How to find a cat hiding in the house

If your cat has vanished indoors, they are almost always still inside, tucked somewhere small, dark and warm, and staying quiet on purpose. The fastest way to find them is a slow, quiet, room-by-room search with a torch, checking places at floor level and high up. Shake the treat bag, then wait. Here is a search order that works, and what to do if they still don't turn up.

First: make sure they're actually inside

Before you take the sofa apart, rule out the outdoors:

  • Were any windows, balcony doors or the front door open in the last few hours?
  • Did a delivery, a visitor or a tradesperson come in?
  • Is there a gap behind a washing machine or kitchen unit that leads somewhere?

If there's a real chance they got out, check outside right away, close to home. Cats that get out often hide nearby rather than travel far.

Where cats hide indoors

Cats choose spots where they can't be seen and their back is covered. The usual places:

  • Inside furniture: under the sofa lining, inside recliners and sofa beds (check these before you fold or recline anything), behind books on a shelf.
  • Wardrobes and drawers: an open drawer or a wardrobe that was shut with the cat inside.
  • Kitchen: behind or under appliances, in the gap above the cupboards, in the toe-kick space under units.
  • Beds: inside a duvet cover, in the bed base or a storage drawer, behind the headboard.
  • Boxes and bags: cardboard boxes, suitcases, laundry baskets, shopping bags.
  • High spots: tops of wardrobes, shelves and the fridge.
  • Warm spots: behind a radiator, next to the boiler, in the airing cupboard.

How to search, room by room

  1. Go quiet. Turn off the TV and music. A hiding cat won't come to a loud house.
  2. Use a torch, even in daylight. You'll catch the shine of their eyes in a dark gap.
  3. Work one room at a time and close the door behind you when you're done, so they can't move back into a room you've already checked.
  4. Look low, then high. Lie on the floor and look under things, then check the top of everything.
  5. Use the sounds they know: the treat bag, a food tin opening, their name in your normal voice. Then stay still for a minute and listen for a bell, a scratch or a meow.
  6. Check the warm places again. Cats move, and the airing cupboard you checked an hour ago might be occupied now.

If you still can't find them

  • Wait for the evening. Many cats come out when the house goes quiet. Put food and water down in a central room and check it later.
  • Sprinkle a little flour on the floor near the food. Paw prints tell you which direction they came from.
  • Leave the litter tray out where they can reach it.
  • Ask everyone at home to keep doors and windows shut until the cat turns up.

If your cat still hasn't appeared after a day, or if they're hiding and won't eat, it's worth calling your vet. Hiding can sometimes mean a cat feels unwell.

Make the next search shorter

Give them a hiding place you know about

Cats who have a covered spot they like are less likely to go into a wardrobe or the back of a sofa. Our Enclosed Cat Tent Bed is a cloth bed with a cover that you set on the floor. It comes in sizes S to XL (S in Cherry only). Put it somewhere quiet, and it becomes the first place to look.

Use a nearby Bluetooth finder

A small tag on the collar can save you from searching every cupboard. Our nearby Bluetooth pet finder pairs with your phone and helps you find your pet when you're nearby, which is exactly the "somewhere in this flat" problem. The body is about 65.5 × 37 × 18.3 mm and it charges by USB.

To be clear about what it isn't: it isn't a GPS tracker, it takes no SIM card, and it won't follow a cat across town. It's for short-range searching, at home or close by. Make sure the collar fits your cat comfortably, and if your cat has never worn one, let them get used to it first.

Know the usual spots

After a couple of searches, you'll learn your cat's favourites. Write them down for anyone pet-sitting.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a cat hide in the house? Some cats stay hidden for hours, especially after a change like visitors, a move or new furniture. If they don't eat or use the litter tray for a day, call your vet.

Does the pet finder work if my cat gets outside? Only when you're nearby. It's a Bluetooth finder used with your phone, not GPS, so it helps when you're searching close to home but can't track a cat from far away.

Can I return it if it doesn't suit my cat? Yes. GetPetWell offers 30-day returns with a free return label.

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