Why Does My Cat Hide Under the Bed?
Cats will hide under beds for a number of reasons. According to Iams, they might use the space to get time away from the noise and stress of the rest of the house or show that they are feeling playful. However, hiding under the bed can also be a sign that your cat is feeling ill.
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Identification
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By keeping track of when your cat hides under the bed, you will be able to recognize its needs and respond to them accordingly. You will know whether it is frightened, wants to play, or would like to be left alone. When your cat feels playful, it might focus on you with its mouth open (but not showing its teeth) and purr, moving towards you in a crouched position. Cats that are frightened breathe rapidly and might shy away from your touch. A cat that wants to be left alone might turn its back on you or avoid looking directly at you. If your cat has also lost its appetite and appears distressed or listless, hiding under the bed might also be a sign that it is sick and needs veterinary care.
Significance
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Although there are plenty of harmless reasons that cats hide under the bed, if this behavior is unusual for your cat, it could be in pain or distress. As Flea Control explains, wild cats that were ill or injured would find somewhere to hide from predators and this behavior still remains in domesticated cats. If your cat refuses to come out from under the bed or insists on returning there if you remove it, then this could be a sign that they are ill.
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Causes
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Cats will use the space under the bed as a place to get away from noise or disturbance and sleep uninterrupted. They might also enjoy exploring and playing in the space. If they are frightened, nervous or feeling unwell, then the area under the bed provides safety and protection. Even if your cat is usually comfortable around people, external noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, can scare it into seeking out a hiding place.
Prevention/Solution
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Although hiding is a natural behavior for cats, if you don't want your cat to hide under the bed, the only way to stop it is to block off the area. Providing an alternative hiding place, such as a cardboard box in a secluded part of the house, will also help. As cat expert Sarah Hartwell wrote in 2004, if your cat has a nervous disposition then reducing the noise and movement around the house to a minimum will encourage it to gain more confidence.
Considerations
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If you are happy to let your cat hide under the bed, it's important to ensure the area is cleaned regularly. Dust and hair will build up over time, which could be trailed through the house by the cat, or even cause respiratory problems in your pet. It's also vital to make sure that there are no objects with sharp edges or points under the bed, and to remove anything the cat could chew or ingest.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cat waiting image by Yasen Pramatarov from Fotolia.com
