8 reasons why a cat hides under the blanket

Cats are playful, but they can also be unpredictable. They have strange habits: for example, they bring gifts in the form of caught prey or hide under blankets.

Why do cats do this? Perhaps they are looking for warmth, want to engage you in a game, or because they feel safe there. It's adorable, although sometimes cats can be a little intrusive.

Causes

Let's find out the common reasons why they do this strange habit of hiding under blankets.

Cats feel safe under a blanket . Burying them under blankets makes cats safe. It is also a manifestation of their instincts as both prey and predator. Even though they are already domesticated, cats instinctively look for safe and dark places where they can hide, or a place from which they can “attack” their prey.
They want to keep warm . Cats naturally look for a warm place to burrow and snuggle, especially in cold weather. This may be more noticeable among breeds with fine coats or hairless breeds. However, some cats may hide under blankets regardless of the room temperature.
Your pet doesn't want to be disturbed . Just like people, your indoor cat can get hysterical and burying herself in the blanket is her excuse to hide everything. Although it may depend on the cat's breed or general temperament and personality, some cats hide under blankets and ignore any interaction at certain times of the day.
They want to captivate you with the game . The exact opposite of point #3 above, your indoor cat might just want to play with you, so she's rummaging around under the covers. This usually happens if she sees you lying in bed in the morning or before bed. Typically, your pet will burrow under the blanket to get your attention, either to invite you to play or to snuggle with you.
Your cat may have bush instinct . Cats prefer three types of environments: trees, the beach, or bush dwellers. Cats that prefer to sit in high places are tree-dwellers, while cats that like to sit in open spaces are beach-dwellers. If you have an indoor cat that likes to hide under the covers, then she is a bush cat. This type of cat likes to stay in places below ground level, such as under the bed, among potted plants, or under blankets.
She may be worried and stressed . A cat that hides under the covers may also be feeling anxious or stressed. Have you recently moved to a new home? Have you added another pet or perhaps a new addition to the family, such as a new baby? These types of household changes can cause stress and anxiety for your pet.
Cats may do this out of routine . Some indoor cats just hide under the sheets out of routine, that's all. That's how random these furry felines can be! They may do this just to see how you react, and some days they won't come near the bed at all.
Perhaps she doesn't feel well . When your cat burrows under the covers, she may also be telling you that something is wrong with her. She may want to hide and bury herself under the covers to rest and recover because she doesn't feel well. If she looks pale, lethargic, and shows other signs, such as not eating or drinking water, you should take her to the vet immediately.

Ambush hunting

Representatives of the cat family are not physiologically adapted to long, exhausting running and prolonged pursuit of prey, preferring hiding to catching up. Even the legendary cheetah sprinter sneaks as close to its prey as possible for a short, quick lunge.

Ambush hunting is common to all cats, and a domestic cat may suddenly imagine itself as a lion, jumping out from under the blanket after some moving object. Young active animals are especially prone to hunting games, loving to arrange a safari on a vacuum cleaner brush or the ankles of the mistress.

Sometimes cats can hide food in secret places, stocking up for a “rainy day,” so finding a dried piece of raw meat in their bed is a common occurrence for a cat owner.

How to correct a cat's behavior?

If you're an indoor parent but you don't like your indoor cat burrowing under your blankets because you're afraid she might suffocate, then here are a few tricks you can try.

Close or lock your bedroom to prevent your indoor cat from getting inside . This is the best thing you can do to prevent your kitten from getting inside and burrowing under the blanket. Not only will you eliminate the worry that your cat might suffocate, but you will also eliminate the hassle of disheveled or, worse, dirty blankets.
Stack pillows or recreate a stash using cardboard boxes . You can still give her the feeling of burrowing under the blankets and sheets by stacking the pillows so that there is enough room for her to crawl and hide. You can also make “hides” for her by collecting cardboard boxes.
Place comfy blankets in her cat's bed . Your kitty will no longer have a reason to come into your bedroom if she discovers that you have comfy blankets just for her. Hopefully this will stop her from burying herself under your blankets.
Help your cat calm down with sedatives . If the behavior is caused by anxiety or stress, you may want to try calming cat foods.

Cats will always be cats, and burrowing under the covers is an instinct they usually do to feel safe, to start playing and bonding with you, and to keep warm in the winter. However, if your pet is hiding under the sheets for other reasons, such as stress or illness, seek professional help immediately and take her to the vet.

Instincts and habits

Wild cats sleep in depressions but prefer open areas. The reason is the survival instinct; the tailed animal must always be able to stand up quickly, fight or run. Most likely, you have seen films about lions. The male, the leader of the pack, sleeps on a hill, which allows him to protect not only himself, but also the lionesses. The conclusion is obvious, cats do not tend to hide while sleeping.

There are also several species of small wild cats that live in burrows. This is explained by the habitat, since larger predators live around the tailed animals. Otherwise, the need to hide during sleep appears only when the animal is vulnerable. Transferring these natural laws to pets, we can conclude that if a sick or pregnant cat climbs under the blanket, this is absolutely normal.

Seclusion due to illness

Sick and wounded animals instinctively hide, because they are unable to actively resist and withstand danger. Domestic cats who feel depressed do the same thing, shutting themselves off from the world and immersing themselves in their pain. They may avoid human company, but go to the hospital under a blanket, especially with chills and elevated body temperature.

Refusal of food, lethargy and reluctance to leave the shelter should alert the owner, since the stronger the disease, the weaker and more apathetic the animal becomes.

Why you can't sleep with a cat in the same bed from a scientific point of view

From early childhood, pets should be taught to sleep separately from their owners on a bed. Provide your animal with a place to sleep in the house. Is it possible to sleep with a cat in the same bed, doctors answer:

Cats are carriers of diseases. Toxoplasmosis is a dangerous disease. There is a high probability that the fetus will develop pathologies of internal organs if a woman contracts this disease during pregnancy. With a progressive disease, there is a high probability of premature birth. Toxoplasmosis is dangerous for preschool children.
A cat can “reward” owners with unpleasant diseases such as lichen or worms. Veterinarians recommend that the cat sleep on its own bed, and not in the owner's bed.

It is imperative to monitor the health of your pet. It is not recommended to kiss a cat on the face. Immediately after contact with an animal, wash your hands with soap.

Birth in the den

The desire to find a secluded, safe place and build a “nest” there is typical for pregnant females preparing to give birth to babies.

They are guided by the strongest maternal instinct, since in nature a weakened mother in labor and her defenseless cubs are easy prey for other predators.

The bedroom, in which human owners sleep so peacefully, is regarded by domestic cats as the safest area of the apartment and therefore can make a den for childbirth in the closet with clothes or directly in the bed.

Behavioral precursors to lambing are:

animal anxiety;
refusal of food;
alarming meow.

Some cats refuse to give birth in their house, demanding the presence and help of a person they trust. Sometimes a cat can bring newborn kittens into the owner's bed that she gave birth to in another place.

The desire to help a person

There are many examples of cats crawling into a person’s bed to cure him or improve his well-being.

If an animal behaves too intrusively, crawls under the blanket, trying to wake up a person, then you should pay attention to its behavior. Perhaps the cat is feeling restless or it’s time to go for a walk. Most likely, she wants to warn her beloved owner about something. Owners tell many stories about how cats saved them from accidents, warned them of heart attacks, and even brought medicine in their teeth.

Pets perfectly sense the human condition, have a good sense of smell and hearing, so they can notice what the owner himself is not able to see. Listen to your cat and you will learn many useful things.

Age

If at an early age a cat runs away to dark places because it is easier to take the owner by surprise, then with older animals the situation is not so clear. A decrepit pet loses its senses, it is no longer attracted to active games and noise, so it is not surprising that it wants to sleep away from all the fuss.

Be respectful of your old pet's needs. He needs more time to recuperate, so try not to make noise in the place where your tailed friend prefers to rest. Veterinarians note that if an elderly animal is not given plenty of rest, it will significantly shorten its life.

Disease

If your furry pet begins to spend too much time under the blanket, you should take a closer look at the animal. Perhaps some kind of disease is hiding behind the harmless behavior. Along with the desire to hide in secluded places, the following symptoms may occur:

the animal sleeps more than usual;
no appetite;
strong thirst;
vomiting began, stool changed;
the fur falls out in clumps;
aggression appears or, on the contrary, lethargy;
discharge from the eyes and nose.

If these symptoms appear, you should take your cat to the veterinarian.

Feeling safe

In addition to warmth, an animal may seek banal solitude under a blanket. This often happens if there are children in the house who are persistent in showing their feelings and wanting to play. For a cat, the space under the blanket becomes a truly safe and tranquil place in which to rest, relax and recuperate, especially if she does not have her own house or other secluded corner where she can hide.