Why Does My Cat Burrow Under Blankets?
Scientific research shows that having a cat has a lot of benefits. Cats are amazing friendly creatures, but they can be a little unpredictable. Some of their habits might seem extremely weird, although they make perfect sense to your feline.
So, why does my cat burrow under blankets? If you’ve asked yourself this question, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain why cats hide under blankets and explain what you can do in this case.
Make sure that your cat has a comfortable bed with a blanket to keep it warm. You should also make sure that your cat doesn’t have regular access to your bedroom, especially if you’re not at home.
Cat Attitudes is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Why Does My Cat Burrow Under Blankets?
Cats are sensitive creatures, and most of their attitude and behavior can be related to this sensitivity. Cats can burrow under blankets for several reasons.
Your cat might burrow under blankets because they make it feel safe. Some children, and even adults, do the same when they’re stressed, scared, or anxious. The blanket makes the cat feel that nothing and no one can attack it, so it will burrow under the blankets to hide.
This behavior is related to the cat’s basic instincts. In its natural habitat, the cat burrows to protect itself from predators and hides to wait for its prey until it’s time to jump and attack. Although your feline is domesticated, it still retains these basic instincts.
Your kitty appreciates feeling warm, and under the blankets will be the perfect spot for it to snooze and relax. Some cat breeds, especially those with thin fur or no hair, might snuggle under the blankets more than other breeds. In cold weather, the cat is likely to burrow under the blankets.
Your feline might choose to burrow under the blankets because it doesn’t want to feel disturbed. Your cat might be anxious or stressed and doesn’t want to interact with any pet or human, so it will prefer to hide under the blankets.
Your cat might be burrowing under the blankets because it wants to attract your attention, especially if you’re in bed. It wants to feel your body and tempt you to play with it.
Cats have preferred types of environments, depending on their breeds and the individualistic differences between cats. Some cats are bush dwellers and prefer to stay hidden and concealed, as sitting in open and exposed areas can make the cat feel too vulnerable.
The feline might be burrowing under blankets because it’s trying to cope with a recent change. If you have changed home recently, got a new pet, lost an old pet, or had a new baby or partner, your cat might be seeking comfort by burrowing under blankets.
The cat might be a little bored of its bed or doesn’t feel comfortable or warm enough. The bed should be soft and cozy to tempt the kitty to sleep in it, and if it doesn’t feel comfortable, it will prefer to snuggle under the blankets on your bed.
Some cats burrow under blankets to tell you that there’s something wrong. This can be a sign that your feline is sick or suffering from a health issue that causes a lot of pain. Burrowing under the blanket can help the cat feel safe until it heals. This can also be related to a problem caused by someone in the family or another pet.
Your kitty might burrow under the blankets next to you to show you that it loves you. To you, you’re probably the only parent figure the cat has, and it values how you take care of it. After a long day at work, your kitty wants to snuggle next to you and keep you warm because it loves you.
Will Burrowing Under Blankets Harm My Cat?
Burrowing under blankets doesn’t have to be a dangerous behavior, but it can lead to a lot of problems.
If you have a kitten or a smaller cat, the fabric’s weight might be too much. Cats have delicate bodies, and heavy blankets can crush the cat or deprive it of moving comfortably.
Adult cats will be able to move the blankets and get out of bed if they don’t feel comfortable, but kittens lack the physical strength needed to remove the fabric. As a result, a smaller kitten might be trapped under the blankets for too long.
In some cases, heavy blankets can deprive your cat of breathing comfortably. The heavy layers of fabric don’t allow much oxygen to pass through, especially if you have a young kitten that can’t get its head up.
If someone doesn’t know that there’s a cat under the blankets, they might accidentally sit or sleep on the bed, crushing the cat underneath them. If you have an adult cat, you’ll immediately feel it under the blankets, and you’ll move away unless you jump on the bed all of a sudden.
However, if you have a young kitten burrowed under blankets, you might not even feel its presence. Your body weight can heavily injure or even kill a young kitten.
How to Stop My Cat from Burrowing Under Blankets?
Understanding and correcting your cat’s behavior is an essential part of being a responsible pet parent. Your job is to make sure that your cat is comfortable and safe and to ensure that you both have a practical routine that works for everyone in the family. Here are a few things to do if your cat keeps burrowing under blankets.
Lock your bedroom door, especially if you’re not around. This will prevent your cat from sneaking into your bedroom and burrowing under blankets, so it won’t surprise you when you’re trying to take a nap. You won’t also crush its body if you jump into the bed.
Make sure that the cat’s bed is warm and cozy. Keep a comfortable blanket in the cat’s bed because its weight won’t be too heavy for the cat, and it will be able to lift the fabric if it needs to leave.
Create a hiding place that allows your cat to hide without snuggling under the blankets. Use comfortable pillows or cardboard boxes to create a burrow where the cat can satisfy its basic instincts as a predator.
Make sure that no one is bothering your cat. If another pet attacks your cat or if someone in the family isn’t treating it nicely, it might be tempted to hide under the blankets. Find the reason and make sure that your cat isn’t feeling scared.
Have the feline checked by a vet. There could be a physical problem that causes pain, and your cat might be trying to let you know that it needs help. Cats try to attract your attention in several ways, and hiding in your bed might be one of them.
Make sure that you’re spending enough time with your cat. Your feline doesn’t want to be left alone, so you should give it enough attention when you’re at home. Keep the cat entertained by buying suitable toys so it doesn’t feel bored or anxious.
Final Thoughts
Finding your cat hiding under blankets now and then shouldn’t be alarming, but if your cat is always burrowing under the blankets, you might need to do something about it. Your cat might be burrowing because this is one of its basic instincts, or it could be trying to show you that it loves you.
Your feline can also be hiding because it’s scared or doesn’t want to deal with anyone. It might be worried or anxious because of a sudden change that disturbed its surroundings.