AS I said, our cat is (sadly for me) a complete guitarophobe. If I so much as pick up a guitar, he will rush out of the room. If he comes in while I'm playing it, he wants to go into another room, or back outside.

I don't think it's just my playing that's the problem, but he's got me worried now...

As an experiment, when we first got the cat and discovered this dislike or fear of guitars, I got the banjo out. He'd never seen or heard it before, but the reaction was the same - he was off! It's the same with the mandola. So his irrational fear applies to all stringed instruments, not just guitars.

I can only assume he had a bad experience of some sort in his previous life (he's a second-hand cat and was 'pre-owned'!), involving a stringed instrument.

He's quite happy to be in the room when recordings of my guitar playing are on (I tried that as an experiment), so it can't be the sound that annoys him.

If any cat psychologists out there can throw any light on it, or suggest how I can get him to tolerate my playing, I'd be interested to know!