Scaredy Cat Hiding in the Box Springs

I would get some sheets of plywood and lay them under my box spring to keep her out of the bedding . Or even some sheets of T#11 it is thinner and that would solve the problem.

I don't have an answer for you, but if it helps any at all, I can at least sympathize. One of my cats is the same way. She runs and gets under the bed, but so far she hasn't thought to try to get in the box springs. She hides not only when it thunders, but when it rains hard, or if the doorbell rings, a car pulls in the driveway, if my son comes in to visit (he calls her "the invisible cat", because all he ever sees of her is her tail as she runs through my bedroom door to hide), even if she hears the UPS truck. I feel so sorry for her..I'm thinking of trying a thunder shirt for cats. And she's going in for her checkup next week, so I'm going to talk to the vet about her "anxiety". And she freaks out if I turn on the vacuum, so I go ahead and put her in the bedroom!

You could try finding a cardboard box that she would fit into, turn it upside down, cut a little doorway in it and she would have a cozy, dark place to go. Of course, where to place it is the big question.

Cats are so good at finding their own hiding places. My cats liked the box springs as well, but stopped using it as a hiding place when I ripped the material off of the bottom. Under the bed is still the favorite hiding place, but they aren't up in the box spring.

Almost all pets become frightened when they hear loud noises or company visits.

Poor little thing but figure out a way to make sure she can no longer get into the box spring because it is dangerous, she can get hurt, and if she is really frightened she may lose her urine or bowels. (I would still check the box spring out to ensure it is still clean, and not soiled).

Easy solution would be depending on your bed size to would get plywood pro cut from the lumber yard or big box store, and place it directly underneath the box spring so the box spring is no longer accessible to the cat or any other pet you have or may acquire.

If you have a queen or king, or Cal king they can make 2 pieces if you prefer.

Good luck!

Many thanks to all of you who replied. My cat is such a sweet girl. She does great with strangers and at the vet. Her panic is pretty isolated to thunder, lawn mowers, and fire works.

She likes to burrow under things when scared (e.g., blankets) so maybe a box with blankets would work. Every day I have to leave a throw blanket draped over the sofa in the event she gets scared so she can quickly dive under the tail of the blanket! As the saying goes, it is not my house, my cats just allow me to live here.

When I got my cats, they were three months old. I had a sectional couch with recliners on each end. They tore the lining underneath one recliner and would hide in there. They eventually grew out if it.

Our cat goes into the closet when he gets scared ..... and huddles on an old sweater I leave there, just for him.

Smurfette, first of all God bless you for giving this sweet angel a loving home.

Cats really are ingenious at finding hiding places, aren't they? Something I learned from watching "My Cat From H3ll" on the Animal Planet: most cats are either what Jackson Galaxy calls "bush dwellers" or "tree dwellers." The comfort zone is in low places, or in high places, depending upon the cat.

So, it sounds like you have a "bush dweller" on your hands (or, in this case, in your box springs).

If you'll do an internet search for cats who are bush dwellers, you'll find numerous articles with suggestions for creating "safe spaces" for you cat. I hope this helps.