Why is my cat suddenly leaping scared from a deep sleep and hissing?

Looking for a pattern such as a noise that startles him, certain time of day it happens, or if you were doing an activity with him prior may help you figure out the cause behind his behavior. It is possible that he may have had a strange dream, or something is waking him quickly and startling him. Sudden behavioral changes can also indicate issues such as pain or underlying illness, so if the behavior continues or the cause isn't found, scheduling a vet checkup to look for any health issues is a good idea.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Leo's behavior persists for longer than 2 days then he should see a vet. It is possible that he got bitten by something but I feel that it is probably not likely. If he is not neutered I would suspect this may have something to do with hormones. Any stray cats hanging around outside? Any abnormal behavior should be investigated if it persists. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.

Hi there, It sounds like Leo may have hit his head and may be having small seizures. I would recommend you take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible for an exam, especially if he's acting like he's in a coma. I hope that helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Fiyero! This sounds like it could be a neurologic problem of some kind, or possibly a pain-related disorder such as feline hyperesthesia syndrome. If your veterinarian is stumped, I would recommend getting a second opinion from another local vet, or requesting referral to a specialist for further work-up. Depending on what the underlying problem is, he may benefit from pain medication, steroids, or an anti-seizure medication such as phenobarbital.

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!

It can still be stress even if Leo has free range. Other animals can stress him out. It could also be due to fleas, mites, allergies, or medical problem. It's concerning he is limping, which means he is in pain. Do not give him any human pain medications, many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. I would take him into a vet first thing in the morning. Best of luck.