My cat steals and hides everything. Is this normal hoarding behavior?

Hello. This could be a behavioral issue, or possibly a medical one. There are some intestinal disturbances that can cause extreme appetite in cats. If this is behavioral, sometimes using the anti-anxiety medication amitryptiline, can quiet some of these extreme urges. But before getting into tests & possible medications, you might try switching your cat to a canned diet. It has been shown that some cats have a longer satiety response with wet diets. You can still offer hard food, but possibly offering this in puzzles can help. Kitty Kongs & treat balls slowly release food as a cat interacts with the toy. Homemade options like milk cartons & carboard rolls with taped ends & holes punched out to retrieve treats can keep your kitties mind busy. Give this a try & then talk to your veterinarian about other options at your next visit. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Many cats like to hide in the closet, usually to sleep there, as long as she is otherwise eating normally and behaving normally it is not considered to be a problem. if this is new and she is hiding in the closet all day then she is probably hiding a health condition and you should take her to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.

It sounds like something is making your cat nervous or scared. When we have a change in behavior, we have to ask is it only behavior, or is there a medical reason. A trip to your veterinarian for an exam and possible lab work would help to make sure there are no other concerns. If it is determined to be a behavior problem, I would start with a pheromone such as Feliway that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 Another product I like is Composure, which is available as a little treat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews If these do not help, you might consider discussing prescription medication for anxiety with your veterinarian. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If playing like this is periodic and not all the time, it is completely normal kitten behavior. they get excited and pounce and attack imaginary things. If this is happening ALL the time it may be abnormal and I would recommend having them examined by your Vet. I hope this helps and have a great day!

This is likely behavioral. I would recommend providing her with plenty of toys that will keep her occupied. You can also consider using a bitter spray to apply to the things she chews on most to try and deter her from continuing this behavior. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It's not unusual for cats to hide food, and it could be that Lucy is hiding it to eat later, or trying to keep another animal in the house from eating it. She is trying to hide the scent of the food so no one else can get it, and she likely will go back to eat it later. Cats who live in the wild will do this, and it can be an instinctive behavior.

This may be a normal behavior for Sky but I would recommend you find a safer chew toy for her. My biggest concern is that she would ingest a piece of the plastic which could cause GI distress and/or a blockage. If Sky starts chewing on other inappropriate items, is vomiting or having diarrhea, or goes off her food, I would recommend you take her in to your veterinarian to be examined. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.