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View Full Version : Why is my cat hiding all of a sudden?


whispertomesoft
May 23, 2011, 09:32 AM
Why is my 17 yr old cat all of a sudden hiding in places she normally would not go, like under the enclosed entertainment center, or under the recliner or on top of my kitchen cabinets about the refrigerator ? She was yowling every day a few weeks ago, then that stopped, and she started hiding. She only comes out at night to eat and use the litter box. I have been told by several people she is probably going to die and that is why she is hiding.

tickle
May 23, 2011, 09:48 AM
I would agree with others, yes, she is looking for a comfortable dark place to pass away in.

paleophlatus
May 23, 2011, 11:38 PM
There is absolutely no medical evidence for that claim... it is no more than an observation based on the idea that an animal knows when it is going to die. An animal about to expire will not eat or bother to go to the litter pan. A significantly ill animal often seeks quiet, out of the way spots to hide from any potential enemies (instinctive behavior) while trying to recuperate, and usually will not eat or maintain normal excretory behavior. Left alone long enough, however, an ill animal will frequently die from it's illness. The results may be the same, but the reasons are quite different.

On the other hand, I have seen this sort of behavior out of cats who have areas of their coat so tightly matted that it is being slowly pulled out by the roots. It is painful, as you can imagine, and I suspect your cat is experiencing the same thing. The yowling of hers in the past was likely a vocalization of her distress. Since that wasn't successful, the hiding now is a last resort... to try and get away from she knows not what that seems be causing all her discomfort.

She is probably becoming very defensive if you try to hold her or move her in any way ? If you can get a good look at her while she is out eating or in the litter, look for signs of mats on her, or gently touch her and observe any sign of excessive tenderness, usually along her back or hips to, say, gentle petting.

If so, the easiest, safest, and fastest way to help her get rid of them is to have her vet give her a short sedation and cut the mats away from her skin. Sedation is recommended for her comfort and the well-being of the vet staff doing the work... I mentioned she may become quite defensive to simple touch. My daughter has enough rapport with her cats that she has been able to cut these mats off her own cats many times. But, it goes much easier if she has help.

Call her vet, explain what you believe to be the problem and get an appointment. Some times of the day are better for extended procedures and sedation than others. I wish you well.

hheath541
May 26, 2011, 02:55 PM
Cats hide for any number of reasons. The most common are illness, injury, and fear. Only a vet can rule out the first two, conclusively. When was the last time she was seen by a vet? Would it be possible to get her in for a check up?

Is it possible that she's traumatized by something? Has anything happened that could have seriously frightened her? Any changes in your household? Sometimes older animals don't handle change very well, and will try to avoid or escape from them.

tickle
May 26, 2011, 04:10 PM
Hey you guys, this lovely pet is l7 years old; megga years for a feline. Do you really think a vet visit is appropriate? A vet visit would be absolutely traumatizing for a feline that old. And what would you think the vet would say...

Why can't this geriatric pet go about her business her own way without being put in a crate and carted off.

HHeath I am surprised that you answered the way you did.

paleophlatus
May 26, 2011, 10:21 PM
Do I think a vet visit is appropriate? Well, I suspect that whispertomesoft is asking that very question, in a round about way.

To give her (my apologies if not) an honest, thoughtful answer requires addressing several factors. A) Is she serious? ANS. Yes. If not, she has wasted an inordinate amount of time, effort, and thought B) Does she really want to help her cat? ANS. I suspect so, since most people who don't really care about their pets have had very few ever reach this age, which while old for a cat, isn't a record breaker by a long way. Plus, nowadays, vet visits are expensive enough that many owners will use sites like this to hopefully avoid such a trip if a well reasoned answer can be presented. C) Do we really think our answer/s will be accepted as we present them, and if so, is that questioner likely to follow the advice? ANS. Not so readily answered, especially since many answers start with "See the Vet", just what the client already suspects, but is looking to avoid, IF NOT NECESSARY . Obviously I've not been around here for long, but so far, only a very few clients have had any sort of dialog with we "experts"... without which is is impossible to know or predict whether any of our time, effort, and thought is helpful, but does tend to make us think otherwise.

Aren't you presupposing to know quite a bit about this particular cat by saying it would be traumatized by the visit? Being it is 17 years old, it must certainly have been to the vet at least a few times already. Not all cats are so traumatized by the experience, yet you predicate your entire answer on the supposition that it will be.

How do you think the cat would feel if, by chance of course, the vet was able to "fix" something relatively simple and give the cat much needed relief?. for however much longer it has to live.

I suspect HHealth, being the accepted cat authority on site, feels it would be almost unforgivable to make this cat suffer under a bed for who knows how long before dying, just to avoid suffering the supposed mental anguish of a trip to the vet. If it is truly going to die, then shouldn't it's last few days, or weeks or ? Be as comfortable as possible? The reason it is preferring seclusion isn't addressed if your theory is not correct.

Here's another 'hare-brained' thought about things that will drive a pet to do weird things. Not that I'm suggesting this to be the case here... fleas. It is a little early in the flea season for this to happen, unless this person lives in the warm part of the US, but when the fleas get really bad, the pets severely affected by them will avoid areas of the home where they are readily attacked by them. Cats in particular will avoid being on the floor, using the furniture and what ever else is available to get from place to place. They especially avoid going places they used to prefer before the problem got so bad.

Additionally, this incident could simply be treated as a severe change in her behavior, which could also be caused by something such as a mild stroke. Not so improbable, considering her age, either. But, statistically, strokes and unseasonal flea invasions are not high on the list of things seen in the feline practice. Hair mats, however, are, as anyone who has had a cat could probably testify, especially a long haired one.

hheath541
May 27, 2011, 06:40 PM
I suggested a possible vet visit for a few reasons.

It IS the only way to know anything for certain. Anything else is just speculation.

It could give the OP the piece of mind knowing they've done all they can.

While 17 is old, it isn't the oldest a cat can get, and it's possible that the problem is something treatable. (I knew a cat that was just starting to slow down at 21, and that was from arthritis, not illness.)

A vet can also advise if it is better for the cat to be put down, if all she has ahead of her is suffering. Most loving pet owners would rather not see their pets suffer needlessly for an indeterminate length of time.

elmobird2
Jun 14, 2012, 08:54 AM
I too am having a problem with my 10 yr old cat suddenly hiding. He's been to the vet & had all the x-rays & blood work done to rule out any medical problems. Besides having asthma for some time now, he is healthy. I have grandkids around but he usually just goes to another room when they visit... so no problems with kids being around. He wouldn't even come out to eat... I had to take his food & water to my bedroom because he's hiding under the bed. He does tend to run away & hide when my husband starts getting loud! But he should be used to that by now. I also am stumped as to why all of a sudden he hides. I hope he'll get over this soon!