Last updated on October 18th, 2022
Have you ever watched your cat under a blanket and wondered “are you hiding from me?”
Cats are super interesting creatures. From their sleeping habits to their hunting skills, you can learn a lot about them by watching them. However, there are some things in the world that are still mysterious to us, in spite of our years of experience.
One of these things is the cat’s ability to hide under blankets. Why would a cat hide under a blanket in the first place? Is it because they are afraid of us? Is it because they are cold? Is it because they are stressed out? Is it because they are in pain?
Cats tend to hide under blankets and other soft things because they feel safe and protected. This behavior has been associated with kittenhood and cats that were weaned too early or too abruptly. It is also thought that the behavior stems from their natural instinct to hide from predators or while stalking prey.
Well, there are actually a few different reasons you might find a cat or two hidden under some blankets, so keep reading if you want to know more!
It is your cat’s natural instinct!
Cats have many instincts that allow them to survive. Some of the instincts involve cats knowing how to hunt while some involve them knowing when to run away from danger. Some of these instincts may even be the reason your cat knows whether or not it can trust you.
There are tons of different instincts and intuitions pulling the invisible strings inside a cat’s mind, but what do these instincts have to do with cats hiding under blankets?
In the wild cats are both a predatory and prey species. This means that while they hunt smaller animals for food so they can live, other larger animals might hunt them.
When looking at a cat as a prey species, it is quite simple to see why they might hide under blankets instinctually. Because it is a great hiding space of course! But what about when we look at cats as a predatory species?
Well, because cats typically hunt for their food in the wild, they need to be sneaky. Nothing is worse than when your meal gets spooked and run away.
To prevent this from happening, cats will hunker down and hide somewhere their prey won’t see them.
And even though your cat lives in a house and doesn’t have to hunt for its meals, its instincts might tell it that under some blankets is the perfect place to wait for its next meal!
Blankets are cozy!
Humans aren’t the only creatures on this planet that can enjoy the cozy things life has to offer. House cats around the world take pride in curling up in the coziest places their owners have created for them.
From couches to cat beds, towers to towels, and perches to pillows, cats will snuggle up on top of or in whatever they can find that makes them feel comfy and cozy, including blankets!
This is just one of many reasons you might see your feline friend using blankets as a hiding spot to sleep without being disturbed!
Your cat might be anxious.
Cats can suffer from many health conditions just like people. And while the reasons cats may have some of these disorders or conditions may be different, and the ways these conditions exhibit themselves may be different, they can be the same as what people suffer from. One of these things is anxiety.
A cat can have anxiety for many different reasons. Sometimes a change in environment or move can cause a cat to have anxiety.
Adding a member or subtracting a member from the household are also reasons a cat can develop anxiety.
Unfortunately, cats are creatures of habit, and when their day-to-day activities get disrupted, they can quickly become uneasy.
Cats tend to deal with their anxiety in different ways. Some may start changing their eating and drinking habits while others might start having litter box problems. Some cats might just hide in places like under blankets or in small tight spaces.
If you constantly have guests visiting your home, cats will run to hide when they see an unknown person or when they’re unfamiliar with the individual’s scent and voice, so it’s safe to assume that your cat would view hiding under the blankets as a safe space, maybe until the coast is clear.
Your cat might be stressed.
Along with anxiety, cats can also become stressed. Often, these two disorders will go hand in hand, or paw in paw if you prefer!
Stress in cats will come about from a number of different things. Just like with anxiety, simple changes in their environment or home life can be the trigger.
There are other things that can cause a cat to be stressed like storms, fireworks, loud noises, conflict, new smells, and even boredom!
You can easily identify stress in a cat by paying attention to its body language. A stressed cat will look like it is on the run, and may even become aggressive if cornered.
If a cat is constantly feeling stressed, you may see some of the same signs listed above with anxiety, including hiding in or under things like blankets.
If you believe that your cat may be suffering from anxiety or stress, you should make an appointment with the veterinarian.
Vets are able to assess animals for their symptoms and check their overall health to determine what exactly is wrong with them and what the cause may be.
For both anxiety and stress, medication prescribed by a vet could help your cat feel better and reduce any problems.
Your cat might be missing you!
Have you ever come home from work or a day trip and found your cat snuggled up under your blanket?
Well, sometimes cats will become attached to their owners. When this happens, they will miss their owners when they are apart and will look for comforting items that hold their owner’s scent to cuddle up with.
If your cat is frequently snuggling up with blankets that you always use or leaving their toys in your shoes, this could very well be the reason!