Owning a pet benefits an individual in ways they might not have imagined. For example, one recent study shows that owning a pet companion can be worth over $90k a year in terms of life satisfaction. This just proves that a fur baby is one of the best investments you can make in life!
Truly, not only do they provide companionship, affection, and serenity, but they can also be free entertainment. Just look at these critters who hid themselves in the strangest and most ridiculous places imaginable. Granted, some of them did it better than others, but let's appreciate the effort and give them all a virtual pet, shall we?
#1 Sneaky Kitten
Image credits: britneydiane
#2 My Cat Literally Thinks I Can’t See Him And Jumps At Me When I Walk By
Image credits: Kennicole16
#3 My Dog Trying To Hide From Getting Her Ear Medicine
Image credits: roosking
A pet folding themselves into a box of tissues or playing hide-and-seek behind a transparent curtain is probably just playful behavior. Nevertheless, there usually is an explanation for them doing these strange things. If they're trying to camouflage themselves into their surroundings, dogs might have one of these four intentions:
- They're looking for a safe space and just want to be cozy for a couple of hours;
- They're instinctively looking for places to hide their secret stash of snacks;
- They're looking for their favorite comfort object (toy, scrap of food, blanket, etc.);
- They need to regulate their body temperature, either to warm up or cool down.
#4 This Dog Will Sit Like This For Hours
Image credits: anon
#5 My Cat Is Obsessed With 2 Things: Splooting And Hiding Under The Rug. Always Discover Her "Hiding" With Just Her Feet Sticking Out... And The Rug Breathing
Her roundness makes a very visible lump in the rug, and her little splooted chicken legs help too. Still, I'm always on the lookout for hidden cats whenever I'm stepping over rugs now. She's instilled a new fear into me.
Image credits: LazyAmbassador2521
#6 I Found Chuche Two Years Ago, When He Was About 8 Weeks Old, On The Street. When I Brought Him Home, He Spent The Entire First Day Hiding Behind A Table Leg
Image credits: PureShower3605
However, there can be other, more concerning reasons.
Older dogs may retreat to their hiding place if their cognitive abilities are declining. Some dogs develop dementia and become confused about their whereabouts, get anxious, and tend to hide more often if they're feeling overwhelmed.
When dogs get frightened, they look for a safe space to hide. If your pooch ever panicked when fireworks were popping outside, you've probably experienced them hiding under a table or something similar. Thunderstorms elicit similar fears in some dogs, too.
#7 Little Rescue Owl, Or Hide And Seek Champion Of 2023?
Image credits: P_U_K_E_K_O
#8 Found This Little Guy Today. He Felt Safe Hiding In My Girlfriend's Hair
Image credits: butitsa10-33
#9 Master Of Hide And Seek
Image credits: ObsessedWithAnimals
If there have been changes in their environment (construction, new roommates, or moving altogether), a dog might be too stressed. That's when they look for a remote hiding place. If you spend some quality time with your dog and go for plenty of walks, that might reduce the stress.
Illnesses or injuries cause dogs to retreat, too. In this way, dogs are similar to cats, who usually hide when they're in pain or have been injured. This is an instinctual defense mechanism: animals hide away from predators when they're feeling vulnerable.
#10 He Saw Me Clipping The Other Dog's Toenails And Tried To Hide
Image credits: Banyap
#11 Shhh, She Thinks She’s Hiding. You Gotta Act Surprised When She Comes Out And Say “There You Are!” And She Will Do Happy Zooms
It’s like when she gets shy and tries to hide behind me. I don’t have the heart to tell her that she’s not at all hidden.
Image credits: shortnsweet33
#12 My Friend's Dog Is Terrible At Hide And Seek
Image credits: DontFearZombies
Hiding is a normal behavior for pregnant cats and dogs. This is called 'nesting,' which essentially is looking for a safe space to give birth. Pets usually look for a secluded, safe space where they will be safe during their most vulnerable time. To mask their and their litter's scent, mothers also consume the afterbirth – that is an instinctual way to protect themselves from predators.
#13 What Breed Is My Cat?
It's truly majestic when he skitters across the floor.
Image credits: pinkeskimo
#14 Derpy Baby
Image credits: unique.royalcanin
#15 Our Big Bad Pitbull, Hiding From The Lawnmower
Image credits: MarieSchrader_
Humans aren't the only species that get anxiety. Pets get anxious too, but that often manifests itself in destructive behaviors, loud barking or meowing, but hiding can also be a symptom. When separation anxiety hits, pets especially look for comfort in things that have their owners' scent. So, they might hide under the bed, sheets, sofa, and so on.
#16 Sam Trying To Conceal His Approach To Our New Aquarium
Image credits: Alcay
#17 We Dug Her A Little Hole, And Now It’s Her Hole She Hides In To Pounce At Us From And This Is Her Face While She Does It
She does look the most like Toothless, I reckon.
Image credits: larnni
#18 When Lola Is Tired Of Playing She Hides From Our Other Dog So She Can Get Some Rest. This Is Her Hiding
Image credits: nickgonzalez771
After bringing a new pet into your home, it's no surprise if they hide under the bed. It's especially true for smaller furry pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas. According to the experts at Oxbow Animal Health, that's because they're prey species and they're very vigilant about any threats in their environment.
"The sound of a chair being pulled out on a tile floor may not make you duck for cover (you brave human, you), but it could very well be enough to throw off your rabbit’s entire afternoon," they claim.
#19 I Lost My Cat Today And Eventually Found Him Like This Staring At Me
It’s funny how they decide to make noise when you make direct eye contact with them.
Image credits: filochick05
#20 Boxers Are The Best, No Doubt About It
Image credits: boxer_dogs_lover
#21 I Always Build Her A Fort To Hide In While I Vacuum
Image credits: odeylicious
When your pet is hiding for reals, it's best not to disturb them. Of course, that's after you make sure they're not injured or feeling unwell in any other way. Sometimes, even animals want to feel unbothered, so maybe this is their version of curling up in bed and binge-watching their favorite show?
#22 Favorite Hiding Spot
Image credits: pncd123
#23 He's So Good At Hiding, I Sometimes Can't Find Him For Days
Image credits: mrniceguy78
#24 Sneaky
Her favourite place is in my sleeve, but she also bites me when she gets there, so I don’t always let her in.
Image credits: DemonicDarling
What about your pets, Pandas? Has your furry companion ever tried hiding in a funny and hilariously unsuccessful way? If you have some, share the photos with us in the comments! And if you'd like to see more delightful photos, see our list of pets who thought they were hiding but actually weren't!
#25 This Is How She Chose To "Hide"
Image credits: Whovianrose12
#26 Nymeria Is “Hiding”
Image credits: Sihaya212
#27 I See Nothing
Image credits: Catsillyness
#28 My Sneaky Boy
Image credits: kararenee33
#29 Hiding In Plain Sight
My daughter’s dog, who during quarantine sleeps like this.
Image credits: mafeehan
#30 Worst Hide And Seek Player Of All Time
Image credits: NAEEMP
#31 Almost Good At Hide And Seek
Image credits: Global-Mix-3358
#32 If I Can't See Them, They Can't See Me
Image credits: Eric Aguero Altmann
#33 If I Can't See, You Can't See Me Too
Image credits: Shirin Dhabhar
#34 My Doggo’s Insane Hiding Skills
He’s there, I promise, just really well hidden.
Image credits: Matyk__
#35 How Do I Tell My Cat That She’s Not Doing A Great Job At Hiding?
Image credits: Snootato
#36 I Could Really Use One Of Those Box Shells
Image credits: OneNerdyOpinion
#37 An Adorable Bush
Image credits: randus_duthane
#38 My Dad's 20 Lb Cat Hiding From The Vet
Image credits: reddit.com
#39 My “Sneaky” Kitty
Pepper thinks no one can see her.
Image credits: PainterlyGirl
#40 That Shiba Smile... And He Reads
Image credits: mjbelkin
#41 Me Hiding, Me Dangerous Predator
Image credits: SiggySmilez
#42 Missing For 2 Hours, Then I Found Her... Hiding In The Laundry Basket! So Many Questions I Could Ask Her, If Only I Could Speak Dog
Image credits: brett_123
#43 I Couldn’t Find My Cat For An Hour
It’s our first tree, and she left it completely alone for a week. I figured she just wasn’t interested! I should've known she was just working up the confidence.
Image credits: Kikifomiki
#44 He Hides Every Time We Try To Put His Leash On To Leave The Dog Park
Thankfully, he is pretty easy to spot as he has such a thin coat and is pretty much bald on his belly.
Image credits: hypercyanate
#45 She'll Never Find Me In Here
I've been told he is actually pretty calm compared to most eskies, so I guess I lucked out haha.
Image credits: AngryLiLMuffin
#46 I'm A Shelter Photographer, And This Kitten Was Not A Big Fan Of My Camera... This Was Her Idea Of Hiding
It’s pillow filling! I was trying out a cloud photo shoot, but she thought maybe it was just a better idea to bury herself.
Image credits: finstantnoodles
#47 My Pitbull Is Terrified Of Thunder. Every Day She Gets More Creative About Hiding Places
Image credits: danidb26
#48 If I Hide 98% Of My Body Maybe He Can’t See Me
Image credits: Nootkasound
#49 They Both Chose The Same “Hiding” Place At The Vet
Siblings, with Daisy (female) facing left, and Marvel (male) facing right.
Image credits: _flower_
#50 He Calls It Hiding In Plain Sight
Image credits: Cadenwantshispizza
