Why is my 3-year-old cat suddenly less playful and napping elsewhere?

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.

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I don't know if I would necessarily be concerned but honestly, it is better to be safe than sorry in these instances. Animals can show subtle changes when an illness or something is coming on and only later when they are really sick do you look back and realize it likely started a long time ago. I don't think it's an emergency but I suggest that when you get a chance you should schedule an appointment for Hazel with your vet. I would recommend an exam and some basic blood testing. If all that is normal then at least it will give a little peace of mind. If there is something coming on then hopefully that will be detected. Hope this helps. Happy Holidays!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Mittens. Abnormal behavior in a cat is often the first sign of problems. If this continues, you should have him evaluated immediately. Your vet can take a history, perform an examination, and then advise a diagnostic/treatment plan. Possible causes include pain, infection, inflammation, stress/anxiety, bite/scratch wounds if he was outside, among other things. Good luck and I hope Mittens bounces back to normal soon.

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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bean. I'm wondering if he's neutered or not. If he's not neutered, it may be that he is more interested in going outside to find females with which to mate. In that case, have him neutered. If he's neutered, it could also be that he's sick. I'd have him seen by a vet for a health check in this case. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds that your cat had a thorough investigation at your vets. Some cats are lethargic and less playful when they have fever (I guess that was checked by your vet) or painful condition, for example muscle pain, joint pain, spinal pain and more. If his activity is not back to normal in 2-3 days I would suggest trying a short course of anti-inflammatory medications.

Sleeping more than normal for more than one day is not normal. Sometimes a cat may sleep more after a busy night out. However if this lasts through the weekend or if your cat stops eating or appears lethargic, you should take her to your vet on Monday for an exam and possibly a blood test.