My indoor cat is suddenly skittish and acting strange. Should I worry?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could be due to the stress related to that event you describe. Cats can sometimes be very sensitive to things that scare them. If this is the case, things should improve shortly. If no improvement is noted in the next few weeks or your kitty develops symptoms like inappetence or lethargy have your veterinarian take a look. Good luck!

Hello. Your cat may have experienced some minor trauma or even an unpleasant event outside. I have seen cats chased by dogs & even dive bombed by angry jays that would come into the house & sulk. And you never rule out some medical reason like a fever. If your cat continues to act strangely or unwell, refuses to eat or drink, please have him examined by your veterinarian as soon as convenient. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

That is unusual behavior so he may be irritable from being in pain. Outdoor unneutered male cats often fight and he may have an injury you can’t see which is painful. I recommend confining him to another room until he calms down so no one else gets injured, and see if he is eating normally. If this behavior continues please take him in for an exam to check for a wound or area of pain. In addition I would consider neutering him also. Neutered male cats seldom fight, they are more docile and less aggressive. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Timmy.

There are a couple of things that could be happening with Leo. He could be exhibiting symptoms of feline hyperesthesia. This is a neurological problem that can surface suddenly. It could be that Leo was startled by a loud noise or a bad dream, and that caused him to wake up suddenly. It could also be due to seizure activity. I would take Leo into the vet for an exam after Thanksgiving. With a detailed history, a physical exam, routine blood tests, and a urinalysis, the vet may be able to diagnose what is causing this behavior in Leo.

If only Crowley could talk! It’s impossible to know if this is related to stress, anxiety or if he got into something toxic. If something does not seem normal, I recommend to play it safe and have him examined by the veterinarian. Best of luck.