Why is my 1-year-old cat suddenly acting like a mischievous kitten?

It is possible there is something in the house such as a rodent or critter in the walls that she is hearing and trying to catch, especially if her behavior is at the same time/location each time. Checking for that is a good first step. Making sure to tired out Georgie may also help. If she continues to do the strange spinning and chasing, or seems disoriented, is losing balance, or has other symptoms in addition, a vet visit is best to rule out any health issues.

If she's alone during the day she probably has excess energy. I do not think this is a medical problem. Try having her play with a laser pointer, throw toys or treats for her to chase and try to get her to exercise earlier in the day. As she ages she will outgrow this behavior. Cats often sleep all day then are active at night. Don't try to catch her or control her as when they are like this she may scratch or bite. Remember she is just a teenager acting up, and this stage will pass. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Katy.

Sudden aggression and behavioral changes in cats can indicate pain or illness, so if you haven't already, a veterinary check up is best. If your cat checks out healthy, it may be there is a lot of stress causing your cat's behavioral issues. Making sure she has her own access to food, water, toys, treats, hiding spots etc from other pets or people is best. She is also still very young, and may just have a lot of energy/is still learning what appropriate behavior is. Ignoring bad behavior, increasing play and activity times, and rewarding calm, quiet behavior is best to teach her the right way to interact and to get out that excess energy. If the behavior continues even with this, speaking with a veterinary behaviorist is the best next step.

Certainly personalities can change as cats get older, but i would recommend making sure there isn't a medical explanation for her behavior. We see conditions like hyperthyroidism (a high thyroid level) which can cause increased activity as one of its first signs. If her exam and bloodwork is all normal, it might just be a behavioral change as Princess gets older and is nothing to worry about. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She may just be doing that to get her energy out. Not all cats like to go outside. I would recommend if you are concerned having your veterinarian take another look at her, but without any other symptoms, this does not seem abnormal. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If playing like this is periodic and not all the time, it is completely normal kitten behavior. they get excited and pounce and attack imaginary things. If this is happening ALL the time it may be abnormal and I would recommend having them examined by your Vet. I hope this helps and have a great day!

That is unusual. It may be that he’s just growing out of the playful kitten stage. As long as he’s healthy and you’ve had him examined then I would just give him time. If there is something medically wrong you should see a specific problem if it worsens. He could just be tired or sore if he had a mild injury you didn’t see. Hopefully with rest and time he’ll be back to his playful self. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hachiko.