Are you wondering, why is my cat hiding? It can be worrying to see our furry friends hide away and seem afraid. You may worry that they have health issues, or even wondering if older cats hide to die? If you have moved house recently then you may wonder how long will a cat hide in a new home?

To answer these questions and uncover the secrets behind hiding behaviour in cats, read on…

Why is My Cat Hiding?

Cats often hide away if they are scared. Noisy children, fireworks, vacuum cleaners, new pets etc are all stressful to them and they may just take themselves away until the stressful event passes, or they feel able to handle it.

Cat’s also hide away if they are unwell. But why do cats hide when they are sick? In the wild, being unwell or injured makes animals vulnerable to other predators and so even though our pets are tamed, they still tend to want to hide away if they are unwell. If you feel that your feline is unwell or has medical issues, then call your vet for advice.

Some cats may hide away when they are dying. Even if your cat is elderly, and you feel that it may be their time, it’s best to speak to your vet for advice.

Many diseases that come with old age are easily treatable, and it may be that your pet just needs some medication to get them back on track. Some diseases of old age can be very unpleasant, and the kindest thing may be to put them to sleep, rather than leave them to suffer if they do have an untreatable condition.

If your cat is hiding and not eating then it’s a sign that they really are stressed or feeling unwell for some reason, as most happy and healthy cats will come out when they’re hungry. Likewise, if your normally confident cat has suddenly started to hide, or you think your cat is sick, then it is best to call your vet for advice.

Sometimes cats behave strangely, such as running around frantically and hiding afterwards. This may be normal “zoomies” for your cat, but if it’s out of character and they seem unhappy then call your vet for advice.

Where Do Cats Hide?

Some cats like to hide in boxes and some cats like to hide under the bed. Cats hide in all sorts of nooks and crannies, but they often like to be hidden away, and find a safe, small, dark, quiet, enclosed and private place.

Many cats prefer high up places, such as on top of a wardrobe, but if these aren’t available, or they can’t jump up then they will hide low to the ground too. Cats simply find somewhere they can feel safe, especially if you have other animals roaming around, such as dogs. If that becomes their hiding place, that's cats for you.

How to Coax a Cat From It's Hiding Place

Consider why your cat may be exhibiting hiding behaviour. If there are loud noises, then try and stop these, or close the windows so that it is quieter. Are they scared of house guests or other pets, if so, then remove other people and pets from the room, so that your cat feels safer to come out of their hiding spot.

Consider giving them an alternative hiding place to use, such as a clean cardboard box with a blanket in. This can be an alternative safe space for them to use. You may be able to tempt them out of this and it will be easier for you to check them over or take them to the vets if they’re not in an enclosed space that is hard to get to. Think about ways to make your cat feel more comfortable to come out of their hiding space.

Try offering their favourite food to tempt them out, or a fun toy. Hopefully when they are feeling more comfortable, they’ll venture out.

If your cat doesn’t want to be tempted out at all and you’re worried that they may be unwell then you may have to get a friend to help you carefully move furniture or reach to get them out, so that you can take them to the vets for a check-up. Call your vet for advice if you’re not sure what to do.

What Should I Do if I Am Worried?

Don’t panic! Your veterinary team should be your first point of call if you are worried about your cat. Give them a call and ask for advice. They’ll be able to help work out what’s going on.

If there’s a medical condition behind your cat’s behaviour, your vet will be able to help diagnose and treat your cat. If it’s purely a behavioural problem, your vet will be able to refer you to a specialist veterinary behaviourist who will be able to help you work through any issues your cat is having.

Felines hide for all sorts of reasons but it’s often a sign that they are unhappy in some way. They could be scared and stressed, unwell, or it could just be part of their normal everyday behaviour.

If you can’t get to the bottom of why they’re hiding, and your vet gives them a clean bill of health, a veterinary behaviourist should be your next port of call. They’ll be able to help manage hiding behaviour in cats and hopefully get your kitty feeling safe and happy again.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.