You are a cat. You hate loud noises. Which would you prefer?

[Bossy Monkey]

Choose carefully. A small cat's happiness depends on you. (It's a very small apartment; the only room with a door is the bathroom. However, I have the very strong sense that the vacuum would be even louder and more frightening in there, even with the door closed. I expect I'll let her cower where she chooses, doing half the apartment this week and the other half next week. But I hate making her scared.)

[REP]

1. My weird shy cats vote for We'll Hide On Our Own, Thanks

The cat-eating machine can get them if they're pinned down in the bathroom.

[HopeHoops]

2. Your cat is an official member of PALM

One of my daughters came up with the acronym - Pets Against Loud Machines.

[kiva]

3. Definitely let her choose.

I agree that the sound would likely be even scarier in the bathroom; mine just go from hiding place to hiding place when I vacuum - under the bed, under the nightstand, behind the dresser...you get the idea.

[Bossy Monkey]

7. I did actually shut myself in the bathroom while the vacuum was running;

while it was marginally quieter in there, it would be especially terrifying for a kitty not being able to see what's making the noise and not to be able to escape, I would think. So I'm glad I didn't put her in there. (As I mention below, she was back to normal within 10-15 minutes, so I guess this gets less traumatizing for her every time I vacuum.)

[Bossy Monkey]

4. The monkey says "Thanks, all"

Of course, she'd thank you even more if you'd come and take the vacuum away, but still.

[Demoiselle]

5. Cats are brilliant at hiding.

And if you make a habit of grabbing her and shutting her in the bathroom against her will, she might be less
likely to come to you. I imagine she'd be especially happy if she could hide somewhere up off the floor away from the evil cat eating beast.
But she'll manage nicely in any case.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. She hid in the telephone-table type thing that her kitty bed sits on top of.

She was all the way back to normal by the time I had finished taking out the trash and recycling 10 or 15 minutes after vacuuming was done. So DUers give good advice.:)

[rcrush]

8. How do you get the cat to ride the vaccum cleaner?

I saw it once on youtube or something.

[kiva]

9. Yup, here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewdbilSWjaM

Max the cleaning cat.

[Kutjara]

10. My (now sadly departed) cat used to attack the vacuum.

No sooner did I turn the machine on, but there'd be an almighty screeching ball of fur, teeth and claws arcing through the air, ready for mortal combat. She'd then repeatedly pounce on the vacuum, dart away, pounce, dart away, etc. until it was switched off, at which time she evinced no further interest in the seemingly dead prey. Her work was done.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Buy her a Roomba so she can ride around on it.

[david13]

12. My cat decided he was not going to let it bother him anymore, so now

he just sits there and pays no attention to it. Sophistication, maturity.
dc

[applegrove]

13. One of my cats is used to the vacuume and will sit on the back of the couch

at my parents' place when the livingroom is being cleaned.