Why is my cat acting weird: licking, jumping, and scared outside?

Sudden strange behavior changes can sometimes indicate underlying pain or illness, so it is a good idea to schedule a checkup with your vet to rule out any health issues. If your cat is not spayed and is also leaving the house, it could be that she is in heat or is pregnant, which is why she is trying to separate from her old litter (I assume this is what you mean by her kids) to make ready for a new one. Having her spayed and keeping her indoors may help if this is the case, as well as making sure all the cats have their own access to food, water, litter, bedding, etc.

Poor girl! There could be something that has spooked her. Or she could be not feeling well. Or there could even be an internal conflict with another cat in the household. The first thing I would do is make sure she is healthy. I would see if your vet can look at her and make sure she isn’t painful, no infection, no fever, no urinary tract infection, etc. if she isn’t feeling well, this definitely can cause a change in behavior. If everything is normal then I would make sure she is getting along with everyone in the house. Make sure there are plenty of litter boxes as this is something they commonly will become territorial over. You can even put out some feliway diffusers which are pheromones they help calm down cats. Unfortunately these don’t work on everyone. You make also look into vetriscience composure treats as a natural calming supplement. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kitty Mucher. If she spends time outdoors, then I worry that she sustained an injury. Cat bite wounds are common and could explain her abrupt change in behavior. If she is not acting normal by the time you return home today, then she will need to see her veterinarian. If she does have a wound (and they can be hard to find), she will require treatment. I hope this information helps!

It's possible Mica is feeling a little stressed, or is a bit under socialized. If the behavior happened suddenly or occurred after a surgery it is also a good idea to schedule a vet visit as behavior changes can sometimes indicate pain or illness. if Mica checks out healthy, you may need to practice some socialization skills. This includes making sure she has a place to hide/relax when people are over. if she does check out new people, have them toss a treat or play with a favorite toy such as a feather on a stick that can introduce positive interactions rather than attempting to chase or pet her. If there are other pets in the house causing stress, making sure she has access to food, water, litter and bedding without competing with other pets can also help to reduce stress. Pheromone diffusers in plug-in or collar form can also release a calming pheromone which can help with stress and anxiety. If the behavior continues it is also a good idea to talk with your vet or a veterinary behaviorist about a training plan that may include medication to help reduce anxiety while instilling calming behaviors.

Looking for a pattern such as a noise that startles him, certain time of day it happens, or if you were doing an activity with him prior may help you figure out the cause behind his behavior. It is possible that he may have had a strange dream, or something is waking him quickly and startling him. Sudden behavioral changes can also indicate issues such as pain or underlying illness, so if the behavior continues or the cause isn't found, scheduling a vet checkup to look for any health issues is a good idea.

Cats can have erratic behavior sometimes if they are playing or otherwise "wound up" however licking and chewing at the body during this behavior is not normal. Your cat may be exhibiting pain (especially with the muscle twitches and licking/chewing) and is trying to get your attention about this. Where he is licking can also indicate where the problem may be such as the back, legs or even urinary tract. (Urinary blockages are common in male cats and can present with symptoms such as excess vocalization, licking and chewing at the urethra/penis, attempting to urinate without success, or signs of severe distress and is a medical emergency). If your cat is presenting with these behaviors it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your local vet to make sure there is not an underlying pain or illness causing it.

I would be concerned that Elvis could be painful somewhere or not feeling well. Sometimes they will have a change in behavior if they are painful, have a high thyroid, or even if they have a GI tract or urinary tract infection. I would have your vet do a thorough exam on him to rule these things out. Your vet will be able to determine whether he is painful, perfect a urinalysis, fecal or blood work if needed. If your vet thinks he is normal then I would be concerned about anxiety. You can try feliway diffusers which are cat pheromones that sometimes help to calm them. It doesn't work on everyone. Cats usually become anxious of anything that has changed in their environment like new people, new pets, normal people gone too much, construction in or out of the home, new feral cats outdoors, etc. I hope this helps!