Why is my cat hiding and refusing to come out?
Hiding is a cat's default answer to both stress and sickness — duration and appetite tell you which one you are dealing with.
A cat under the bed is running a threat assessment, not sulking. New furniture, visitors, a thunderstorm, or another animal's scent can all send a cat to a hideout until the world checks out as safe again. The behavior itself is normal; what matters is how long it lasts and what else changes with it.
Normal retreat versus a red flag
For situational stress, the fix is patience: leave the hideout accessible, keep food, water, and a litter box within a quiet reach, and let the cat re-emerge on its own schedule — dragging a cat out teaches it that the hideout was not safe either. How long re-entry takes differs by individual; confident cats reappear in hours while cautious ones take days after a move.
Hiding turns into a red flag when it pairs with skipped meals, litter box changes, vomiting, or hiding in places the cat never used before. Cats withdraw when they feel unwell, so a social cat that suddenly lives behind the washing machine and eats little for more than a day deserves a veterinary visit rather than more waiting.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.