Why Do Cats Hang Out in Weird Places? 4 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

Does your cat enjoy sleeping on your head? Perhaps they like snuggling up inside your favorite vase? Or maybe you can’t wash your hands in the bathroom because your cat is hanging out in the sink?

Cats do seem to like hanging out in weird places, and you’re here because you want to know why. Cats may sleep in odd places because they are trying to stay warm or are seeking security.

We investigate here how our oddball cats seem to gravitate to oddball places, along with ways to ensure that your cat is kept safe.

Why Do Cats Seem to Hide in Weird Places?

When your cat isn’t sprawled out in the middle of the hallway or soaking up sun rays in the window, they might be seeking out strange beds. Why do they do this, though?

1. Regulating Body Temperature

It’s no surprise that if a cat wants to cool down, they will likely curl up in the cool, ceramic bathroom sink. If they want to warm up, snuggling inside the closet or behind the couch where the heating vent also happens to be makes sense.

If your cat loves snuggling your head, it is partly because you are warm up there and they find comfort in the warmth, but they also are enjoying a cuddle and your scent.

2. Looking for a Safe Place

If something disrupts your cat's routine, such as visitors, or there’s more chaos going on in the household than they can handle, cats will often squish themselves into small, dark spaces.

This is self-preservation at play. While cats are predators, they are small enough to be prey, which makes them sensitive and cautious animals when something scares them. This type of hiding will not be inside a vase or bathroom sink, but rather, in an area difficult to find, such as under the bed, inside a closet, or on a high shelf.

Cats like feeling compressed on their sides, which adds to their sense of security. They will always face out so they can defend themselves if necessary.

3. Needing a Quiet Place

Sometimes, a cat needs to get away from it all and decompress. We all do this from time to time, so you know that it’s best to leave your cat alone when they want to sleep without any attention from anyone.

4. Looking for Attention

When cats puddle themselves inside a vase or a box that looks two sizes too small, they sometimes do it just because they can, or they are looking for attention.

Your cat might also be found lying directly in your path, so you must constantly walk around them. They will make themselves at home on your laptop while you’re working or on your book while you’re relaxing.

You end up reinforcing this behavior by reacting to it, whether you pet them or put them on the floor. This will only drive your cat to do it whenever they want your attention.

How Do Cats Fit into Tight Spaces?

Cat parents are known to say that their cats are liquid. When you watch a cat fit inside a vase or under a door crack, it’s easy to understand why.

The collarbones and shoulder blades are attached to the rest of the cat's body by muscle rather than bone. Their collarbones are also small in relation to their body, particularly in comparison to ours. This enables them to squeeze themselves into tight spaces. That said, it also depends on how rotund they are!

Cats love hiding, so they seek out quiet and small, dark areas, like inside boxes and drawers or up on high shelves and behind furniture.

How Do You Know Whether Your Cat Is Hanging Out or Hiding?

Sometimes, the signs are difficult to read, but your cat’s body language will tell the story. You know your cat best, so if something out of the ordinary occurs and your cat is under the couch, for example, it’s clear that they are scared. Physical signs that your cat is hiding because they are scared are:

• Making themselves as small as possible
• Shrinking away from your touch
• Pulled-back ears
• Dilated pupils
• Hissing
• Swatting
• Hair raised on the tail and along the back

When your cat is fearful, don’t force them to come out of hiding, as they need time to calm down. Identify and remove the cause of their stress or fear. Speaking calmly to your cat might help, but leave your cat alone otherwise.

In the meantime, you should speak to a vet about methods that you can use to help your cat if they seem anxious.

Provide Hiding Spaces

You must have cozy boxes and beds available for your cat.

The researchers in a 2014 study provided some shelter cats with hiding boxes, while others were not given boxes. It was discovered that the cats that had boxes to hide in were less stressed than those that didn’t. They were also more social and adjusted to their environment more quickly.

Cats also love being up high because it makes them feel safer and have more control of their surroundings. High cat trees and cat shelves are ideal for making cats feel more secure. Once you provide your cat with these hiding places, you’ll have a better idea of where your cat is when they go into hiding.

Keeping Your Cat Safe

Since cats can cram themselves into almost anything, safety is a concern. The cupboards and cabinets where you keep cleaning supplies or sharp tools must always be firmly closed. You might need child-safety locks if your cat is good at getting into these spaces.

Washing machines and dryers must be off-limits. There have been unfortunate incidents when someone didn’t realize that their pet was inside the washing machine.

Finally, if you own an outdoor cat, ensure that they don’t have access to the garage and aren’t under your car or inside the engine before you start driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Cats Like to Sit on Pizza Boxes?

Pizza boxes are warm and smell delicious, and they are made of cardboard, which cats seem to love. They are also the perfect-sized beds for a cat!

Why Does My Cat Like to Sleep on My Dirty Laundry?

The laundry is piles of clothing, which makes a great place for a cat to snuggle their way into. Plus, most of the laundry smells like their favorite people, so it makes for a comfortable and safe space. This is a sign of love and trust.

Why Does My Cat Show Me Their Bum?

This is a not-so-lovely-for-us compliment from our cats. It’s a sign that your cat is asking for attention—consider it a kind of cat version of a handshake. So, while we might think that it’s a bit gross, it should be thought of as an invitation to get to know your cat better.

Conclusion

Cats are kind of weird when you think about it, so it isn’t too surprising that they like to hang out in weird places. They generally love exploring and hanging out in small nooks and crannies. This is certainly a security thing, but it’s also just because cats love to squish into these small spaces and containers.

Now you have a better understanding of your cat’s baffling behavior. But if you’re ever concerned about your cat's actions or health, make a point of speaking to your vet.

See Also:

• Why Do Cats Lay in the Middle of the Floor? 7 Possible Reasons

• Why Do Scottish Fold Cats Sit Strangely? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Featured Image Credit: BoulderPhoto, Shutterstock