Cats prefer to hide in things like cardboard boxes and paper grocery bags. A coffee table or chair behind which your cat likes to curl up would be even better. Why do cats love to hide so much and how can you provide your cat with safe areas to do so?
What Cats Hide Because
Cats prefer to remain in confined spaces where they can feel secure and at ease, such as behind furniture or in cardboard boxes. Hiding is a common activity for cats. It may exhibit patterns, like hiding during the winter behind the dryer or water heater. There is cause for alarm when a cat starts to hide substantially more frequently. It’s possible that a cat that previously interacted with people frequently but is now hiding more often is ill, agitated, afraid, or all three of these emotions are present.
Before observing any increased concealing behavior, make sure your cat is appropriately consuming food and liquids and using the potty. Cats may start to hide more when they’re not feeling well, and any pain or discomfort your cat may be having could affect how they eat and use the bathroom. A non-specific indication of a medical issue in cats is hiding more often than usual. This suggests that if your cat’s hiding is connected to a health condition, any number of sickness processes could be to blame. Your veterinarian may be able to identify the cause with the use of a thorough physical examination in addition to diagnostic procedures like blood tests and radiography.
If your veterinarian is unable to identify your cat’s physical issue, his or her unusual interest in hiding all the time may be a serious behavioral concern. Cats frequently experience stress when their surroundings changes. Moving into a new home, bringing in new people or animals, or even just rearranging the furniture can all cause stress in cats. It is entirely possible for one cat to bully another cat in a home with several cats, in which case the victim cat might be hiding out of fear that the bully cat will catch them in public. This problem, known as intercat aggression, is really rather common in multi-cat families. Because cats, like dogs, can have noise phobias, thunderstorms and fireworks may make your cat hide out of pure dread.
If your cat is hiding more frequently as a result of stress or fear, your veterinarian may advise taking anti-anxiety medications such amitriptyline, clomipramine, or fluoxetine. Drugs like gabapentin can help in situations of high stress, such as during veterinary appointments, thunderstorms, fireworks displays, or travel. Drugs, however, aren’t a permanent solution, just as they aren’t for the majority of behavioral problems. Instead, they help your cat relax as you work together to reduce the stressors. Pheromone diffusers, such as Feliway, can make your home “smell” much more cat-friendly to your cat. Don’t worry, even though you won’t be able to smell the diffuser, the pheromone it releases may calm cats. Allow your cat to gradually get used to having visitors over. A cat will warm up to a person considerably more quickly if they respect their personal space and their home, and they will be far less upset if they aren’t forced into unwanted snuggle sessions. Since intercat aggression is a more complicated problem, your veterinarian may advise making changes to the design of your home. These changes can include putting cat shelves in high-traffic areas like hallways and adding extra supplies, like as food and water bowls and litter boxes.
How to Provide Safe Hideouts for Your Cat
Giving your cat safe places to hide is better to trying to stop it from doing so because hiding is a common activity for cats. They won’t be able to hide in risky places like inside of appliances or the washer and dryer. The majority of cats like to be elevated above the ground. Making cozy spaces might thus be an attractive hiding place, such as a cat bed on a sturdy bookshelf or perhaps a cat tree with an integrated cube room.
Even if they don’t show it, older cats may appreciate low-lying hiding areas since they may be arthritic. This can comprise scratcher houses made at home or in a factory, as well as their carrier, which can be made of cardboard. In fact, it will be simpler for you to transport your cat to the vet if you keep its carrier out at all times and fill it with cushy bedding. If your cat views its carrier as a safe spot to hide when it’s time to leave, it will be best to put it there.
Your cat is entirely accustomed to hiding. Really, the only time you ought to be worried is if they tend to hide more frequently or in perilous locations. For more information on where cats can safely hide and when you should be worried about their hiding, speak with your veterinarian.
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