Do you find yourself asking ‘why is my cat hiding?’ when guests visit your home? If your cat is hiding or running away from visitors, this is a clear sign that your feline friends aren't pleased by these new arrivals. But there’s no need to worry, because in this blog we’ll take you through some of our best tips to ensure that you’re creating a relaxing environment so your cat will always feel at ease in their space.
Designate a Safe Zone
If your cat is scared of guests, their initial reaction will be to keep a distance between them and the visitor. This allows them to watch for a while before deciding what to do next. You may often find that your cat is hiding in the same place when you have guests around. This is because they have moved away and found somewhere that they deem safe to be.
If you know that your furry friend has a favourite spot in the house or a space they usually retreat to, you can create a safe zone in that area. In this safe zone, make sure you include:
- Food
- Water
- Litter tray
- Resting place
- Toys/activities, like a lick mat
- FELIWAY Optimum
You know your cat better than anyone else, so to create a relaxing safe zone, fill it with all the things they’ll need. For those guests staying for more than a weekend, you can use FELIWAY Optimum. The pheromone complex provides your cat with enhanced serenity for up to 30 days, helping them feel more secure even when there are visitors in the house.
Maintain a Routine
Cats love the predictability of a routine, so any change to what they know best can be unsettling. Due to their highly developed survival instinct, it is completely natural for your cat to be wary of people who are unknown to them as, in their eyes, they could be a potential threat.
Visitors can also change which rooms a cat can and can’t access, which can lead to your cat hiding somewhere different that feels is safer. Our top tip here is to make sure that your cat has a familiar place to hide, somewhere they will not be disturbed. This will give them time and room to decide whether they would like to come and investigate, or if they would rather stay alone.
To help your scared cat, try to keep their routine as normal as possible when guests come over. For example, do your best to keep your regular playtime schedule and feed your cat at their usual time so they can keep a familiar routine.
As well as sticking to a routine, it’s important to be calm, gentle, and predictable around your cat. If you force them to interact with guests, this pushes them out of their comfort zone and can make them retreat even more. It’s important to show patience and give them the choice to interact with visitors or not.
Gradually Introduce Your Visitors
To help a cat scared of visitors, you should start by introducing guests to your house gradually. Cats can often feel overwhelmed if you try to introduce too many people to them at once. Introducing people one at a time allows your cat to build trust with and accept new people. This is the same for kittens, as introducing them to a variety of people gradually and through short interactions can help them get used to people coming in and out of the home.
Some of the things you can do include:
- Encourage Guests to Get to Know Your Cat: If you share your knowledge about your cat with your guests, they can get to know your cat better. This will help them understand your cat's body language, making it easier for them to know when they’re feeling comfortable or uncomfortable.
- Ask Guests Not to Handle Your Cat: Many cats don’t particularly enjoy being picked up by someone they’re not familiar with. Instead, if your visitors want to interact with your cat suggest playtime, as this is a great way to build a connection without the visitor getting too close. Fishing rod toys are great for this, as they allow for distance. If your cat is more comfortable with being touched, advise your guests to pet their heads. Each cat has their own preference, but head strokes can be what most cats prefer.
- Have Treats on Hand: This will help unfamiliar faces become instantly more likeable to your furry friend! When your guests reward your cat for choosing to be closer. For example, place a treat near a guest for your cat to discover. This will help them to feel more at ease and less like the people who have entered their home are a threat.
- Incorporate Training Exercises: This can help your cat get used to what happens when visitors arrive. One exercise you can try is, when the doorbell rings, present your cat with a tasty treat whilst reassuring them in a calm voice. This can help build a positive association for your cat, preventing them from being scared of guests at the door.
- Offer Elevated Spaces: Cats like to watch the world from a higher vantage point. When they have the option to be in the same room as your guests but from an elevated space (for example from a perch or cat tree), it may help them to feel more comfortable.
Encourage Quiet Introductions
When introducing guests to your cat, it’s also important to let them approach in their own space. It is best to ask your guests to sit back and allow the cat to go to them first. Large and sudden movements from visitors could scare your cat.
Advising them not to look at the cat too much will create a more comfortable environment for them to come and investigate. A good tip is to slow blink as it shows friendly intentions. This understated approach is much less confrontational, and you’ll notice that your cat will appreciate having their own space to do as they please.
Cats tend to hide from guests when they make a lot of noise because it can scare them. So, as well as asking your guests to have a relaxed disposition, having them use a quiet and calm voice will help your cat to feel more relaxed when they’re being introduced to new people.
You should also consider your cat's temperament when introducing them to visitors. If, as a kitten, your cat was to socialize with many people, they may not be so bothered by your guests. However, if your cat is naturally more timid, it may take longer for them to feel comfortable enough to make contact. Don’t try to speed up the process, as it’s a lot more effective if you leave your cat to make their own choices.
Use FELIWAY to Create a Reassuring Space
For your scared cat, you can use FELIWAY Optimum to create a reassuring space in the home. This helps create a relaxing environment at home for your cat. When a cat is scared or unsettled, they may show signs other than hiding, such as scratching furniture or urine spraying. FELIWAY is here to help reduce common signs of feline stress.
If you would like to know more about how FELIWAY can help you create a more relaxing environment in your home, get in touch. You can also stay up to date with all our latest updates by signing up to our newsletter.