Drastic change in cats personality...?

Question

I have a 12 year old male cat, who's always been extremely sweet and affectionate. He'd wrap his arms around your neck and purr and kiss your ears. Our friends and neighbors know him and love him. He's also a great climber and loves to hang from doorways.
About 5 nights ago, we noticed he seemed to be alittle deppressed, like he was feeling under the weather. But he was eating normally, drinking and since he is an outdoor-potty cat we assume he's going to the bathroom as normal since he leaves a few times during the day to go outside.
Within about 24 hours we noticed he was being less responsive to affection and seemed almost freaked out.
You pick him up and he shrinks up, all stiff and tense, and won't make eye contact. He tends to sit on the corner of the bed with his face in the wall, or huddled on a pillow. Normally you can get him to relax to the point of jello by a good belly rub, but now he just stays stiffly in your arms...

He seems to feel allright otherwise, and has a healty appetite and a smooth coat. His eyes are clear and not runny.

He seems to not want anything to do with anyone other than the occasional back scratch. It's as if his entire personality is gone.

At first I was afraid that someone scared him or hurt him, but now I'm not sure...

When you pick him up, you can feel a slight tremor in the muscles around his belly. I don't know if this is just from him tensing up or what. It's not severe but it is noticeable...


I absolutely do not have the money to take him to the vet, and honestly they probably couldn't do much for him anyway. Just lots of very expensive tests and at this point he seems physically healthy enough. It's just like a stranger is in his body.

****Update****
The other night I also noticed what felt abit like a hard lump or two in his stomach, after he'd eaten. I wasn't sure what to think tho, since he'd eaten alot that day (I think he'd been slightly intimidated to eat with the other cats, so I gave him his own food and also gave him a can of tuna earlier that day to make sure he was eating allright.)
Anyway the lump dissapeared by the next morning so I thought maybe it was something that hadn't been digested... But there's another lump today, and his stomach feels abit swollen.

I mentioned that his midsection trembles when you touch it, well I've noticed he sometimes flinches and curls up when you touch certain parts of it. Afterwards he acts completely freaked out again, even if he was acting alittle more calm before that.

Is it possible he was kicked in the stomach???

**********UPDATE*********

Well, it's been slow progress but Ozzy has finally started to get back to normal. After much thought we've come to the conclusion that someone kicked or otherwise hurt him, both because of the way he acts when you touch his midsection and also his sudden fear of humans. It's taken several days of TLC but finally he's getting back into his old routine. Just now, he gave me about 5 minutes of kisses and face rubs in the laundry room, and then he did the one thing I never thought I'd see him do again... He nibbled my ear. That's one of his favorite things to do when he's being affectionate. It literally made me bawl like a baby, I was so happy.

Answer 1

This is very strange! Often cats shy away from their owners if there's been some change in circumstance inside the home: a new arrival or change in working hours, even.

However, it sounds as though your cat is frightened. It is possible that it's been mistreated some way, perhaps by some kids or some weirdo. It's a horrible thought, but chances are if it's not physically injured that the changes in personality won't last. Let him know that you still love him, give him a stroke now and again and maybe buy a cat toy that you can both play with.

It seems more likely that the guy is in some discomfort, perhaps from consuming something he shouldn't have (cats are allergic to some kinds of flora, and don't often react well to eating carrion, which they sometimes do) or from sitting in oil from a car, as a cat of mine once did. He may have something like worms and need deworming, which costs very little to buy from a pet store. However, if it keeps up over the next fortnight (or earlier if you notice a change in eating or toilet habits) you should call your vet and see if you can't arrange something. He might be poorly!

Hope this helps. Sometimes cats do change, but rarely perminantly. If he's stiff it means he's either frightened or in physical discomfort.

Answer 2

Call Petco, or PetSmart or another similar place, explain your situation money wise and explain you cats sudden change...they usually have a pretty well trained staff most of the time, in some cases they are pre-vet techs. Call a few places, hopefully they can help....

Answer 3

If you have no money for a vet then you SHOULD NOT OWN A PET! That is like having a child and not tkaing it to the doctor because you have no money. We ARE NOT veterinarians on this site and it sounds as though your cat will soon be gone due to YOUR reluctance and utter stupidity to scrape together the bucks to take it there. I notice you can afford the Internet. You should be reported at once for animal cruelty!

Answer 4

I'd take him to the vet. Most vets will work with you on a payment plan because thier main concern is the animals health.

Answer 5

your cat sounds like something has scared him - get rescue remedy (if you are in the uk see link below) if in USA should be able to get it. Bach Flower Remedy, will treat whatever shock he has had and I would recommend keeping him in and getting a litter tray for him just for a few days

keep us posted.

Answer 6

Hi there...cats over the age of 9 can develop life-threatening senior feline disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, other feline disorders/diseases, etc. All which requires an evaluation by a veterinarian to determine the exact cause and treatment respectively.

Here are some groups which help with Veterinary Bills:

American Animal Hospital Association
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/home/
"Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."

Angels 4 Animals
http://www.Angels4Animals.org
"Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment
to those pets and pet owners in need."

Care Credit
http://www.carecredit.com
A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
"Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion."

The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life threatening illness or injury strikes.

God's Creatures Ministry
http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html
"This fund helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help."

Help-A-Pet
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html
"Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor."

IMOM
http://www.imom.org
"We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged."

The Pet Fund
http://thepetfund.com/
"The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care."

United Animal Nations
http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html
"The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."

UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills
http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html
"Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help."

What You Can Do If You Are Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html