What did you give your small, shy cat to hide in?

July 15, 2019 9:40 AM

I have a small, shy cat that is being bullied by the larger, non-shy cat. There were a few pieces of furniture that the small cat could hide under or inside, but those pieces of furniture are now broken. What can I bring in that will give this cat a place to hide? (No cat pics, sorry.)

I have been keeping a large, broken dresser in my bedroom for years, specifically to give this small cat a place to hide. She likes to crawl under the dresser, and push her way up behind the drawers. It's not perfect - given time, the large cat can pull the drawers out and bother her. It's also a really bulky piece of furniture to keep around solely for the cat.

Ideally I'd find or build something with a small entrance for her, and ideally there'd be a way to exit in case the large cat squeezes himself in to get at her. There are a lot of things like "box or globe with a hole in it for a cat to hide in", but something like this will just keep her trapped while the large cat messes with her. Maybe a long tunnel with very solid sides, with narrow entrances at both ends.

Or does anyone have ideas about creating something like this? I'm thinking of trying to construct something out of cardboard to find the right dimenions for her, then possibly having something custom made.

Any ideas are welcome! Thanks.

posted by umber vowel to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

I know this isn't what you asked, but have you given any thought to, instead, rehoming one of your cats or separating them so they can live in different parts of your home? It sounds like a pretty terrible life for your small, shy cat. I have seen first hand what that kind of constant stress and fear does to a cat's physical and mental health over time, leading to chronic illness. It is not a good outcome and it is better for everyone to separate the cats if you at all can.
posted by nanook at 9:46 AM on July 15, 2019 [14 favorites]

Best answer: Going up often helps cats a lot. If you're able to give your cat some hidey-holes that are higher up, sometimes that helps a lot. There are some cat trees that have little structures for a single cat at the top (or near it), so that may help.
posted by xingcat at 10:04 AM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Would she prefer to be hidden or higher up than the other cat? When I moved in my sulky goth cat with a roommate's brash confident jock cat, I found that goth cat liked to be perched above the jock cat. I happened to have a loft bed, so her sleeping platform was plenty high, and jock cat did not like coming up the ladder. You can maybe diy an a-frame ladder bookshelf, and have it arranged so it's inconvenient for the bigger cat to climb up on?
posted by spamandkimchi at 10:05 AM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I would also recommend thinking about high perches. Not necessarily enclosed spaces, though; shelving or such that lets her run away might be better.
posted by lazuli at 10:25 AM on July 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Try Feliway plug-ins, perhaps. For a cat nook, The Cat Ball (Etsy) has an opening on both sides so there’s no chance of getting trapped. Nthing others’ suggestions about high shelves.
posted by Kalatraz at 10:28 AM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

I second separating the cats. I currently have two cats living upstairs and two cats living downstairs for similar reasons - My smallest cat was pretty much always hiding or glued to me (which wasn't so bad...) out of fear of the other two lady cats.

If that is not an option, you mentioned having something custom made. Perhaps you could create a haven for her that includes a single opening that uses a chip-operated pet door. There are a few models of pet door that read a microchip or tag on the pet's collar that are only supposed to let in the single cat with the chip. Maybe some sort of cat tree / tower structure that requires a pet door to enter.

Even better, though, would be to have the pet door on a room so that the smaller kitty can enter and get peace and the bigger kitty cannot.

And anything you can do to curb the bigger cat's bullying would be fantastic.
posted by jzb at 10:59 AM on July 15, 2019 [9 favorites]

All of these suggestions sound good to me. Spaces up high are key. Two additional suggestions:

1. If you are going to try Feliway (my vet swears by it), get the newer formula called something like "multiple cats." Original Feliway mimics cats' facial pheromones. The multi-cat version mimics the pheromones given off by lactating mama cats to help newborns find a latch. I've had some success with it, and it seems to be directed more toward the social climate you're seeking (happy family.)

2. Feed at regular mealtimes rather than free feeding, and always feed the timid cat first. If the bully tries to shove her aside to eat first, pick him up and move him elsewhere to his own bowl. When cats sort things out for themselves, the higher status cats eat first; so you are giving Timid Kitty some street cred by offering her food before you offer it to Bully Kitty. I've used this method to resolve much milder feline disputes, but also know people who have used it to help with more extreme situations like yours. Not a panacea, but it can help if you do it consistently over time.
posted by Nerdy Spice at 4:01 PM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Are they chipped? If so, you could go for a chip-reading cat flap provided you have a room that a) you don't mind TimidKitty getting into and b) you don't mind the door to said room getting a hole cut in to fit the cat flap. Then you just program the flap with TimidKitty's chip only.

Edited to add: any box or crate of sufficient size that you fit such a flap to would probably work as well.
posted by Stoneshop at 6:05 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]