Whats happening to my kitten?!? I am so sad!?

Question

* First of all, to let you know, my kitten IS fixed*
My kitten used to be the most cuddly and loveable kitty you ever would meet. He would stay in my arms for half an hour happily while i walked around doing chores. He would crawl under my covers and sleep right by my pillow at night. He would constantly go in my lap, and loved it when i carried him around.

Now that hes 5 months old, his personality has changed. He doesnt like it when i pick him up and always tries to crawl out of my arms. He doesnt follow me around anymore, and doesnt sleep on my bed. He doesnt crawl in my lap as much, and when i gently pick him up and put him in my lap and pet him, he usually walks away. He isnt totally unsociable, and still loves to be pet and purrs, but he just isnt the same. He has regular vet visits, so i dont think its anything medical.

Why is my kitty doing this? Is there anything i can do to get his old personality back?

oh and thanks for the suggestion but he already has his sister to keep him company so i dont think thats the issue

Answer 1

Unfortunately, that happens sometimes.
Just like little kids grow up and don't want their parents as much anymore, the kitten is growing up and becoming more independent.
It's nothing you did.
Things to try:
Bribe him with food.
Let him come to you. Don't chase him around or force him to sit with you, but everytime he comes around you, offer him his favorite treats. He will learn that you hand out yummy things and want to be around you more.
Learn his habits. Cats are naturally more active and social at dusk (when the sun is going down), at night, and in the early morning. See if he will be more playful and loving then.
Some cats like to cuddle at certain times. Let him tell you what he likes.

Answer 2

I had a similar experience with my male cat. He was cuddly as a kitten, then became very skittish as an adolescent (around the time he was fixed). He is three years old now and has been asking to be picked up and cuddled more and more over the past year, mostly in the morning right after I shower. He still doesn't sit on my lap very often but sometimes he decides he wants to "sit on people" and will go to great lengths to do so. On the rare occasions when he decides to sit, he is much more determined than my other cat, who is a regular "lap cat".

Some techniques I have found useful to re-develop his cuddly side:

1) Make time to cuddle as much as he wants when he is "in the mood". For my cat, this is usually after I shower.
2) Don't force the issue when he is not interested in cuddling.
3) Pay attention to what he likes to sit on / cuddle with (a certain blanket, piece of clothing, time of day, etc.)
4) Never confine or hold him against his will, just scratch and pet him gently until he moves away of his own accord.
5) Offer lots of praise for behavior you want to encourage, but avoid treats that may attract other pets and disturb your "special time" together.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

5 months is pretty young. before he was a kitten kittens are very cuddly and personable. As any creature gets older it tends to become a lot more cautious and weary of its surroundings. I have two cats. One is pretty old (about 7 or 8 years) now, but I've had him since he was a few months old. As a kitten really playful really cuddly. as he got older he became really really cautious and freaky. he was still a great cat but if anyone he didn't know came in he was hiding somewhere. he disapppeared for about 6 months when he was a year or two old and came back really skinny. not that he's older he's really laid back likes to play more again and a lot of times dosen't even care if theres a couple people he dosen't know in the house. My other cat was really a lapcat (loved being in my lap getting pet ect. ect.) now shes a little more cautious at a year or two old and she still loves to be pet and snuggle but i am almost certain that she'll calm back down when she gets older. Try not demanding a lot of attention from him. cats get annoyed pretty easy once they start getting older. As long as your cats alive he'll love you (the best a cat can) and will always want to be pet and everything. don't worry abot it and just let it happen.

Answer 4

Don't be sad, he will come back around... I think Christy is right. He is growing up now and isn't the baby he used to be. He will become more independent.
He will always be your Baby and will turn around when he gets through his Teenage Months. He will become Cuddly again, wait and see. The idea of Kitty Treats and Toys are Great ideas to show him you are still his Mama, that you love him, still, no matter what.

Answer 5

Even though your kitten has regular vet visits, it is unusual for his personality to change that dramatically. I would recommend having your vet do a CBC (complete blood count), urinalysis, and fecal. Those should show up the majority of what could be wrong. Also, consider anything in his environment that may have changed in the last few months (another person, change in food, children, moving, etc). If nothing shows up, you may want to consider getting him a youger female kitten to play with (who can draw him out). Also make sure his food/water are as far away as possible from his litter box to avoid territorial stress. That can make a big difference, as well.

Answer 6

My cat is the same way. He will come around when he wants and other times he will run away. Cats have a mind of their own. Try putting some cat treats in your pocket. Cats are more social with their own kind. My cat is more sociable with my 4 month old pit bull. Think about getting him or her a playmate. Good luck!!! and don't think that he hates you. That's just how cats are.

Answer 7

He's just being an EMO teenager. Don't worry about it in a few more months he'll be all cuddly again. My male fixed cat did the same thing and he was the sweetest boy you could ever find.

Answer 8

He's hitting puberty and is discovering the world. He'll have excessive energy he needs to burn off so won't want to be carried so much. It's just growing up. Once he's mature and starts to settle down, he'll need you again to cuddle, maybe not as much as you did when he was little but he knows where to come for love and attention and he will eventually. This is just a phase. Just continue to love him, pet him when he lets you, talk to him in sweet tones, etc. When he's ready, he'll come to you for love and affection.

Answer 9

This happened to my cat. I think that maybe your cat has an attitude (mine had a huge problem before i got my seond cat) and is trying to show u he is boss and can play ur emotions, animals are not stupid. my cat tried to ignore me calling him and cudling him, he would throw tnatrums and tare things in my house. then i introduced another cat. when there was competition he realized that if he didn't want the attention the kitten would take it. pretty soon he came right back and claimed his spot on my bed.

Answer 10

Your kitty is growing up. These are the beginning of the "teenage years." Just because the hormones are not there, does not mean that the mindset will stay the same. It is now time to learn a new common ground.

When your kitty does sit with you, feed him a treat so he is more inclined to sit with you.