TL;DR: A cat that hides and stops eating is likely in significant pain or distress and should be evaluated by a veterinarian within 24 hours to prevent serious liver complications.
What does it mean if my cat is hiding and refuses to eat?
Cats are instinctually driven to hide when they feel vulnerable, ill, or in pain. In the wild, showing weakness makes them targets for predators; in your home, this manifests as retreats to dark closets or under beds. When combined with a decreased appetite, it indicates that your cat is experiencing significant discomfort or stress that is overriding their natural hunger drive. This can be caused by various issues ranging from dental pain and gastrointestinal upset to more systemic conditions like kidney disease or infections.
When is it a medical emergency if my cat is hiding and not eating?
- Urgency Level: Medium. While one missed meal might not be a crisis, cats are susceptible to life-threatening hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) if they stop eating for even a few days.
- Contact your veterinarian if your cat has refused food for more than 24 hours or if the hiding is accompanied by lethargy or vomiting.
- Seek emergency care immediately if your cat’s gums appear yellow or if they are struggling to breathe.
How can taking a photo or video of my cat help with the triage process?
- A photo allows a professional to assess your cat's 'facial grimace scale' and resting posture without the adrenaline spike caused by a clinic visit.
- Seeing if your cat is hunched over or breathing rapidly helps the triage nurse determine exactly how quickly your pet needs to be seen.
- Visuals provide vital clues about signs of pain in the ears and eyes that may not be apparent once the cat is at the vet office.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Anorexia, either partial or complete, in cats can be associated with underlying disorders, drug reactions, or environmental changes, such as moving to a new household or the introduction or loss of pets or family members. Pain is also a significant contributor to anorexia, and learned food aversions can occur, particularly when therapeutic diets are introduced during illness. Environmental stresses, such as accidental confinement, or an indoor-only cat being lost outside, can also lead to inappetence. Inappetence can lead to hepatic lipidosis due to decreased energy uptake. Because cats are prey species, they may hide signs of discomfort or pain.
Chapter: Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disease
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 456)