My 9-year-old cat suddenly hisses at me. Should I take her to the vet?

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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Oscar! I would make an appointment for Oscar at your Vet. Any behavioral change in an older pet warrants an exam. He could be painful (arthritis, injury), scared, have painful urination or constipation and any metabolic condition (kidney or liver problems, hyperthyroidism, diabetes). I hope this helps and I wish Oscar a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Peaches is having issues. While there could be a behavioral component to her behavior, there can be underlying medical causes (pain, GI discomfort, an infection or illness, for example) that may be causing it as well. I would recommend she be evaluated by her regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for her behavior, have any necessary testing done (bloodwork, X-rays), and start any treatment (medical or behavioral) that may be needed. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Excessive thirst is always a cause for concern, and there are numerous causes of it. I would highly recommend having Missy seen as soon as possible for some blood labs and a urinalysis as well as assessment of her wounds. It is possible she has nothing serious, but she could have something like an abscess forming which would need drained and flushed under sedation in addition to antibiotic therapy. As for the behavior, environmental enrichment is a must in a house with a cat, especially if more than one cat is in the household. Always have one litter box per cat plus one, and use Feliway to aid in calming which is available at PetCo. Discuss further enrichment with your primary care veterinarian. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry you are facing this frustrating problem. I would recommend that you take the one who is suddenly being "grumpy" to the vet. Sometimes if they are painful or not feeling well, they will become more irritable. You can try temporarily separating them again, or separating them for at least part of the day so that the "victim" has a "safe zone" or some time where he or she feels safe. But the sudden onset of the change in behavior does concern me that something may be going on with the one who is acting more aggressive. Best of luck, thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

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.