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No appliance sucks more than the vacuum cleaner according to the furry family. But just why it’s so despised may surprise you. Plus here’s how to ease the stress with some simple tips…
This is the one household item that dogs and cats agree should be disposed of immediately. But it’s not just the extreme noise hitting those sensitive ears that generates the stress. No matter the brand or even if it’s a ‘pet hair’ specific model, every vacuum produces high frequency sounds we might not hear but their ears (used for hunting high frequency producing prey like mice) are extremely tuned into. The other factor is how often we vacuum. Because it’s usually only once a week (don’t judge me!), the vacuum emerging from the cupboard is an event in the same way a thunderstorm or fireworks going off are!
So what can you do to help? Well here goes…
1. De-mystify that devil machine. Get it out in the open and leave it lying around for a few days. That way, they’ll be able to sniff it and realise it’s not really possessed. You can even put some treats on it and play around it.
2. Leave it running. Taking away the novelty and instant heart pumping fear it brings will make a big difference. By leaving it on for 20 minutes you ‘flood’ them with the sound and let them realise it’s probably not worth worrying about.
3. Don’t lunge at them while vacuuming. This triggers their fight or flight response and will really ruin the already fragile relationship they have with it.
4. Consider a robot vacuum. These are quieter and their constant presence will mean they don’t evoke the same level of panic.
The relationship between the vacuum and the one producing most of the hair you need to suck up doesn’t need to be a rocky one. If you’ve uncovered the ultimate vacuum hack, please let us all know in the Facebook page or instagram comments…
