Cats are hiders by nature and mine definitely have their favorite getaway spots. The funny thing is, I know all their “secret” hideouts, so they’re not really secret. So I guess they’re not hiding, are they? Sure they are.
When one of my three kitties is M.I.A., I immediately check their regular spots — and there they are. I think that’s one of the funniest thing about cats: They think they’re so clever and dignified, but then we bust them acting otherwise. But we still let them think they’re incomparably clever and dignified. It just keeps the relationship in a good place — it’s a small thing.
Here are five of my cats’ favorite places to hide.
1. My son’s room
Saffy and Phoebe enjoy spending time in my teenage son’s room — probably because it smells like dirty socks. Saffy sneaks under his desk for naps and Phoebe slips under his bed or burrows under a pile of clean — or dirty — clothes. The girls love their human brother and he’s a total sucker for them. Sometimes they don’t hide at all when they’re in his room. It makes me smile to walk in his room and see Saffy and Phoebe surrounding him while he watches TV or does his homework. He’s such a cat boy.
2. In cabinets
Cosmo’s a freak for a cabinet. If he spots an open door, he scurries inside and explores the limited area like it’s new territory, when in fact he’s been inside each cabinet at least a dozen times. Sometimes we don’t see him enter and close the door, trapping him. Some of my best laughs come from opening a cabinet and seeing him sitting in the dark, doing nothing — not even napping. I’m telling you, it’s hysterical. Other times, we’ll hear a light pounding on the cabinet door, open it, and he dashes out. Apparently, he’s enjoyed enough “sitting alone in the dark” time. He’s so Zen.
3. Under the Christmas tree skirt
Phoebe is ecstatic when the Christmas tree goes up in December, and not just because it’s a tree and she’s a cat. To her, the Christmas tree skirt is way more entertaining that the tree itself. Until a pile of presents weigh down the skirt, Phoebe tunnels underneath it and that’s where she spends a good part of her day. During the holiday season, if I can’t locate Pheebs, I look over at the tree and usually see a cat-shaped lump under the skirt.
4. In my closet
Saffy’s favorite hiding spot in in my closet, behind the hamper. If I go to bed without first checking the closet, she wakes me up by pawing at the closet door. Sometimes it wakes me up after I’ve fallen asleep and I have to get out of bed to release her from her cave. Then it takes me forever to get back to sleep. I really should write a Post-it note that says, “CHECK CLOSET FOR SAFFY,” and stick it to my nightstand. A well-placed Post-it note is the answer for most any problem.
5. In plain sight
Cosmo’s the king of hiding in plain sight. When he thinks he’s tucked away under my dresser, I can still see his tail. His feet stick out when he’s behind a curtain. That cat would be a horrible spy. Do not hire him for any undercover work, OK?
Where are your cats’ favorite hiding spots? Tell us in the comments!
Read more by Angie Bailey:
- “Hello, My Name is Angie, and I’m a Cat-Huffer”
- Cats and Bags: 2 Very Important Scientific Experiments
- The Pros and Cons of My Cats as Health Care Providers
About the Author: Angie Bailey is an eternal optimist with an adoration of all things silly. Loves pre-adolescent boy humor, puns, making up parody songs, thinking about cats doing people things and The Smiths. Writes Catladyland, a cat humor blog, Texts from Mittens (originated right here on Catster) and authored whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a silly book about cats wheeling and dealing online. Partner in a production company and writes and acts in comedy web series that features sketches and mockumentaries. Mother to two humans and three cats, all of which want her to make them food.
