Bassett-

It's not always a bad thing that your cat runs and hides when company comes. I had a big old fat cat named Zebo, who thought that everyone who came through the door came to see him. Therefore, as soon as they were settled onto the couch, he was immediately in their lap. This was fine, for the people that liked cats. It wasn't so welcomed by the people who were allergic, or afraid, or just didn't want to be sat on!