Owner Spends 45 Minutes Searching for Cat—Can’t Believe Where He’s Hiding

Many owners are used to finding their cats hiding in peculiar places, but a Washington resident has left the internet confounded with her feline’s latest hiding spot. Can you tell where the sneaky rescue cat was hiding all along?
Diamond Dobson posted on TikTok (@d.dobsx3) sharing how she’d been looking for her cat Zucchini for 45 minutes but couldn’t spot him anywhere. But it was only when she gave social media users a closer look at the bottled water packaging on the floor that his hiding spot was finally revealed.
Dobson believes he was in there for around an hour in total, telling Newsweek that he was “watching [her] look for him the whole time.” Once she eventually found him, she stared right at him, but he lay completely still, as she joked that he probably thought he was still incognito.
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The cat’s hilarious antics have delighted the internet, and in just a matter of days, the post has gone viral with over 1.7 million views and more than 191,800 likes on TikTok.
“I had just finished hosting a party and was cleaning up when I noticed my cat wasn’t by my side,” Dobson said. “He usually follows me everywhere or sits and watches whatever I’m doing. When I was calling him, he wasn’t coming to me like he usually does.
“After looking for him, I just waited for him to make a sound. After a while, I heard some plastic rustling, and then saw two little eyes looking at me.”
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This wasn’t out of the ordinary for Zucchini, as he often “likes to hide in small places” to tease his owner and scare his cat sister, Fox. But there’s no doubt that this was one of his toughest challenges yet.
There are many reasons why cats might gravitate towards dark or hidden spots around the house, whether it’s just a quiet place to get some sleep or perhaps they’re seeking somewhere that feels safe. Hill’s Pet Nutrition highlights that it’s instinctive behavior for cats as their ancestors once sought secluded spaces from predators.
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Typical hiding spots range from cardboard boxes (which can offer security and insulation), under the bed (for added coziness and comfort), and inside a closet (the sturdiness offers them security, especially if they’re feeling nervous or anxious).
It’s vital to note that hiding isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition even suggests thinking twice before throwing out any unwanted boxes. Providing them with plenty of hiding spots can help to keep them calm and content.
Since her post went viral online, Dobson has been amazed by the positive response it has received. She has even connected with plenty of fellow cat owners who know just what it’s like to have a sneaky kitty who loves to hide from them.
“I’m so glad everyone is enjoying my funny little cat,” Dobson told Newsweek. “It’s so great to see how many other cat parents have had the same thing happen to them as they’ve shared their stories in the comments.
“I am happy to see that my little silly creatures are making so many people laugh and smile.”
Zucchini’s latest hiding spot certainly kept internet users guessing, leading to over 1,100 comments on the viral TikTok post.
One comment reads: “I was thinking the Sprite box, but that got me!”
Another TikTok user wrote: “How on Earth did he fit in there.”
“Being a cat owner, I AUTOMATICALLY saw it,” added one user.
While a fourth person joked: “It’s purrrrrufied water!”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.