If your cat sits under the couch, this post will show you a number of likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat sit under the couch? Possible reasons why your cat sits under the couch are that it is waiting for something from you, it feels safer there, separation anxiety, or that it simply likes the spot.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat sits under the couch and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat sits under your couch
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make them more likely.
It wants food
The cause could be that it wants food from you. This would be more likely if your cat only sits under the couch when you are sat there and before it has been fed or when it has not been fed for a while. It would also be more likely if it sits there when you are eating something that it likes such as fish.
It feels safer
It could also be the case that your cat sits there because it feels safer. By sitting under the couch, it will be able to shield from above and from the sides while having you nearby making it feel safer. This would be more likely if your cat tends to do it more when it might be feeling nervous such as when there are loud noises outside or other animals around.
Separation anxiety
Another reason could also be that your cat has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if your cat only sits under the couch when you are there and if it follows you to other places as well.
It likes the spot
It could also be the case that your cat simply likes the spot. This would be a lot more likely if your cat also sits under the couch when you are not sat there and if your cat sits under a specific couch. In this case, it could help to give it another place to sit.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always sat under the couch
If your cat has not always sat under the couch, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that there was an event that caused it to start. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that it learned that the behavior gets rewarded or because something caused it to be anxious without you to hide under the couch.
What is different when your cat does not sit under the couch
If your cat tends to sit there more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it tends to go there when you are not around and it follows you around when you are around, the cause would be likely to be separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat sitting under the couch
Below are some things you can do about it.
Give it another place to sit
The first option would be to encourage your cat to sit somewhere else. One way to do so would be to put a cat bed where you want your cat to sit and to put your cat there whenever it tries to sit under the sofa.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious without you
It could also help to try to limit reasons why your cat might get anxious when you are not around. Ways to do so could include giving it a safe spot it can go to without you and to feed it before leaving it and to give it access to water and a litter box when you are not around.
Reward it for sitting somewhere else
It would also help to encourage your cat to elsewhere by rewarding it when it sits there and not rewarding your cat too much when it sits under the couch.
Get help
If your cat has been going under the couch constantly and it has been being very anxious, it would likely help to take it for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to rule out medical causes.