I've had various cats in the past 40 years, and I know how they do occasionally find new places to sleep, often very strange places such as on top of a bowl full of cactii, or a box full of wooden clothes pegs. In my experience they usually stick to a few places for quite a long period of time.

My cat's 10 or 11 (I haven't had him since a kitten and don't know quite what age he is). He's always had his favourite little quiet places in the house; on a chair under the dining table that hardly ever gets used; behind the long curtains in the sitting room; on the bed in the spare room, but just this month I've found him spending the night in:

The bath
The bottom of my wardrobe
The space under the false floor in the wardrobe which has been full of hangers ever since I moved here.

It just seems rather odd that he has found 3 new places just recently and I'm wondering if there could be any reason that he may be feeling the need for new places. If he was a queen cat I'd be suspecting he was pregnant, but he is very definitely a neutered male that I've lived here with for 8 years.

Could he be insecure? Unfortable? Ill? I just don't know.

Can anyone explain this new behaviour please?

I don't want to worry you but I've had this happen with several cats and it's usually because they are ill. Cats tend to hide when they are in pain or feeling off colour. Of course he might just be reacting to the hot weather, or exploring new places to hide, but hiding in the bath might be because it feels cool against his skin and relieves his pain a little. Is he still eating as usual and allowing you to groom him etc?

Our cats frequently change there snuggle spots. I think saying that the cat is rejecting the owner is a little extreme. Cats get favorite spots and then change them it perfectly normal

OP, my cats (I have three) all like to explore and sleep in new spots. They have their old favourites of course, but are all curious about exploring new places.

I think its entirely natural behaviour and not anything to worry about too much. If you are worried, take your cat to the vets for a check-over just to be sure

I think one of the comments on this thread was hurtful and unneccessary. I am sure you can tell which one I am referring to - ignore it as the offensive nonsense that it so obviously is.

All the best with your cat.

I agree I think you have nothing to worry about. One of my girls loves to be enclosed in her sleeping places.

Yes I know. I'm surprised to find trolls lurking on the pet forum, but it takes all sorts I suppose. It deosn't hurt me feelings because I know my cat trusts me completely. There may even be a grain of truth in what the troll says though! Oscar's been a bit fed up with me spraying him for fleas twice this week. Maybe that's why he's hiding, but then why hide in the wardrobe in my bedroom?

I'm afraid I think the poster who said he was off colour is probably right. I am a little worried, I guess that's why I posted. It's typical of him to want to be close to me if he's poorly because he knows he's safe with me (even the bathroom is right next to my bedroom), but he may be hiding I suppose in case I take it into my head to spray stuff all over him again! Ugh!

Cats often change their sleeping places, so it may not be significant. But you obviously do have an odd feeling about this, and it is possible that your instincts may be right.

My 11 year old cat started sleeping in odd places a couple of years ago. Usually he slept in the comfiest place he could find - and he too liked 'hiding' under the bed etc - but he started sleeping in less comfortable spots, such as on the bare floorboards in the corner of the bedroom. It was unlike him. He did also have another 'symptom' - not really noticeable unless you knew him well - he would occasionally seem 'spaced out' and you would have to 'bring him back in the room'. I knew there was something wrong.... and indeed it turned out that was very ill.

You know your cat best, and you sound worried so it is worth getting it checked out. I thought my vet would think I was mental giving him those type of symptoms, but he didn't at all - cats rarely exhibit 'obvious' signs of pain or discomfort so you have to interpret the small signals they give you.

It may be nothing - or something easily sorted out - but best to put your mind at rest by seeing the vet.

I don't think the bath is exactly a discreet hiding place !

I don't know if its a coincidence, but my two 16 month old, girls have recently completely changed their sleeping spots too.. I think they just get bored, although I am now happy to be once again sitting on a proper "Office" chair which was commandeered by the girls when they moved in, and I had to use a kitchen chair or wouldn't be allowed to use the computer. I was wondering if the local Tom, who has now been fixed so doesn't spray, had scented their spots as that's where their scent is strongest ? Perhaps its something as simple as that ? They're funny creatures though, and constantly like to keep the humans on their toes !

I won't even comment on the thread invader !! ( although just did ! )

Sudden behavioural changes can be a symptom of a medical condition. Maybe he is feeling off colour and so can't really get comfortable anywhere?
Cats are both prey and predators sand like many prey species they can try to hide their symptoms, or themselves if they are unwell, so as not to identify themselves as an easy target to any predators about.
It may well be nothing but in you position I would visit the vet, if only to reassure myself.
Better to find nothing wrong that to miss something until after it is too late?

I agree with others that said to get your cat checked by the vet. It could be that he's fed up with the flea spray (why don't you try a spot on treatment as it's far less unpleasant for the cat?) but it could also be because he's feeling unwell. The natural instinct is to hide away to keep safe.

Any sudden behavioural changes should be looked at carefully as they could be signs that something is wrong & in middle-aged & older cats they should be taken seriously.

Just a quick note about the bath, he could have gone in there originally in search of water. My cats always preferred drinking from the bath tap rather than kitchen tap (dunno why - it's the same thing!) so make sure he has a supply of that. His age could mean his kidneys are beginning to fail. Like the others say, see the vet.

I normally take him to the vet when he seems ill, but I wasn't sure and not meaning to sound heartless vets do cost money so I wanted to see if he got worse or better, particularly since his appetite is good and he drinks regularly.

I do take the point from the previous poster about wanting to drink tap water. He's always at that, even when there is water down for him. I even got him a cat water fountain once, but he seemed oddly frightened of it, lol!

Anyway, I think I know what the problem could have been. He's had fleas this year quite badly and although I'd been treating them with a spray, he was scratching quite a lot and they were beginning to hop on me. I sprayed him 3 times last week, although twice I only did the neck area. He's normally very good with me, but he did look quite alarmed the third time I went to him with the spray.

I find it odd that having fleas should cause him to want hide in the dark in my wardrobe, but I think he may have been having a adverse reaction to the spray and that might have been causing him to feel off-colour. He didn't even want to come out in the garden with me yesterday morning. Yesterday lunchtime I went to the pet shop and got some flea spray for the house and some spot on cat for him. Although very expensive, I've always found it very good but stopped using it a couple of years ago when I had a drop in income.

I did him last night, I'm doing the house today cos I've got the day off work. I was out in the garden earlier and he came out and wanted brushing. He's been spending more time outdoors today. He seems a lot more normal today.

I think the fleas were seriously bothering the poor lad

I must admit, though, that I was none too chuffed to have a flea-ridden cat taking up lodgings in my wardrobe, either (that's had a darned good spray today, too!)

Fleas are a nightmare this year - I suspect the warm but damp conditions are perfect for them. I know mine have really been suffering - new flea collars all round tomorrow! lol

I think the flea spray is the most likely cause of this sudden change in behaviour. Even if it's one designed to use on the cat and not just furnishings and carpets (?), some cats can feel ill after inhaling the spray when applied or ingesting it when grooming. Older cats may be more sensitive.

I only ever use sprays on the house. The cat gets Frontlined if there's a major problem, the rest of the time I groom him about 3 times a week with a stainless steel flea comb and drown any biddies in a bowl of hot water after wiping them/fur off the comb with tissue paper, then flush the lot down the loo.

Cats have an instinct, displayed more in some domestic pets than others, where they tend to keep changing lair every few days to keep potential predators off the scent, who may otherwise lie in ambush when they're asleep. But if the cat feels more vulnerable due to illness it will choose even safer places. I had a cat with renal problems and he started to choose places to sleep which were higher up, on top of books. Not the most comfortable place, but the most secure.

If your cat is an older animal of indeterminate age it could be the start of an illness, though the timing with the flea spray might suggest it's more likely that. Why not start taking him for an annual check-up, to include a blood test, and then you'd have peace of mind. I've had mine as a stray for 11 years, I could only guess his true age, probably about 14, and that's what I do.

I agree with the above poster that Frontline is better. The combo one treats your house as well as the cat. Most cats react badly to a spray can. They hate the noise it makes. I treat the house with a flea bomb canister a couple of times per year. Frontline spot on is more expensive but in my experience, cheap brands like Bob Martin don't work at all.

I certainly haven't use a room/furniture only spray on my cat! Poor boy !

I used Frontline on him on Thursday night and a d-limonene based spray around the house on Friday. I haven't been hopped on, he hasn't been scratching and he's been behaving much more normally now. He still enjoys a good brushing though.

I will probably get slammed for bumping this up, but I have just looked in my old threads and found it.

My cat passed away just over a week ago. He was ill and had to be taken to the vet. He was being treated but took a sudden turn for the worse. However, there was nothing much to worry about in what I posted before. That was 5 years ago and he hasn't been ill since until this past few months.

I was holding him as he passed and I may be wrong but I sensed he knew and didn't mind what was going to happen. At any rate it comforts me to believe that even though it's probably nonsense! It was actually quite beautiful and I was so glad he was out of discomfort. He had suffered from pancreatitis and had not responded to the antibiotics.

I discovered a few years ago that I had underestimated his age (the indicator was the milkiness which appeared in his eyes). He was probably between 10 and 14 when I started this thread and therefore between 15 and 19 when he passed on. Not a bad age. I miss him, he was lovely. RIP Oscar. xxx

Nothing wrong with bumping when its your thread - some posters will recall Oscar I'm sure and be glad he had no problems until recently.
Sounds like he had a good life with people who loved him and a peaceful end - all any of us can wish for really.

RIP Oscar.

RIP to Oscar, nice to see that from the original thread he had no problems until recent times, and if nice is the right word it is nice to hear that when he went he went in your arms peacefully , what more could any of us ask.

Thanks yes, sad as it was, it was actually a lovely ending and the people at the vet were very kind even though of course I cried all day the next day and couldn't get out of bed. I think he had a good innings, filled with proud hunting and lording it over the house. I think he was a little senile this past few months, too, but I would never have held that against him and he remained clean and continent to the end. What more can one ask indeed?

I'm lucky I've got the silly Lhasa Apso dog as well, he's a great comfort.

RIP Oscar

Just said goodbye to my little cat last week and know how you'll be feeling.

Thoughts to you x