Symptom guide

Why Is My Cat Hiding? When It's Normal and When It's Not

Cats hide when they're scared, stressed or unwell. How to tell normal hiding from a sign of illness, and how to help a hiding cat feel safe.

Updated October 2026 · 6 min read · By the Hushku editorial team · 2 sources

Monitor at home; call your vet if it worsens. Normal with change; vet if hiding comes with other signs

Short answer

Hiding is a normal way for cats to cope with change: a new home, visitors, noise or a new pet. A new cat may hide for days. But a cat that suddenly starts hiding and isn't eating, using the litter box or acting normally may be ill or in pain and should see a vet. Never drag a cat out of hiding; give it safe hiding spots instead.

Key facts

Hiding is a normal coping strategy; give cats safe places on purpose.
New cats may hide for days to a couple of weeks.
Sudden hiding with changes in eating or litter use can signal illness or pain.
Never drag a cat out of hiding.

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If your pet seems unwell, or you're worried, call your vet.

Overview

Cats are both predators and prey, and when they feel vulnerable their instinct is to get somewhere small, high or enclosed where they can watch without being seen. Hiding is a healthy coping strategy, which is why the AAFP and ISFM environmental needs guidelines recommend every cat has safe places to retreat to.

Normal hiding is linked to an obvious trigger, such as a move, a party, building work, thunder or a new pet, and the cat comes out to eat, drink and use the litter box when things are quiet.

Concerning hiding is new, has no obvious trigger, or comes with other changes: not eating, not grooming, peeing outside the box, a hunched posture, or reacting when touched. Cats hide pain and illness, so a change in behaviour is often the first sign.

Go to a vet now if you see

Hiding and straining in the litter box or not passing urine (especially male cats)
Hiding and not eating for more than 24 hours
Breathing fast or with an open mouth
Hiding after a possible fall, road accident or fight
Hiding after possible exposure to lilies, antifreeze or medicines

Common causes

1. A new home
Usually mild
Many cats hide for a few days to a couple of weeks after moving or adoption. Start them in one quiet room.
2. Visitors, noise and changes
Usually mild
Parties, children, building work, fireworks and new furniture can all send cats under the bed.
3. Tension with other pets
Needs a vet
Conflict with another cat or a dog, which may be subtle: staring, blocking doorways or guarding food and litter boxes.
4. Pain
Serious
Arthritis, dental pain, injuries and abdominal pain all cause cats to withdraw.
5. Illness
Serious
Infections, kidney disease, urinary problems and many other illnesses make cats seek out quiet places.
6. Pregnancy and giving birth
Usually mild
Unspayed females look for a hidden nest before giving birth.

What you can do at home

Give hiding places on purpose: covered beds, cardboard boxes on their side and high shelves.
Put food, water and a litter box near where your cat is hiding, in a quiet room.
Sit nearby, talk softly, and let your cat come to you; don't pull it out.
Use a wand toy or treats to build confidence at your cat's pace.
Make sure each cat in a multi-cat home has its own resources in separate places.
Leave the carrier out with a soft bed so it's a hiding place, not a sign of the vet.

When to see a vet

Sudden hiding with no obvious reason
Hiding with changes in appetite, drinking, grooming or litter box use
Hiding and reacting when picked up or touched
A new cat that is still not eating after a day or two

Prevention

Provide hiding places and high perches in every home, even for confident cats
Introduce changes, new pets and new people gradually
Keep routines predictable
Keep up with regular vet checks, as cats hide illness

Free tools for this

Dog and cat symptom checker

Sources

We check guides against veterinary sources and update them when guidance changes. How we write and review.

Questions.

How long will a new cat hide?

Anything from a few hours to a couple of weeks. As long as it's eating, drinking and using the litter box, be patient and let it set the pace.

Should I force my cat out of hiding?

No. It increases fear and can lead to bites and scratches. Make the area around the hiding place pleasant instead.

Do cats hide when they're dying?

Cats often withdraw when very ill, which is one reason sudden hiding should be taken seriously and checked by a vet.

Key facts

Overview

Go to a vet now if you see

Common causes

1. A new home

2. Visitors, noise and changes

3. Tension with other pets

4. Pain

5. Illness

6. Pregnancy and giving birth