My social cat is suddenly isolating herself. Is she sick or stressed?

Stress can cause cats to hide or act abnormally. For example if you had house guests or got a new pet this could stress your cat out. However medical issues can also cause cats to hide. Cats may hide if they are feeling bad. I would keep a very close eye on your cats appetite, water intake, BMs, and urine if your cat is hiding. If you notice anything that is not normal I would take your cat in for a thorough exam and some basic bloodwork. Older cats can be prone to things like diabetes, renal disease, and hyperthyriodism. These can be fairly well managed with meds once daignosed. If your cat is a male, keep a very close eye on the litter box and be sure he is urinating ok. Male cats can get thier urethra blocked and become unable to urinate. This is an emergency and can be fatal very quickly if left untreated. If it turns out to be just stress I reccomend trying a product called Feliway. Feliway mimcks the phermone produced by mother cats and has a calming effect on cats. Feliway should be available over the counter at your local vet. hope this helps

It may be her personality. Some cats are more solitary than others. If she had rpeviously been more social, have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. Either can cause sudden behavioral changes. Monitor for signs of bulllying or aggression by the other cats as well.

Hello. It does sound like some event occurred to him. You indicate he is eating, which is good, but are you sure he is using the litter box, especially urinating? If not, this might be a concern. Sometimes when there is a personality change, it is best to first rule out the possibility of an underlying illness or injury. If he is eating & you are sure he is having no difficulties urinating, just watch him over the weekend, but consider having him examined sometime next week if he still seems off. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Cats can become stressed by other cats but they do often work things out eventually. There are a few things you can adjust to help decrease stress. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause Luna to be afraid that she could find herself trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hiding as you well pointed out can be a sign of sickness in cats. I think that her more outgoing behavior could mean that she is feeling better now and perhaps something was going on before. Another likely possibility is that there was something causing her stress and making her hide that is no longer present which is why she is being more outgoing. Regardless, this is good news. If she ever goes back to hiding, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. Hopefully, she will continue to be just fine! Good luck!

As with any sudden behavioral change, an exam to rule out any health issues is always the best first option. If the weather is changing rapidly and you are seeing her seek out warmer spots such as blankets, by heater vents, etc that could also be related to the behavior. Adding a warm blanket out of the dryer to her bed, or providing a place for her to sleep near a heater may help. However, if you are concerned enough about the change, a vet exam for a bit of peace of mind is always good.