Poor Moonpie is now terrorized.(Update)

[Are_grits_groceries]

Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2016, 07:44 AM - Edit history (2)

This is the culprit:


This is one of the cat teasers I have. They love to play with all of them. Up until yesterday, both of them loved this one too. Now Moonpie runs like she stole something when she sees it.
I do not tease her with it. She obviously is scared of it now. I don't remember anything that seemed to scare her her when she was playing with it the last time. Tater ain't skeered.

Maybe Tater chased her with it while I was asleep or she had a nightmare. Moonpie does bite at the feathers when it's just still. Let it move though and whoosh. It's like the flying monkeys from Oz are after her.
I believe cats see things we can't. There is obviously something lurking with it. Maybe I should throw it out to get rid of the bad juju.
Kittehs.....

Update:
Moonpie has returned to her normal self. As long as the Feathered Fiend was out, she was skittish and kept one eye on it. I put it in a closet and will give it to my brother. He has 4 cats.
I still have no idea what got into her. I considered what all of you suggested but I don't think those were plausible scenarios.
Just being a kitteh. Inscrutable.

[Kalidurga]

1. I fostered a dog that was afraid of everything.

I would hold him and comfort him while introducing him slowly to the things that scared him and give him treats. He stopped being afraid of somethings. Then his rotten owner came and took him from me. Throwing it out would be a lot less hassle though. My only concern would be that the kitty starts becoming afraid of more and more things. But, if it's just this one thing no biggie. It's just the mystery part.

[malaise]

2. LOL

It's amazing what scares some cats

[Vinca]

3. Kitties have their quirks.

Both of mine run like hell when I open a particular kitchen cabinet to get pans out. Maybe a heavy pot fell out one time and made a loud noise. Who knows.

[ret5hd]

4. What probably happened:

This thing has a stick on the other end, right? Did you leave the stick up on a cabinet/dresser or something like that with the feather hanging down onto the floor? Did you come home to find the toy in a completely different part of the house?

My guess (from experience) is the cat was playing with the dangling feather and accidentally pulled the stick off the counter and it startled him and he tried to run away but he got tangled in the string and this thing (in his mind) TRIED TO CAPTURE HIM AND CHASED HIM ALL THRU THE HOUSE!!! OMG!!! IT WAS HORRIBLE!!!

I hate when that happens.

Signed,
ret5hd_cat

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. ^This is why Kittimus Prime refuses to be left alone in rooms with plastic shopping bags.

He was attacked by one once, and it wasn't pretty. (although he did sort of look like Super Cat, with the cape--I mean bag--flying behind him).

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. See my update. nt