My cat's behavior changed, he stopped purring. Is he less loving?

It is very normal for cats to adjust their behavior over time as they get used to things and people that once scared them, especially if your cat is exposed to it often over time through family or friends. However, if the behavioral change is sudden, you are concerned, or there any health symptoms showing up, a vet visit to rule out any issues is always best.

The changes in your cat's purring could be a result of an upper respiratory infection, asthma, masses on the vocal cords, etc. Your vet should examine him to determine if there are signs of infection, and may need to take chest x-rays to evaluate the lungs for signs of asthma or masses. You first need to determine the cause of these changes before determining what will help manage them.

Hi Abby! Meatball is a very handsome boy, and I love his name. A sudden change in behavior from the normal can indicate a medical illness. Because of that, I would make him an appointment with a vet for a health check. It could also be the return of this cat has stressed him out, but first step is having him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Hello, some cats can undergo different behaviors and may prefer different people at times. This is typically not associated with anything major. However, there are some diseases that may cause changes in attitude. This includes hyperthyroidism and rarely acromegaly. Other signs with these diseases include increased drinking and urinations, a ravenous appetite, and weight loss. This can be screened with routine bloodwork, so have him evaluated by your veterinarian for these. If normal, other causes could include a different fragrance from perfume, body lotion, or laundry detergent that you could be using. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Kittens go through different stages where they are more or less active, so it may be that he just doesn’t want to play right now. If he seems very lethargic, if his appetite is decreased, or if you notice changes to his urination or defecation habits I’d recommend having him examined by your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem.

Kittens can purr for different reasons, usually when they are happy and content but sometimes they do it when they are angry or uncomfortable. Some cats purr more than others so I would not be concerned that your cat is more of a silent type unless you have noticed other behavior changes as well. If the hairloss is just normal shedding then this can be completely normal. Daily brushing can help decrease the amount of shedding around the house. If however he has spots of hairloss where the hair has completely fallen out it could indicated a skin infection or allergies. If Leo does have bald spots then I would recommend taking him to the vet to be checked out.

Hello. It would be very difficult to say if this is just a normal change in behavior, or if something is amiss. If all he is doing is napping elsewhere, has normal food & water intake, normal litter box habits, then I would just continue to observe him for a few day more. See if something else may develop or concern you, then maybe have him examined by your vet. He may be trying to develop something, or he has just decided himself to nap elsewhere. You know his habits better than anyone, so if it continues to concern you, have him seen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.