Cat Hiding Behavior and What You Should Know

Has your cat lost it?

Cat hiding behavior is not unusual and is a normal feline response. Cats withdraw suddenly from life and hide the day away when something is just not right in their universe. Common reasons why your cat may cower and want to avoid the public spotlight include one or more of the following conditions: a medical problem, pain, fear or stress.

Medical: Start by ruling out any medical issues. A change in pet behavior is often the first sign of an underlying illness or disease that may be causing discomfort. Medical issues can be ruled out with a thorough veterinary exam that includes diagnostic lab work. If your cat is not feeling well, then a health screening will give you a plan of action. If your veterinarian proclaims a healthy cat, then seek a behavioral explanation.

Pain: A medical exam will usually identify a physical pain unless that pain is caused by, for example, a child who may pull or squeeze the cat’s tail or other parts within grabbing distance. On the other hand, cats who are unable to get to their litter boxes because of a closed door or a bully cat sometimes refuse to soil outside of the box and may experience emotional and physical discomfort.

Fear: Cats see the world through the eyes of a predator and the eyes of prey, which makes them somewhat unique. Using physical punishment is a big mistake with cats. Cats respond to any type of threat or perceived threat with avoidance. Hiding is normal behavior for cats who want to avoid contact with a perceived threat. For instance, some cats share better than others. So, if your cat must share his or her stuff with a power hungry housemate who is bullying your cat, he or she may be afraid of public places or may just choose to avoid conflict. Territorial aggression is normal in cats so if you have more than one cat, be on the lookout for cat bully behavior.

Stress: Cats bond to territory and therefore are stressed by changes in the environment. Take a look around. Have you added new furniture? Is a new cat or dog now part of the family? Maybe a neighboring cat has taken up residence in your backyard. Has your routine changed? How is your stress level? Yes, if you’re stressing out your cat may be stressing with you! Try to keep your cat’s stuff such as feeding bowls, litter boxes and climbing trees in the same place. Keep in mind that we may like to change up the furniture but our feline friends do not.