past participle or present participle

[Unregistered]

Would you please tell me which one is correct and why?
The cat was found (hidden/ hiding) under the bed because of the noise of firecrackers.
Thank you !

[riverkid]

Would you please tell me which one is correct and why?
The cat was found (hidden/ hiding) under the bed because of the noise of firecrackers.
Thank you !

Neither is "correct". Each holds a different meaning.

'hiding' shows that the cat did the action of hiding under the bed while 'hidden' shows that someone hid the cat under the bed, perhaps in a cage.

I guess that the first is the more likely because of the "noise" but I also guess that it's possible that someone took that action of "hiding the cat under the bed" because they knew that the cat did strange things under the circumstances cited.

[David L.]

The cat was found hiding under the bed because of the noise of the firecrackers.

...is correct.