Cats are one of the most adorable pets with their unique characteristics and adorable actions. One such cute behavior is when your cat starts playing hide and seek. However, when your cat is hiding, you may be wondering: Why is my cat hiding and not eating?
Cats hide and stop eating due to stress, anxiety or fear. A sudden change in their daily routine or habitat will also cause them to hide. This can often lead to a lack of appetite.
So, let's discuss why your cat is hiding and a few other related things you should know about.
Why does a cat need to hide?
The desire to hide in a dark place for a while is quite common among domestic cats. The hunter's instinct prompts them to take a position in a secluded corner so that they can calmly observe what is happening without being noticed. In other cases, especially small kittens, they want to be in a warm, cozy “nest”, where they are comfortable and safe. Fur babies grow and sleep a lot, so they need proper rest. Constantly playing TV and other noises do not provide the opportunity to have a good rest. Truly deep sleep is only possible in darkness and complete silence.
© shutterstock
It should not be surprising that cats find secluded corners in completely different places.:
- closet,
- box,
- under the bed or sofa,
- washing machine drum,
- on the shelf,
- behind the battery,
- under the owner's blanket.
If the cat hides constantly, then you need to buy one for it in a special store or make a house yourself. Fluffy pets love such shelters. This is connected not only with psychology, but also with physiology. Cats often sleep curled up. When sleeping in a confined space, they can lean their back against the wall of the house, thus relaxing their muscles.
In the closet
How can you not love dark cabinets? Cats love this area because there are at least two strong walls for safety and plenty of soft fabric to nestle in. Another benefit of a closet is that the enclosed space blocks out most of the sound coming from the rest of the house, so your kitty can sleep in there all day long. A closet makes a great hiding place for your pet when you have a party at home or when she's hiding from you because it's time to trim her nails or take a bath. Just be ready. It can be quite frightening when, as you are about to change your shoes, you suddenly see a pair of eyes peering out of the darkness.
Main reasons for seeking shelter
There are many explanations for why a cat hides in dark places. In some cases, the shelter is not always truly dark, but simply cool or, conversely, warm. There may be several favorite places for a pet, often they are well known to the owner. It is advisable not to disturb the animal at such a moment, because sometimes he needs to be alone with himself.
Why does a cat try to be invisible, let's name common reasons:
- character trait;
- the presence of another, older cat in the house;
- the need to calm down after suffering stress;
- anticipation of the appearance of offspring;
- desire to play;
- desire for security.
Timid by nature
By nature, some cats are sociable, while others prefer loneliness. Those who belong to the second category instinctively try to be “in the shadows” more often, which guarantees safety. Such a kitten will not sleep on a wide sofa with its tummy up, with its paws spread to the sides. Also, he will not once again catch someone’s eye. You can force him to come out of hiding with gentle words, a favorite treat, or a bright, entertaining toy.
If the cat is hiding, then you should not lure it out or put pressure on it. Perhaps something alarmed her, someone scared or offended her. She will go out on her own when she considers it necessary, wants to eat or take a walk. If you do not allow the predator to avoid an unpleasant situation, then its anxiety will only intensify.
Trying to get peace and comfort, even sociable cats hide. They may find a place for themselves in the linen closet or on the cool wooden floor under the bed. It all depends on whether the pet is cold or hot.
Away from the Boss
The presence of another cat or an older cat in the house causes the younger cat to hide more often. The owner can create a maze of boxes especially for him, through which he can easily get to a bowl of food or tray. The boxes must have multiple entrances and exits so that you can escape in time, avoiding a dangerous or unwanted collision with your opponent.
© shutterstock
What to do if your cat constantly hides in a dark place. We need to keep an eye on her. If her health is fine, her fur is shiny, and her nose is wet, then the pet’s behavior is due to other reasons.
Relief from stress
After getting into an unpleasant situation or being offended, even the most sociable cat hides in order to survive the stress and regain equanimity. Cats get used to their home and don’t really like change. If a kitten is taken to another family, the naturally cautious animal will need time to adapt. In the first days, the pet will react sensitively to any sounds or movements, and if it senses danger, it will definitely hide.
When moving to another house, the cat becomes restless. For the first time, you can place him in a small room. Gradually he will get used to it and begin to explore other rooms. You will definitely need to take his bed, bowl, and tray from the old apartment. Having familiar things around will allow your pet to calm down a little and feel more confident.
Tamed domestic cats get used to it faster than those adopted from a shelter or from the street. It is not so easy to regain the trust of an animal that has lost its former home. It will take patience, a calm atmosphere and a kind attitude.
Interesting situation
Pregnant cats begin to hide in dark places, which means kittens will be born soon. To prevent your cat from hiding and throwing your things out of your nightstands and closets in search of a suitable place to place her offspring, prepare a box with soft bedding for her. Place it in a convenient place so that the cat and babies will not be disturbed.
Let's play hide and seek or go hunting
If your kitten hides under the sofa during the day and hits its owner by the legs, then in this way he is simply playing hunter. For him, a dark place is an ambush from which he stalks his prey. Some cats won't mind running around and playing chase, hide and seek, or cat and mouse. They can realize their natural hunting instinct at home only through play.
© shutterstock
Search for safety
According to some cats, the owner's bed is considered the safest and most reliable place. Under the blanket it is warm and cozy, there is a familiar smell, which is a guarantee of protection and peace. Not every owner can be with their pet all the time. In the morning he goes to work and returns only in the evening. A cat can crawl under the blanket for the whole day, wanting to constantly feel the presence of its owner, patiently waiting for his return and a delicious dinner.
It’s bad not only for the cats themselves, but also for the owners. The fluffy beauty senses a person’s emotional mood, so she tries to relieve her owner of poor health or stress. She climbs into her arms and lies down next to her, trying to calm her down.
In the sink
You'll be puzzled the first time you find your cat in the sink, but it's actually a great place. To begin with, a regular washbasin is the perfect size for your cat and provides him with the shelter he needs, much like a cardboard box. Plus, he feels comfortable in the cool sink, and the proximity of running water to play with is another bonus. Don't be surprised if you pull back the shower curtain one day to find your cat sitting in the bathtub meowing. Although this structure is much larger than a box, it is also an excellent shelter with four walls.
So don't throw out empty boxes, put away laundry too quickly, or declutter your closet. If your cat has everything she needs to create the perfect hiding place, she will be calm and carefree!
Treatment and protection of the seam after sterilization of the cat
After sterilization, a postoperative suture remains on the cat’s body. It may be on the stomach or on the side if the operation was performed using laparoscopy, which involves punctures. Throughout the entire rehabilitation period, it is important that the suture remains dry and clean.
To protect the postoperative wound from infection and prevent the animal from accessing the unhealed suture after the surgical procedure, a bandage or a special blanket is put on the cat - a fabric bandage with several ties for fixation on the back.
External sutures are placed with surgical thread, which will need to be removed after approximately 7-10 days. Before removing the threads, the owner needs to treat the wound using an antiseptic that does not contain alcohol (can cause skin burns). This treatment will reduce the risk of contamination of the suture and infection entering the wound.
Postoperative suture care:
1. The suture area can be treated with Chlorhexidine solution using a regular pipette to apply to the wound.
2. To speed up the healing process, the area around the suture can be lubricated with Levomekol ointment. 3. To prevent infection of the wound, it is recommended to treat the suture area once a day with a special spray - Vetericin, Aluminum or other compounds of a similar effect. It is better to process the seam after sterilization together with an assistant: one person will hold the cat, the second will carry out the processing procedure, carefully rolling up the blanket.
On days 7-10, the sutures are removed at the veterinary clinic. If before this moment the owner notices signs of suppuration, inflammation or bloody discharge in the wound area, the animal should be immediately shown to a doctor! This may indicate the development of postoperative complications, which may be associated with wound infection.
When can you remove a blanket or bandage?
The duration of wearing a blanket or bandage is determined individually, which depends on the speed of the wound healing process and the behavior of the cat. On average, this accessory is worn for 5-7 days and is removed if there are no signs of wound inflammation.
If sterilization was carried out laparoscopically, the period of wearing the bandage can be only 2-3 days. In any case, only an experienced veterinarian can determine the possibility of removing a fabric bandage from an operated animal after a diagnostic examination of the cat, assessment of the condition of the wound and its well-being.
How to sew a blanket for a cat
Start by choosing your material. You can use elements of your old clothes, then they will calm the cat with your smell. For blankets, old thick tights or leggings or trouser legs are suitable. In this case, you can simply cut holes for the paws in them and secure them firmly with a knot around the neck. If you sew a bandage from scratch, you need to start by taking measurements: the girth of the abdomen and the length of the body, from the neck to the tail, the distance from the neck to the front paws and from the tail to the hind legs. Using these values, start drawing your pattern:
- Draw a rectangle, where the width is the circumference of the abdomen, and the length is the length of the torso. Don't forget about allowances.
- Measure the required length and place the notches for the animal's hind and front legs.
- Attach a tie to each corner: ribbon or rope.
Do not choose material with unstitched areas, as any thread caught on the seam can cause rotting.
