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My cat hides in bedroom. Should I play there or stick to routine?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Curl | Female | 3 lbs

Hi, I have 1 more question about "Scruff". We have a Husky/ wolf mix who is very friendly towards cats, and our other cat Bitsy. "Scruff" seems to be hiding in our bedroom, I have been going in there and playing with her about 8 times a day. Should I continue to go in the bedroom and play with her, or ,should I just go about my normal routine and eventually, Scruff will start coming out in the living room with us??

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on December 14th, 2017

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it would be best if you go about your normal routine without going to the room as much as that may encourage Scruff to start coming out in the living room. This process can take some time though but eventually Scruff will likely start interacting more with your dog and not hide. If the hiding does not improve, have Scruff evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment to ensure that she is not painful or in discomfort or not feeling well which can certainly explain that behavior as well. Good luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Elva Ma DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 27th, 2017
Hello, and thank you for your question. It sounds like Scruff is quite a timid kitten. It is a stressful time for kitens to move to a new home, so it can take some cats more time than others to adjust. It's promising that she will play with you if you are in the bedroom with her. I would spend more time in there, and get her more comfortable with you, giving her plenty of treats and affection and playtime. Eventually, you can try to gradually move these play sessions closer to the living room. With enough positive reinforcement via treats and playtime, and even brushing (some cats love it, others not so much), she will gradually become more comfortable with her surroundings and explore the rest of the house. I would also suggest looking into a product called Feliway, which is a natural feline pheromone designed to help reduce stress in cats.

I hope this helps, and that Scruff starts getting more comfortable soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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