Helping Fearful Cats
Cats are solitary hunters and prefer to avoid threats rather than face them. They use hiding as a coping strategy to help them avoid unwanted interactions or difficult situations. Providing a safe place is one of the five pillars of a healthy feline environment, according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine (Ellis et al., 2013). From the cat’s perspective, a safe place is somewhere secluded that they can withdraw to if they feel stressed or threatened. Since cats like to be high up as it allows them to keep an eye on their environment, a hiding place can also be somewhere high up to perch. A hiding place can be as simple as a cardboard box with a hole to allow entry and exit. Read article