Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Healthy Cats

Tools & Resources

Font Size
A
A
A

5 Risky Hiding Places for Cats

Why you may want to keep your cat out of these 5 areas in your home.
By Daphne Sashin
WebMD Pet Health Feature
Reviewed by Audrey Cook, BVM&S

Cats love to play hide and seek, whether they’re scared, curious, or just in search of a cozy, quiet refuge to snuggle.

But what seems like the perfect hidey-hole isn’t always the safest.

When Allison Waters lived in an old carriage house, she didn't realize that one of the cabinets in her pantry had an area underneath that was open to the inside of the wall - and the entire length of the back of the house - until she heard feline screaming sounds.

The Atlanta veterinary technician and dog trainer was about to take a chainsaw to the cabinets when her cat Goblin emerged. It was the perfect hiding place for a cat afraid of loud noises. After several attempts, Waters finally found a way to effectively board up the space.

“I had no idea what was in the wall,” Waters says. “As a kitten, he liked to chew on wires and being a veterinary technician, I know the worst of what can happen.”

WebMD asked cat experts about the most dangerous spots where cats can get stuck or injured, and how to keep your cat away from them.

Taking Care of a Kitten

1. Clothes Washer/Dryer

Danger: Cats can suffer serious injury if the appliance is turned on, including broken bones, burns, heat stroke, damaged internal organs, and death.

“The worst I ever saw was a cat that came into my hospital that had gotten into the dryer. The owner didn’t notice, closed the dryer, turned it on high, and left the room,” says Ilona Rodan, DVM, a feline behavior specialist and past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. “When she came back, she found her cat stiff and hot. The cat was unfortunately already dead when she raced him into the clinic.”

What to Do: Keep the door tightly shut and always check inside before using. (The same goes for the dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator.) You should also make sure your cat isn’t hiding in your dirty clothes hamper, because you could accidentally dump your pet in with the wash.

2. Garage

Danger: Cats may have access to hazardous chemicals, such as anti-freeze, which tastes sweet to them. Shivering felines have also been known to climb under the hoods of cars and hide out in the warm engine compartment, says Meghan E. Herron, DVM, clinical assistant professor of behavioral medicine at The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

What to do: Block off access to the garage. If you suspect a cat could get under the car, honk the horn or bang loudly on the hood before starting the engine. This should wake up the animal and give it a chance to escape or let you know he’s there, in which case you can pop the hood and let it out.

1 | 2
Next Page >