If your usually social and active cat has started hiding more often but is still eating normally, you may be wondering what’s going on. A cat hiding but still eating is likely dealing with stress or anxiety rather than illness.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: There are several possible reasons for a cat to hide while still eating normally, including stress from environmental changes, anxiety from loud noises or strangers, onset of a minor illness, or simply their natural behavior.
As long as your cat is eating and seems otherwise healthy, there is likely no cause for serious concern.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the top reasons for this behavior, signs to watch out for, ways to make your cat more comfortable, and when to call the vet.
Common Reasons Cats Hide While Still Eating
Life Changes and Environmental Stress
Cats are creatures of habit and can be easily stressed by changes in their environment. Things like a new pet, baby, or even furniture can make kitty feel insecure. Even pleasant events like a move or house guests can upset the balance. Their first instinct is to retreat and hide until they adjust.
Anxiety from Loud Noises or Strangers
Sudden loud sounds from storms, construction, or rowdy kids can make cats very anxious. Some kitties also get extremely uneasy around unfamiliar people entering their territory. Hiding is their way of coping with the perceived threat until it passes.
Offering access to a quiet, enclosed space when strangers visit can help timid cats feel more secure.
Illness or Physical Discomfort
When cats don’t feel well, their natural instinct is to withdraw to a sheltered spot. Illnesses like urinary tract infections, arthritis, dental disease, and gastrointestinal issues can all make kitty want to hole up in solitude.
Schedule regular vet checkups to rule out or promptly treat medical problems before they progress.
Instinctual Need for Privacy
Even when cats are healthy and content, they still need ample alone time. In nature, felines are solitary hunters so they are wired to periodically retreat to secluded lairs. Ensure your cat has access to quiet corners and cozy boxes or tunnels where he can relax in privacy.
This will make him more inclined to be social and affectionate when he resurfaces.
While cats hiding isn’t always a dire warning sign, significant behavior changes warrant attention. Monitor if kitty is still eating, grooming, using the litter box, and seems interested in play or pets.
If these normal routines decline for over 48 hours, consult your veterinarian to address potential underlying issues.
With some adjustments to their environment and your caregiving routine, most cats soon return to their usual rhythms. Understanding feline nature helps explain why your cat hides yet continues eating. Simply showing patience, providing personal space, and regularly tending to their basic needs keeps your kitty feeling secure and loved.
Signs Your Cat is Stressed or Anxious
Excessive Sleeping
It’s normal for cats to sleep a lot, but if your feline friend is sleeping even more than usual, it could be a sign of stress or anxiety. An anxious cat may sleep 16 hours or more per day as a way to retreat and avoid perceived threats in their environment.
If you notice your cat sleeping in new or unusual spots, like under furniture or in closets, this also indicates they are seeking safety. Excessive sleeping can be accompanied by other symptoms like lack of interest in play or food.
Skin Problems
Stress and anxiety can physically manifest in cats as skin issues like excessive grooming, hair loss, or skin lesions from over-grooming. Cats may lick or scratch themselves raw due to stress-induced obsessive grooming. Look for bald patches or sores from over-licking.
Agitation and stress can also cause an increase in dander production, worsening allergies. Skin problems signal something is wrong emotionally with your cat.
Aggressive Behavior
While some cats retreat when anxious, others become uncharacteristically aggressive. Stress causes heightened sensitivity and puts cats on the defense. You may notice aggressive behaviors like hissing, swatting, scratching, or biting that are not typical for your cat.
Aggression can happen toward humans, other pets, or even inanimate objects. The trigger may be identifiable, like a visit to the vet, or seem random. If your gentle kitty starts acting out, anxiety may be the culprit.
Using the Litter Box Outside the Box
One sign of a stressed cat is inappropriate urination or defecation, like going outside the litter box. When a cat stops using their box properly, it’s often connected to anxiety about the environment.
They may dislike litter location, dislike litter texture, feel ambushed at the box, or feel too stressed to make it to the box in time. Look for changes to the litter setup that may trouble your cat. Clean boxes regularly to ease anxiety.
Also ensure your cat is healthy, as medical issues can spark this behavior.
Excessive Self-Grooming
Grooming is important to cats, but excessive licking and scratching signals anxiety. Stressed cats may over-groom as a self-soothing mechanism. Examine them for bald spots, irritated skin, or sores from over-licking.
Compulsive grooming is sometimes called “psychogenic alopecia” in vet terms. Make sure their environment is enriching with scratching posts, toys, climbing spaces, and affection. Reduce stressors if possible. Talk to your vet, as anxiety medication may help in extreme cases.
Tips to Make Your Cat More Comfortable
Give Them Safe Hiding Places
Cats feel more relaxed when they have access to safe hiding spots. Provide enclosed spaces like cardboard boxes, cat tunnels, and cat trees with cubby holes. Place the hiding spots in quiet areas of your home so your cat can retreat when they feel overwhelmed.
Having a few different options allows your cat to move around while remaining hidden.
Keep Their Routine
Cats thrive on predictability. Try to keep your cat’s schedule for feeding, playtime, and sleep as consistent as possible. Cats feel less anxious when they know what to expect each day. Avoid sudden changes to their environment too.
Introduce new objects, furniture arrangements, or household members gradually so as not to startle your kitty.
Use Calming Aids
Consider using synthetic feline pheromones or CBD oils made for cats to reduce anxiety. These products mimic cats’ natural calming pheromones and can help them feel more relaxed. Place pheromone diffusers near your cat’s favorite hang outs or apply oils to their ear for a calming effect.
Talk to your vet first to make sure these aids are suitable for your cat.
Give Them Plenty of Playtime
Make sure your cat gets active playtime each day. Use interactive toys like feather wands and laser pointers to stimulate their natural hunting instincts. Play allows cats to release pent-up energy and anxiety in a healthy way. Aim for at least two 15-minute play sessions per day.
Providing appropriate physical and mental stimulation will lead to a happier, more confident cat.
When to Call the Vet About a Hiding Cat
Sudden Behavior Change
If your usually social and affectionate kitty suddenly starts hiding for no apparent reason, it’s time to call the vet. A sudden change in normal behavior can signal that something is wrong with your cat’s health. Hiding is one way cats try to cope with illness or pain.
If they don’t feel well, they tend to seek quiet, solitary places where they won’t be disturbed.
Additional Symptoms Like Vomiting/Diarrhea
Hiding along with other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or lethargy is also cause for concern. Cats instinctively hide when they are sick or injured to protect themselves from predators.
If you notice any of these other symptoms happening along with increased hiding, don’t wait – get your cat to the veterinarian promptly to be checked out.
Not Eating or Drinking
Cats who go into hiding and also stop eating and drinking need veterinary care right away. Dehydration and malnutrition can quickly have life-threatening effects on cats. A cat who hides and doesn’t eat or drink for 24 hours or more is an emergency situation.
Rush your cat to the vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
Excessive Hiding Lasting Over 48 Hours
As a general guideline, you should call your vet if your cat’s hiding behavior persists for more than 48 hours without explanation. While cats do sometimes hide for a day or two if frightened by something like loud noises or house guests, hiding for longer periods can indicate an underlying medical issue requires veterinary attention.
Some key takeaways on when to seek veterinary care for a hiding cat:
- Sudden unexplained hiding in a cat who is normally social
- Hiding accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy
- Not eating or drinking while hiding for 24 hours or more
- Excessive hiding for more than 48 hours for no apparent reason
Cats hide when they are unwell or injured, so sudden or prolonged hiding should not be ignored. It’s better to be safe than sorry – if in doubt, call your vet for advice. Catching health issues early greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and full recovery.
Conclusion
While a hiding cat that is still eating may simply be stressed or need some privacy, certain accompanying symptoms warrant a vet visit. Focus on identifying and minimizing stressors in your cat’s environment, stick to their normal routine, and consult your vet if the hiding persists beyond 48 hours or is paired with additional symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
With some adjustments to make your cat more comfortable and confident at home, their hiding behavior should resolve on its own soon. But be sure to keep an eye out and check in with your vet if anything seems abnormal with your four-legged friend!
