video, just rub the teeth of the comb with your hand and make a slightly harsh sound in front of the cat. After about 30 seconds, the cat will start to stick out its tongue and say "Ouch."

Cats don't just react this way to the sound of comb teeth but also to many other sounds. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube
Cats don't just react this way to the sound of comb teeth but also to many other sounds. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube

This troll was then taken on by several owners and their cats started it too gag after they heard fingers on a comb. Then, numerous owners couldn't help but wonder why that sound caused cats to react so strangely. 

Why do cats gag when owners scrape their fingers on a comb?

Cats react to many different sounds. 

In fact, cats react this way not only to the sound of comb teeth but also to many other sounds: the sound of crumpled paper, the crunching of tinfoil, and even the sound of a clock winding.

According to a study published in the journal Feline Medicine and Surgery, there is a condition called Feline Audiogenic Reflex Epilepsy (FARS - roughly translated as Feline Acoustic Reflex Epilepsy). 

High-frequency sounds can make them extremely uncomfortable, triggering a gag reflex or even worse. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube
High-frequency sounds can make them extremely uncomfortable, triggering a gag reflex or even worse. Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube

According to the study's author, Mark Lowry, many cats—especially older cats—react very strongly to loud sounds. 

The study showed that 85% of cats have a convulsive reaction to the sound of tinfoil, 73% to the sound of a paper bag, and 64% to the sound of typing... and the sound of boiling water. and printer sounds.

So is the reaction to vomiting when hearing the sound of combing teeth related to this phenomenon?

The answer is yes! Cats are known as predators. They not only have razor-sharp teeth and razor-sharp claws but also, more importantly, whiskers that are sensitive enough to sense high-frequency sound waves.

On social media, numerous videos show cats exhibiting strange reactions to the sound of combing teeth. Why? Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube
On social media, numerous videos show cats exhibiting strange reactions to the sound of combing teeth. Why? Image Credits: @Caters Clips/Youtube

In the wild, cats are sensitive to high-frequency sounds to hunt prey. But for domestic cats, the situation is different.

High-frequency sounds can make cats extremely uncomfortable, triggering a gag reflex or worse.

So, when owners scrape their fingers on a comb, cats tend to gag and express discomfort

The high-pitch sound causes cats to stress

The study also showed that cats tend to be frightened or suffer from epileptic seizures when they hear high-pitched, harsh sounds (such as the sound of comb teeth).

Additionally, high-pitched sounds can lead to an increase in cats' stress levels. This stress can lead to depression, weakening their immune systems and making them more susceptible to illness

Watching the video below: