It's freezing cold here in New York City, so one of our town's clever stray cats found a way to keep warm: hiding under the hood of a parked car. This is a common scenario - the cat accesses this part of the vehicle from underneath, like an investigative mechanic - but obviously it can be fatal for the animal once ignition happens and the engine heats up. Happily, this cat - a sweet, friendly, gray-and-white fellow wearing a flea collar - made his presence known by...urinating.
"We were driving and we started smelling cat pee," said Florence Giordano, who opened her car hood to find the kitty sitting on the battery! A quick scan at the vet revealed that the cat has no microchip, so Florence named him Lucky.
Note to Catster readers: Florence cannot keep him as she already has a cat and a dog, so Lucky the cat is shacked up with an elderly neighbor who, sadly, cannot keep him either. To adopt Lucky, who is one year old and weighs 7 lbs., please call Florence at 917-657-6399. (This article was published on 2/23/11 and we will update this page when Lucky finds a home!)
Meanwhile, a parked car is just one of many hazardous hiding places for cats. If your car's parked outdoors in cold weather, please bang on your hood and honk your horn to rouse a possibly sleeping feline and give him/her a chance to crawl out before you start your engine.
Here are the other 9 top hiding places to be aware of - especially if you have a kitten, whose extra-small size and extra-curious nature could land him in a very tight spot.
1. Dishwasher - Always look for Kitty before starting the machine.
2. Washer-dryer - Don't leave the door open when not in use; always check inside before starting a cycle.
3. Wood stove - Light the kindling and shut the door only AFTER doing a thorough check.
4. Reclining chair (La-Z-Boy) - Believe it or not, this is a prime small-animal hiding spot, so check under the seat and evict the previous occupant before you recline, to prevent injury.
5. Cardboard delivery boxes - Cats are notorious box nesters, so take care not to throw Kitty out with the recycling.
6. Workers' tool boxes (electrician, handy man, etc) - Cats see these as fun new hiding places worth investigating.
7. Guitar cases - See #6; cats are so exquisitely tuned to music that they probably want to leave with the musician.
8. Luggage or gym bags - Close these when not in use, to prevent pet hair buildup as well as an accidental departure.
9. Dresser drawers - These should remain shut so they don't turn into kitty traps (and kitty hair traps).
About the Author: Journalist, author, and pet lifestyle expert Julia Szabo writes the Living With Dogs column for Dogster.com and is the proud slave of 6 rescued cats. Follow her on Twitter @PetReporter1.
Related Advice from Other Cat Owners
Coaxing a Cat Out of a Hiding Place
Sometimes new cats just want somewhere to hide out and feel safe. Some cats have been known to hide for weeks until they feel safe in their new home and it is best to give them their space.
Try luring your cat out with food or treats. Put the food and water nearby and then leave the room. If you see he's eaten some of the food you'll know he can get out OK and isn't in any danger. Giving him some other hiding places around the house may help him come out and explore. Cardboard boxes with a cat-sized hole in the side are good.
~Lisa D., owner of Domestic Shorthair
Hiding Could Be a Sign of Illness
If your cat is hiding and this behavior is relatively new, you may want to seek a veterinarian to make sure his behavior is not the result of a health issue.
Cats tend to hide their illnesses (an instinct from when they were wild), so hiding may be your cat's way of doing this. Your vet can do an exam and a simple blood test to see if there are any issues going on. If he comes back with normal test results, it may be that this is just the way your cat's personality is.
All animals are different and have different personalities. Even though you feel that you have given him a safe environment to live in and treat him well, he may just be a cat that is shy or scared by nature. The same as some people are more outgoing than others, this may just be the way that he is wired. It should be noted, though, that as time progresses he may come around. Take him to the vet to make sure this isn't a medical issue and continue to provide him with a safe, loving home.
~JEN A., owner of Domestic Shorthair
One More Hiding Place!
We lost our best barn kitty when she got into the farrier's trailer and hid out while he was trimming the horses' feet. We didn't know she had gotten in there until he had gone on to his next stop. I kept thinking she'd find her way back home, but she never did! I hope wherever she wound up needed a really great barn kitty...
~Sylvia S., owner of seven cats
Have Your Visitors Check Their Cars
If you have outside kitties, they could easily hide inside a visitor's car if the windows are down. I remind my visitors to keep their windows up when visiting!
~D. W., owner of several mixed breed kitties
Dryer Alert!
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of checking the dryer two or three times while loading it and again as you close the door. I started loading my empty dryer, tossed in the dryer sheet, loaded a few more items and for some reason I checked the dryer again and in between all of loading, my darling kitty, Peanut had somehow jumped in and made herself comfortable. Had I not bent down and looked that last time, I would have possibly lost my sweet little fur daughter. Please always check the dryer as you are closing the door, cats are so fast and sneaky, you just never know.
~Shelley G., owner of assorted tabby cats
Watch Out for Pedestal Sinks!
With kittens, watch out for the big hole where pipes go into the back of a pedestal sink. Easy to get into, very difficult to get out of.
~Jen C., owner of a tori cat and many foster kittens
I Almost Lost My Cat to the Dryer
I am willing to reiterate what has already been said as I almost lost a cat due to a dryer incident. I did not know the dryer door had been left open, the dryer was restarted to finish drying the load that was in it. There was a loud pounding that did not seem right coming from the dryer, I opened the door to find one of my cats had snuck in the dryer while the door was open.
Emergency vet care, steroids, and antibiotics saved her life but any longer in that dryer and she would have died, she very nearly did. I can not stress the importance of watching your cats when you are doing laundry. Cats are forever curious and love new nesting places. I make sure the doors to both machines are always shut when not in use and keep a close eye on them when loading them. Cats don't know there is danger there and I was so fearful for Trixie's life when I pulled her out of that dryer. I got lucky and I am forever grateful to my vet for saving her life.
~Marci D., owner of one muted calico and one ragdoll female
On Cats Hiding in Car Engines
Another horrible result which I've read of many times is when the kitty snuggles down in the fan belt compartment of the engine. The car starts, the fan starts and within seconds you have a seriously injured or even dead kitty. Banging the hood isn't always enough, many times the banging simply makes a scared kitty hide even deeper within the engine compartment. Approach quietly, listen, bang the hood and listen again. Even raise the hood, kneel down and look, you may see a pair of scared eyes or the tip of a tail in there!.
~Lauri W., owner of many cats
Check Your U-haul or Utility Trailer
A long time ago, my sister's cat got into my utility trailer when I was loading up my photography equipment to go on a shoot. When I got to Memphis and opened the trailer, she ran out of the trailer, and I never saw her again. Needless to say, my sister was not happy with me.
~Nelson C., owner of a Tuxedo shorthair cat
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