Is your cat suddenly hiding a lot and ignoring you?

Possible medical causes

• Any illness that causes pain or discomfort can make a cat want to hide and avoid being disturbed
• Sensory decline makes cats feel less secure about environmental changes, making them more prone to becoming withdrawn
• After a cat fight injury, it's also common to see hiding, low energy, limping, and not eating

Possible behavioral causes

• Unfamiliar people, sounds, objects or interactions may prompt retreat; one pose does not grade stress.
• Observe avoided places, times or individuals and actual resource access; do not diagnose chronic stress from a list.
• Common stress sources: sharing resources with a cat it doesn't get along with, territorial competition from too many cats in the home, a lack of hiding spots and high perches, or environmental changes

Initial at-home suggestions

• Rule out illness or injury first, especially right after an incident like a fight or a fall
• Take stock of whether home resources are sufficient: litter boxes, food bowls, water bowls, scratching posts, beds, high perches, hiding spots
• Check whether your cat has enough of an undisturbed hiding space
• Think back on recent changes: a new pet, a new family member, moving house, or a schedule change

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