Why does my cat act painful or aggressive, then seem normal?

He may be painful, especially since it sounds like this behavior is new. I would recommend that you take him in to your vet for an exam. Some cats will become over-stimulated when you pet them and act aggressively.... here is some info on that. https://www.petcoach.co/article/petting-related-aggression-in-cats/ But again, for Dodo my concern is that he may be in pain. It could be that he's developed some arthritis, or has injured himself in some way, or he may have a painful abdomen. Your vet will be able to give you more information after doing an exam. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

The best way to know if there is a medical issue causing pain is to have Kit examined by the veterinarian. Sometimes back pain or fleas can make a cat reactive. Some cats also will exhibiting petting related aggression: https://www.petcoach.co/article/petting-related-aggression-in-cats/ I hope this provides some guidance. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I suspect that Miss Peach was injured on that side or is just fearful aggressive due to your niece chasing her with the swords. This should subside on its own if it is behavioral and if it is a soft tissue injury such as bruising then it should resolve with rest. If there is no improvement or this worsens, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

The first thing I would do for now is put Attila in a room by herself with a litter box, food and water bowls, comfortable resting places, etc. and leave her alone for the next few days apart from coming in briefly to refill her food and water and change her litter. When cats become upset and aggressive like this, for whatever reason, it can take up to a week for them to fully calm down and return to normal - until then, it's best to leave her completely alone and give her plenty of space. Some cats can have serious aggression issues that are triggered by a strange or scary noise, an unusual smell, or anything else that startles them. It's possible that Attila may have had a scary dream that frightened her, or she could be painful due to a pinched nerve, arthritis, or some other issue that may have been aggravated by petting. If she calms down over the next few days and things return to normal with no further problems, you may not need to do anything else. If she is still acting aggressive a week from now, or if this becomes a recurring problem for her in the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist - he/she can evaluate Attila in person and help you determine what may be triggering these episodes, and will also give you some specific suggestions for managing her when this happens. Prescription medication is helpful for some cats with aggression issues, so this is something that could be discussed also. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very rare that cats suffer from hyperesthesia (over sensitivity to touch to the point that bit cannot uncomfortable) but it is not unheard of. It is thought to be of a neurological origin-and can be very difficult to treat. Sometimes adding a medication called gabapentin has helped in such cases for my clients. I would talk to your veterinarian to see if they think Royal would be a good candidate or if it is strictly behavioral. If behavioral in origin-sometimes feliway diffusers are helpful in calming our feline companions as well. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I feel your pain and believe you. Most cats when they are at the Vet act like Willow because they are scared. At home I would be careful on how and where you touch her. Most cats only like being pet or scratched around the neck, face and ears. Watch for signs of her being done with the touching: turning to look at you, flicking her ears or tail. When you see subtle signs like that you should stop touching her. You definitely can try a calming collar and over the counter calming treats to see if it helps. But the most important thing to do is not push her when she is done with attention. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+11268+29853&pcatid=29853 Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Most cats do not like to be touched past the head normally. But of this is a sudden behavioral change I would recommend a Vet exam since she is getting older. They can see of she is more painful than normal in her back and be sure she hasn't lost weight. There are glucosamines/chondriotins for cats like Dasuquin and Cosequin. In the mean time don't pet her where she doesn't like. Cats do get ramped up if we keep doing things they don't like. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3571 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=26149