# Suddenly, the cat is afraid of the TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856 "2013-04-27T20:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/1 "2013-04-27T20:08:51Z")
For about a week, I’ve noticed that Tonka seems to watch the TV. Today he was intensely watching _Tarantula_ (1955), and seemed to be afraid. After the movie, Ben Mankciewics was interviewing people, and he seemed afraid of _that_. Now he’s hiding from _The Incredible Shrinking Man_ (1957). ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/2 "2013-04-27T20:35:51Z")
Maybe he just doesn’t like 50’s horror flicks? Our dearly departed kitty, Socks, started to watch TV fairly frequently after we got the big-screen 1080p set. He reacted most to shows that had a lot of contrast and moving graphics (the intro to the nightly news fascinated him). Nowadays, our Siamese mix, Nico, has also taken to watching, but she’s only interested in nature programs. The only time I’ve seen her look afraid, or maybe offended, was when we watched “My Cat From Hell” and there was audio of a cat spitting and growling. My daughter believes Nico just doesn’t think they should allow language like that on television. She does seem to go through cycles of being interested in the TV and ignoring it completely. Perhaps something in _Tarantula_ grabbed Tonka’s attention and put him on watch? If so, the effect might fade with time. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/3 "2013-04-27T20:41:38Z")
When the movie ended, he got up to eat. We do have a 46" TV. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/4 "2013-04-27T20:55:43Z")
It’s okay to be afraid of spiders that are bigger than you are. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/5 "2013-04-27T21:01:46Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > He reacted most to shows that had a lot of contrast and moving graphics… The SO mentioned that maybe he sees B&W better, so contrast with movement might be it. _Five Million Years To Earth_ (1967) is playing now. It’s in colour, and he’s not paying much attention. Too bad. It’s a good film. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/6 "2013-04-27T21:17:09Z")
I used to have cat that watched Hockey and would try to catch the players on the ice. He didn’t care much for referees and would claw at them the fastest. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-the-cat-is-afraid-of-the-tv/656856/7 "2013-04-27T21:26:15Z")
Let him watch 8 Legged Freaks and report back on his response.