Cat hideaways, nests and shelters

Hiding is not fear. A cat that takes cover recovers: it sleeps more deeply in an enclosed space because it no longer has to watch its back. A cat with no refuge sleeps badly, and a cat that sleeps badly becomes irritable.

Size matters more than apparent comfort. A cat picks a shelter that fits it — contact with the walls is what reassures, not space. An oversized basket stays empty while it curls up in a shoebox. The practical rule: a hideaway barely bigger than the cat curled up.