Calming down cat

Question
My cat Voltaire LOVES people. He's very clingy and loves attention. So whenever my husband or I have a shower he becomes terrified for our safety. He'll get in a panic and cry loudly and run to the other one of us to go "rescue" the one in the shower, and keeps crying until we get out. We try to console him and he wraps his "arms" tightly around our necks like a little kid, kisses our faces, and won't let go. I feel bad that he gets so scared. What can we do to calm him down and help him understand that the shower isn't hurting us?

Answer
Hi Antoinette,

I am not quite sure what exact stimuli Voltaire is responding to, (the sound of the water blasting, perhaps?)
but you can start by a gradual desensitization program, in which your cat is exposed to shower at a safe distance away for short periods of time building up time period each exposure, then rewarded with food treats for calm behavior. Your cat gets a treat, a CALM massage, CALM, relaxed petting, for his calm demeanor. With each session gradually, Voltaire learns to associate the sound of shower with positive things. This might look like bath water gets run if he is fine, then shower head gets turned on softly for a moment. If calm, then you let it run a little longer, if not you shut it off. Small amounts of exposure gingerly and when calm you try to expose a little longer the following session and continue until he is acclimated.
It may be a frightening sound as he has not been exposed to it before.
He sounds like he has the potential to be over-stimulated as the very insistent licking.
He also sounds like a wonderful kitty.
With Voltaire, not allowing him to get to peak excitement periods during play and otherwise is best.
Play with him  but SLOW play sessions down and dont allow him get to a kitty frenzied state.
Almost like a child, showing containment with their emotional peaks and valleys. We try to modulate as opposed to when they are worked up, further working them up. But, when we see they are starting to escalate we calm and wind them down. Same goes for cats and animals with play and affection.
Some kitties have more of a propensity towards this and it is a process of teaching them to self-modulate their emotional states with learning their body language and exact timing on how/when to turn it down.
There are things like Bach flower essences to add to his water to calm him and Calming treats by Pet Naturals and other homeopathic cat products made to help assist with relaxing them.
Good luck, I am sure with a little persistence in desensitizing and patience he will be fine!

Shanti