Why is my 9-month-old cat hissing at me suddenly? What can I do?

Hello Sudden behavior changes in cats can be due to changes in vision (cats can have issues with their retinas particularly), pain, neurological disease like seizures, tumors or infections, and other causes. A thorough exam of Schrodinger's eyes and all his systems could help locate the problem. I recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian soon as some problems must be caught early for management to be successful.

That is very unusual and sounds scary! There could be a few reasons for this behavior. Sometimes there could be pain or a medical condition causing a change in behavior. Since Oscar can't talk and tell you what is happening, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian to be safe. Sometimes this behavior is related to the stress of seeing another cat outside. For some cats, this causes frustration and they can then exhibit bullying type behavior to other pets or people within the house. If the veterinarian thinks this is behavioral, there are a few things you can do. Try enriching the environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. If he is the only cat in the household, you may try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Do not use these last two mentioned options if you have other cats. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Wash all windows and doorway exteriors where a cat may be spraying outside. Try to drive out the cat if possible. You may also need to block the window where you think Oscar may be viewing the cat most frequently. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with aggression/stress. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

I would have Nurmal (love her name!) checked out by a vet. Sudden changes in behavior in a senior cat can point to medical problems such as hyperthyroidism and arthritis (pain may make her cranky). I recommend getting a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will help the vet identify if she is suffering from a medical illness. Should one be found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. I would take her into the vet on Monday if possible. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Sudden behavioral changes can sometimes indicate pain or an underlying illness, so if this came on suddenly a vet visit is always a good first step to rule out any health problems. If your kitty is in good health, looking for something that may have triggered it such as a new object, new people, possession over toys etc may help you understand what caused it. Stress can make cats act uncomfortable or unpredictable, so removing the stressors or making it so your cat has a place to escape and relax may help him feel better. Pheromone diffusers/collars can also be useful in dealing with stress and aggression, and placing one on your cat or plugged into the area where he is being territorial may help him calm down.

Cats are very temperamental creatures and can be thrown out of balance by small changes in their environment. Sometimes these changes are imperceptible to us humans, while others the cause may be something more obvious (the addition of another person or animal, moving to a new location, change of diet, etc). Based on what you are telling me he sounds very stable and overall overtly healthy. I understand it is difficult to get a hold of him, but another reason for him to be acting abnormally would be if he is in some measure of discomfort or pain. I would suggest ruling this out with your vet, and once this is done, begin trying to produce an environment that is as enriching and stress-free as possible for Jhumru. I would not push him too much in an attempt to regain his affection. Allow him to come back into his own and come to you when he is ready. Obviously, if the doctor is able to find something physically to explain this behavior, ideally resolving this issue will also resolve the behavior change. Hope this helps.

There could be a reason for Aspyn's change in behavior. Sometimes a sudden change behavior can be a sign of a medical illness. I think it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet for a health check.