The concept of hide-and-seek is uncomplicated to us humans — one hides, the other seeks. But our pets seem to have their own idea of what going under the radar actually means. Whether they get scared, chew on something they're not supposed to, or simply want to act all goofy, our companions are drawn to the cozy confines of private spaces. But the truth is, we can often see them in plain sight.
To find out more about this peculiar urge to hide and what we should do about it, we reached out to Kate Mornement, Ph.D., who goes by the handle @petbehaviourist on Instagram. Being a qualified animal behaviorist and founder of the consultancy Pets Behaving Badly, she strives to help people better understand these charming creatures living under their care.
She told Bored Panda that animals usually hide because they're afraid. "When pets hide, they're telling us they're scared or need space. Things that often cause pets to hide include loud noises, unfamiliar people or animals, and things they associate with unpleasant experiences, such as the cat carrier coming out before a vet visit."
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Kate explained that some sneaky critters also try to go unnoticed when they have an object they shouldn't have. "They hide because they've learned that that delays or prevents the item being taken away," she added.
It seems this behavior is based on their natural instinct to escape potential danger. "It's part of the 'fight, flight or freeze response' which is a survival instinct," Kate told us. "Hiding when you're eating food is also a survival instinct. If you eat alone, you consume more compared to eating with others competing for the same food."
Pets move around in their surroundings using impressive senses of smell, sound, and vision. But as you scroll through this list, it can be quite surprising to see how many pets are simply terrible at the art of stealth. Even cats, the most celebrated hiders out there, seem to hilariously fail sometimes. Though they're trying their best, and we love them for it.
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When asked why some of our four-legged friends can't seem to find a well-concealed hiding spot, Kate noted it’s probably because they don't understand the concept of the game.
"I think we misinterpret a lot of our pets' behavior in general, so it's important to learn how to read your pet's body language to ensure you understand them and can help them overcome any fears they may have," she continued.
Still, happy pet owners enjoy taking pictures of and genuinely laughing at these funny failures: "Sometimes our pets do goofy things that make us laugh. Sharing these moments with others who can relate makes us feel good."
The good news is that you can indeed help your pet stop spending so much time hiding under or behind objects. "Training pets not to hide under things involves helping them be comfortable with the situation that causes them to hide," the animal behaviorist explained.
"For example, if your pet hides when visitors arrive, teach your pet that visitors predict good things by having the visitor throw your pet their favorite treats. Also, ask visitors not to approach your pet or try to interact until your pet initiates interaction. This will help alleviate their fear over time," she added.
So if you ever want to try out hide-and-seek with your beloved companion, Kate said that playing games with pets is a fun way to bond with them. "Just make sure that your pet is also enjoying the game!"
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