Why does my cat hide so much?

Some hiding is normal cat behavior — cats are predators who also evolved as prey, and elevated or enclosed hiding spots are part of how they regulate. Hiding becomes a flag when it’s new, persistent, or accompanied by other changes. Cornell flags hiding as a common early sign of pain, illness or environmental stress.[1] Three buckets to consider: environmental stress (new pet, schedule change, household disruption), medical (pain, illness, an injury you may not have noticed), and resource competition (in a multi-cat home, a lower-status cat may hide to avoid being blocked).

When to call a vet: any new persistent hiding, especially with appetite changes or other behavior changes, deserves a vet visit before assuming it’s stress.