Perhaps your cat used to come into your room, and suddenly started refusing to do so. Perhaps they have never liked your room, and have always refused to enter it.
This can leave you scratching your head. You want to cuddle up with your cat, but they won’t set foot inside your room. Why not? Is it you, or something in the room?
Why won’t my cat come into my room?
There are several potential reasons your cat won’t come into your room. Cats are very different from us. They have their own routines, rituals, and preferences. They also have senses that provide a greater awareness of things than we possess.
All of these factors can make it difficult to figure out why your cat avoids your room, but it is usually possible to figure it out.
Fleas
This is a very mundane reason why your cat may avoid your room. If your room happens to have fleas, your cat will avoid it. When they enter the room, fleas begin to jump onto them, so they exit the room quickly.
If this is the problem, you should be able to find signs of fleas. You may see the fleas themselves, which look like tiny black bugs. You may also discover their feces, which look like dark brown specks.
If you get unexplained bites, this is another indication you may have a flea infestation.
Static Electricity
Static electricity is something that you may not think about, but it is a possible reason why your cat doesn’t like to hang out in your room. Static electricity is more of an issue in the winter months.
The air has to be heated, which removes moisture from the atmosphere. This makes static electricity more likely to build up. Some floors can create static as well. Carpeted floors create the most static, but tile floors can also create static.
A cat’s fur makes them more likely to get shocked by static electricity. This wont harm the cat, but it can be unpleasant. If there’s a lot of static electricity in the room, they may avoid it so they don’t get shocked.
Smells
Cats have a sense of smell that is 9 to 16 times as strong as a humans. Humans have 5 million olfactory cells, while cats have between 45-200 million. They also have a jacobson’s organ, which allows them to smell chemicals that are undetectable to us.
Your cat may avoid the room because of its smell. Even if you can’t smell it, your cat can. They may smell a predator or other sign of danger, like a burnt smell.
Noises
Cats also have an excellent sense of hearing. Cats and humans are on equal footing when it comes to lower register sounds. However, cats can hear much higher sounds than humans, and even dogs.
A cat can independently control their pinnae, or ear flaps. They can move backwards, forwards, and even sideways. This helps them determine which direction a sound is coming from.
When it comes to sounds, cats can be very sensitive. Something as simple as the hum of a phone charger can be unsettling for them. Other possibilities include a fan, or even squirrels.
If it’s a noise that keeps your cat out of your room, you may notice them listening intently when they are near your room.
Temperature
Your cat’s body temperature is a bit warmer than yours. The average human has a temperature of 98.6. Cats temperature ranges between 100.5-102.5. They typically prefer things warm and cozy.
If your room is colder than the rest of the house, this might be why your cat avoids it. You may also notice them hanging out in the warmest areas, or in shafts of warm sunlight.
Ghosts
Many cat owners believe there’s more to the world than what we humans can see. If ghosts are real, it’s likely that cats can sense them. Maybe you even think your room is haunted, or have had strange experiences. If there’s a ghost in your room, it makes sense for your cat to avoid it.
Sixth Sense
Maybe you don’t believe in ghosts. However, you have probably noticed that your cat senses things you can’t. Cats seem to have a sixth sense. This is why the room might seem perfectly fine to you, but it’s offputting to your cat.
Your Space
It’s possible that your cat simply feels that your room is your space, and they don’t want to intrude. Cats are territorial, so its not out of the question that they would respect your territory as well.
Why has my cat stopped coming into my room suddenly?
Your cat used to enjoy hanging out in your room. Suddenly, they became afraid of your room or refused to go in there. What happened? Why did your cat suddenly dislike your room?
Negative Association
Cats have a strong associative memory. It’s possible for them to remember experiences for years, or even a lifetime, depending on how dramatic it was. They don’t remember the specific event in the same way we do, instead they remember cause and effect.
For example, when the food bag rattles, they know they are about to be fed. They associate the rattle of the bag with mealtime, which is a pleasant experience. When they hear the food bag, they may even begin to lick their lips in anticipation.
Negative experiences will also stick in their minds. If something unpleasant happened to your cat in your room, they aren’t likely to forget it. They will associate your room with the negative experience.
This makes them feel negative about your room, and hesitant to go inside. They may fear a repeat of their previous experience if they do enter.
Sometimes it’s possible to pinpoint the cause of the negative experience. A car backfiring, being scolded, or something falling on them are a few examples. In other cases, you may never know exactly what happened to make your cat feel so strongly about your room.
Change in room
Cats are creatures of habit. If something in your room has changed recently, this could be the issue. This can be as simple as rearranging the furniture or getting new flooring.
It’s possible your cat simply doesn’t like that you changed things, or they may prefer things the way they were.
Remember, cats are also more sensitive to sounds and smells than we are, so these things may have changed as well.
Stress or Anxiety
It’s possible that the problem isn’t your room. Your cat may not be feeling social. When cats become stressed or anxious, it’s common for them to withdraw from interaction. Many will even hide from their owners when very stressed.
Cats on the other end of the spectrum become clingy, and never want to leave your side when stressed.
If stress is the culprit, you’ll notice other signs as well. Your cat may avoid people in other areas of the house as well. They may pee or poop outside the litter box. They can also become destructive, scratching furniture or flooring.
Other Cats
Cats are highly territorial animals. If you have multiple cats, one of them may have claimed your room. This means it’s off limits to other cats. If another cat enters the room, the cat who claimed it will likely fight them.
Generally, cats are respectful of each other’s territory, and violence isn’t necessary. It’s also common for two cats to form a close bond between each other. So two cats may share the room, but not allow other cats inside.
Why won’t my cat go into a certain room?
If your cat doesn’t go into a certain room, it could be for any of the reasons listed above. Sometimes the question is never satisfactorily answered. Cats have their own way of interacting with the world, and it doesn’t always make sense to us.
If your cat avoids a room, they have their reason for it. The most likely causes are that there’s a smell or sound they don’t like in the room, or they have had a previous bad experience in the room.
How to get my cat to come into my room?
It’s reasonable to want your cat to come into your room. However, you’ll need to take things slow if you don’t want to make them more averse to your room.
Never Force Them
First, let’s talk about what not to do. It can be tempting to grab your cat and just bring them into your room. Once they are in there, they’ll see there’s nothing to fear, right? This is actually one of the worst things you can do, and will probably make them hate your room more.
Cats are very independent, and they don’t appreciate being forced to do anything. Another issue is that if they are scared of the room to begin with, forcing them will only magnify the fear.
Remove Problematic Stimulation
Perhaps you have an air freshener in your room that the cat doesn’t like. Maybe you have a fan, or even a computer, that gets noisy. If you suspect this type of stimulation is bothering your cat, then remove it if possible.
Use Treats
Treats are one way to coax your cat into your room. There are a few ways you can use them. One method is to create a treat trail leading into your room. Hopefully, the cat will be enticed by the treats, and come into the room.
You can also give your cat a treat by hand near your room. Hold another treat in your hand, and walk into your room. If they follow you into your room, then give them another treat.
Playtime
You can also coax your cat into your room during play time. You can begin playing with them in another room, and then move towards your room. Eventually, go into your room with the toy.
Hopefully, your cat will follow you into the room.
Warm Things Up
If your room is chilly, consider adding a small heater. This may be just what your cat needs to entice them. In fact, it may become their new favorite place. You can also get a heating pad or a heated blanket and place it on a couch for your cat. Cats love these items, particularly when the weather is cold.
Give Your Cat a Spot
You can help your cat to feel more at home in your room by placing a few of their things in there. A cat condo or bed is a great idea. It gives them their own space in your room. You can also install a shelf on the wall so your cat can tower above the room.
Bring in a few of their toys as well. This also helps your cat to feel at home in your room, and can create a positive association.