My cat is about 11 years old. This past year he seems to be more of a chicken then he use to be. Where he would playfully attack a spider or bug, he now jumps like three feet in the air when they come near him. My inlaws have come to visit us and he is acting more spooked then he ever has. He has stayed away from them and stayed hidden for three days now.
They were here a year ago and he was all loving with them like he has been with everyone since I got him as a kitten. I'm more concerned about maybe mental disorder or something. I hate the idea of having to put him to sleep but we are having a baby in two weeks and I don't want a mentally sick cat being a danger to our baby.
2006-09-12 08:03:18 · 8 answers · asked by James C 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
OK....I'm going to ask you a very obvious question; does a HUMAN'S mood change as he/she ages? Of course it does. Your cat is getting up there, and changes are now not tolerated as well as they were when he was a young, active kitty.
If it's a real sudden change, check to make sure nothing in your household has changed. Your in-laws are visiting....some cats don't take to that well, but since you said he was fine a year ago....has anything ELSE in your household changed? The fact that you're pregnant could be making him uneasy, as well. Yes, cats can pick up on that. They get stressed and worried, too. And change is not something most of them are particularly good at.
Basically, I think your cat is sensing the pending change in the household (especially since you probably have a nursery set up with new, frightening furniture), and it's freaking him out.
Try picking up a book on cat behavior (Cats for Dummies is an excellent reference book). It will help you out a lot.
And if you're that worried about him being a danger....do the proactive thing and consult his vet.
2006-09-12 08:14:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They start hurting more and having more ailments so, of course,
the mood will change. My cat is 11 years old and she us to
avoid us but now she gets in our laps. She does get very jumpy.
Your cat may be more jumpy if she is not seeing like she use to.
My older cat died at 13 1/2 years and he had medical problems and lived , according to the vet, twice as long as the average outdoor cat is predicted to live.
I would take your cat for a check up at the vets and address your concerns. They will tell you if there is any problem with your pet and can tell you how to best transition to the new little one.
It would be a shame to put a perfectly healthy older cat down. It would be like saying that your grandma doesn't deserve to live anymore because she is old and grumpy.
2006-09-12 08:18:07 · answer #2 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A cat's mood changes as it ages THROUGH THE DAY.
2016-10-23 16:46:23 · answer #3 · answered by master control 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a cat behaviorist we say cats have "issues", not mental disorders.
I truly think you should have a vet check for your cat. The behavior sounds more symptomatic of illness than emotional.
I hope he has not gone three days without eating -- that is serious and he must eat NOW.
Go to www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article titled "Your Cat and Your New Baby". It's the last of her articles. They are in alphabetical order. That should help relieve your mind of any concerns you might have about the cat and the baby sharing each others' space and life.
2006-09-12 08:23:13 · answer #4 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
cats, like humans, age with changing moods and temperaments.... cats age faster than humans (as their lifespan is shorter - 15 to 19 years) and we notice changes quite fast...your 11 year old cat is equivalent to about 11/16*80 = 55 years old human
a child with a kitten, both growing together, will find the kitten is no more a kitten but an adult cat with adult ways while the child is still a child...
it is better to send away the cat if you fear...or put him out of reach of the baby...
2006-09-12 08:12:07 · answer #5 · answered by m s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats do change as they age, they may not be able to tolorate things that they once did, their senses start to go just like with people as they age. Let me tell you about Q-tip, he was 20 years old and dying from leukemia. He was loosing his sight and ability to make it to the litter box, among tons of other things that started to go as he continued to age. I tell you about Q-tip cause he too began to be afraid of things that he was never afraid of before and we found out that his sight going, was the cause of it. He needed to be around only everyday things to feel secure, anything out of the ordinary would frighten him. Including people, toys or sudden movements. Q-tip was loosing his senses, which made him un-easy, understand? Maybe take him to a vet if you notice him walking pattens in your home.... or bumping into things.
Good luck, it's hard when your pet starts to age.
2006-09-12 08:15:04 · answer #6 · answered by Michelle Lynn 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your cat is a few fries short of a happy meal. Better take him to the Kitty Counselor.
2006-09-12 08:44:10 · answer #7 · answered by Blue Eyes 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's probelly is just that you car is getting older, I know when my cat got older it got a lot less playful and more layed back, maybe with your it just is getting more cautious
2006-09-12 08:12:25 · answer #8 · answered by dragon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋