Why does my 5-year-old fixed cat suddenly jump, run, and act scared?

Something may have scared him recently which is making him overreact to simple things like petting. Some cats are more easily 'spooked' than others but it is typically not a problem. Sometimes animals that have lost vision or hearing are more easily startled, but you would probably notice other symptoms like head shaking or ear scratching with hearing loss, or bumping into walls or very large pupils with vision loss.

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.

It sounds like something is making J-Cat nervous. I think I’m understanding that she has housemates but typically she gets along with them. It could be something outside that she heard or something she saw inside that is making her anxious. Even though she doesn’t seem obviously painful if this behavior continues I’d recommend seeing your veterinarian to rule out pain as a cause.

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!

If Mici was a feral or stray cat prior to you taking her in, it may be that she is not comfortable in the home still. If the behavior change was more recent, illness and pain can sometimes cause strange behaviors to appear. If you haven't taken her to the vet recently, an exam is a good first step to make sure there is not an illness or other issue causing her problems. If she checks out healthy, then looking for causes of stress may help. New people, places, pets, etc can all cause stress and may cause your cat to change her behavior. Pheromone diffusers can help reduce stress, while making sure Mici has her own access to food, water, litter and places to hide/rest can also help. If the strange behavior continues even after trying this, then speaking with a veterinary behaviorist or trainer in your area may help.

Any abrupt change in behavior or attitude should be investigated by your vet. Cats are notoriously good at hiding symptoms of illness so this could be an early warning. Your vet will perform an exam, possibly do some labwork, based on the findings of the exam.

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!