Why Is My Black Short Hair Cat Suddenly Hiding and Not Eating Much? (Vet Answered)
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Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
We git a rescue cat about a year ago and she finally got comfortable with the family and was very affectionate. About a week ago, she went under the couch and doesn’t want to come out. She’ll still eat, but not as often as she was and I don’t know if she’s drinking water.
Quick Info about Athena
📹 Vet's Video Reply (scroll down to see text answer)
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your message.
This is a bit tricky because we want to strike a balance between making sure Athena is okay and not causing her more stress.
I think that I would be prioritising health first, and retrieving her from her hiding place to give her a good check-over and decide whether or not she may need to be examined by your vet. Here is a little reel I made that you might find helpful: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ8aUEWidjq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Without knowing exactly what has triggered her retreat from family life does make it a bit harder to know how to address it and reassure her that she is safe, but that doesn't mean we're helpless. Once you've established that she is okay and uninjured, I'm now going to recommend that you ignore your instincts a bit and give her space.
Right now, she is feeling threatened, stressed, or anxious, which is why she has put herself somewhere she feels safe, where no one can harm her. Often, we want to reassure our cats by getting close to them, but for a cat in survival mode, this can just feel like a threat.
Carry on with life as usual, with a few adjustments to help her feel more settled. I would recommend placing a spare litter box near the couch so she feels safe to go to the toilet. Place a water bowl near the couch, as well as a small amount of food. If she doesn't eat the food after an hour, take it up, and offer her more at her next meal time - don't leave it there all day. We want her to feel safe, but we also don't want her to take up permanent residence under the furniture!
Pop one or two beds or boxes nearby, and make sure she isn't locked in the room. She will be less likely to come out from under the couch if she thinks she'll be trapped when she does.
If this persists, I would also consider picking up a calming spray or pheromone diffuser to help alleviate her anxiety.
If you give her space, she is much more likely to find her way back to you, but if you crowd her and try to force her out, you could end up making things worse. Hopefully, she will be back to her affectionate self soon, and of course, keep an eye out for anything that might have spooked her.
Good luck!
Dr Karyn