One hiding spot per room: why cats need several hideouts at home
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Being able to withdraw from view is one of the five pillars of a healthy feline environment, as defined in the joint AAFP and ISFM guidelines published in 2013 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery: a cat needs constant access to essential resources, but also one or more safe spaces to retreat to undisturbed (see the study). A study by Vinke, Godijn and van der Leij, published in 2014 in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that newly arrived shelter cats given a simple closed box to hide in returned to relaxed behaviour significantly faster than cats given no such refuge (see the study). Find our home-setup guidance in the bedding and habitat section.
Contents · 4 sections
A hideout, not a locked cupboard
An effective hiding spot does not need to be elaborate: an upturned box with an opening, a hard-sided carrier left out permanently in a corner, or the inside of a low piece of furniture all work well. What matters is that the cat can disappear from sight entirely, with access never blocked by a closed door. A fabric igloo placed up high, on a cat tree for instance, serves the same purpose while combining the need to retreat with the instinct to watch from above: our guide to wall-mounted cat trees covers models that build in this kind of shelter.
How many, and where
The AAFP/ISFM guidelines recommend at least one hiding spot per room the cat has access to, and more in a household with several cats or with children and other pets, so that reaching a refuge never depends on a power struggle between individuals. In a multi-cat home, this mirrors the same duplicated-resource principle already applied to bowls and litter boxes: our guide to how many litter boxes a cat needs applies the same logic of spreading resources through the space.
An everyday need, not just a stress response
Contrary to a common assumption, hiding spots are not only useful during a house move, a new baby, or fireworks: a perfectly confident cat still uses its refuges regularly day to day, especially for naps. It is a sudden, prolonged drop in their use — not occasional use itself — that should raise concern. For more intense one-off situations, our guide to a reassuring hiding spot during storms and fireworks covers additional setup to have ready.
Frequently asked questions
Does a cat that hides a lot mean it is unhappy?
Not necessarily: some cats, more timid or more independent by nature, naturally rest in their hideouts more often. A sudden change in frequency, up or down, is what deserves attention.
Should the hiding spot be fully enclosed?
No, the opening should stay clear at all times: a refuge that another pet or a closed door can block loses its purpose and can even become an added source of stress.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Foldable double-layer cat litter mat (€32.90) · the whole shop
For your cat, at Le Félin (same family, zero commission): Arbre à chat design cactus (from €99.99)
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.