Hiding Places For Cats: Where Do They Like To Hide, And How To Find Them

Felines are curious, mischievous, unpredictable, and sometimes – a huge pain in their pet parents’ necks.

Residing with a cat can prove quite troublesome at times, because of its litter box habits, finicky tastes towards food, demand for attention, pricey healthcare, and hiding places.

If you’re a new cat owner – yes, cats adore hiding in the most unexpected places. And if you already have some experience taking care of a feline furball – then you know how difficult it is to cope with the hiding habits.

Feline creatures don’t hide due to a desire to play hide-and-seek. But, they also don’t hide only when they’re scared or have some other unpleasant emotion like anxiety.

Sometimes they just want to find a warm, quiet, and comfortable spot for their long daily nap.

And there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as it’s not hazardous for the kitty. And as long as your entire wardrobe doesn’t get overrun by cat hair!

Today we’ll focus on some of the most common hiding places for cats. Many of them might seem quite unimaginable. And some of them actually pose a lethal danger to the cat in hiding.

Common Hiding Spots For Cats

Keep in mind that if your furry pal has never used any of the following hiding places, it doesn’t mean that it won’t give them a try sooner or later. After all, nobody can truly decipher the whimsical mind of a feline furball on 100%.

Behind Stuff

You will likely often find your kitty behind furniture pieces like couches, beds, curtains, cabinets, and so forth.  In most cases, your cat is hiding there because she’s scared or annoyed and wants to be left alone.

You will also find felines hiding behind appliances that produce heat. These include:

  • radiators
  • stoves
  • refrigerators
  • dryers

Inside Stuff

Cats will hide inside most anywhere, including but not limited to:

  • the laundry basket
  • the washing machine,
  • toolboxes
  • the couch/bed/recliner’s box spring
  • cupboards
  • drawers
  • baskets
  • suitcases
  • handbags

When cats hide inside or in between something, they are usually seeking the comforting smell, warmth, and/or fabric of the hiding spot.

Of course, the washing machine’s detergent scent may not be appealing to your cat, but the coziness of its cylinder (especially when filled with laundry) offers a safer, darker, and probably warmer enclosure than that cat bed you spent a small fortune on.

Under Things

Under the sink, the leaves of your potted plants, the couch, the bed, the porch, the staircase, and even the Christmas tree – all of these are quite popular hiding spots for most feline furballs.

In such cases, your cat could be stalking something and playing the hunting game, or it could merely be trying to nap at ground level. Why? Because sleeping near the floor offers quick escape routes for stressed out, scared, or annoyed furballs.

Over, Up, And Above

On top of the upper kitchen cabinets or wardrobes, over the highest shelves in the closet, over the fridge, or on top of the high bookcases are ideal hiding places for cats that want to be far from their owners’ reach.

What’s more, opting for height when hiding is a great way for the cat to practice its hunting skills.

Some breeds like the Oriental Shorthair and the Siamese adore climbing and lounging on the highest possible places. They are excellent jumpers by default and actively seek the heights. As such, you shouldn’t automatically assume that your kitty is scared of something that’s on the floor just because it’s trying to reach your ceiling.

Dangerous Hiding Spots For Cats

Even if something doesn’t seem life-threatening at first, it could still get your beloved furball injured. Here are the most dangerous hiding places for cats.

The Garage

Garages pose countless hazardous risks when it comes to feline creatures.

Hiding under the car’s hood is the most played-out, yet also the most lethal scenario. What’s more, the garage is also packed with the dangers to your cat, such as falling tools and the potential to ingest fluids in open containers  like antifreeze.

Kitchen Or Bathroom Cabinets

The problem with hiding inside cabinets in the kitchen or the bathroom is linked to the various detergents we usually store there. Every single chemical found in detergents can be fatal for your cat if it ingests even a tiny dosage of it.

Behind Or Inside Appliances

Your pet can get seriously injured from hiding behind appliances such as floor-based AC fixtures, radiators, refrigerators, stoves, and so forth. Electrical current, water, and heat are the basic factors, which pose a danger to the cat. However, getting stuck can also injure the kitty.

Hiding inside appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, wood stoves, and so forth can be lethal when you turn them on or when they malfunction. Unfortunately, cats don’t know that.

Inside Boxes And Bags

Most furballs adore “nesting” inside cardboards and other boxes, bags, suitcases, gym bags, and so on. There are tons of possibilities for mental and physical injury by accidentally zipping a tail, pulling a few hairs, recycling the box and its feline contents, or simply putting away the box/ bag and trapping the kitty along with it. Or even unknowingly throwing your cat away by giving the item the kitty is hiding in to somebody else!

How To Ensure Safety During Hiding Habits?

There is no ultimate way to cat-proof your house. Your pet could easily injure itself even by being clumsy or during a harmless play session. You can’t protect it 24/7. However, there are ways to ensure safety, even if it seems like your cat has the most outrageous hiding habits.

Remove all heavy, sharp, poisonous, and fragile objects from the typical cat hiding places. Monitor your kitty’s sleeping positions and its tail positions whenever it’s occupying a hiding spot. You might be surprised, but a cat’s tail position can actually tell you a lot! It can help you understand the cat’s feelings regarding its surroundings and the current situation.

Proceed with caution whenever the kitty is trapped. Calm down your pet before approaching it and try not to stress, scare, or annoy it any further.

Always check inside boxes, bags, cupboards, vehicles, hollow areas in furniture pieces, and household appliances. Needless to say, turning the washing machine or the dryer on with your pet inside it will have lethal consequences.

And lastly – keep in mind that cats don’t know what’s bad for them. Don’t punish your beloved furball for hiding somewhere you wish it wouldn’t. Just make sure all doors and entryways are safely secured.

Emily Parker

Emily Parker is the Content Manager at Catological. She's passionate about helping cat parents love their cats better by providing the best information and recommendations about everything you'll need to know about your cat, from kitten to senior years. She believes natural, biologically-appropriate products are best...why wouldn't you provide the best for a member of your family?!