Why is my cat acting so weird?!?

Question

for a few days now my usually very active and crazy cat has been acting very strangely and i am very worried.
On tuesday he was acting like he does when i take him to the vet, all flat ears, breathing fast, cowering and when i picked him up he hid his face and just sat there (usually he never lets me pick him up and struggles instantly). Since then he has been hiding under a side board in the bedroom (somewhere he never sits) and comes out only to eat, use his box and occationally have a nose around, until he looks up quickly, seems to get spooked by something and runs back under the sideboard.
Im really worried, he seems to be eating normally and not be physically ill just mentally worried and scared.
Nothing has changed in my flat, nothing major has happened to him.
Anything people can offer would be great, as the vets really arent being much help at all!!
thanks!

Answer 1

The two main reasons that cats hide away are fear or illness.

It's a natural instinct for cats to hide when they feel ill as it makes them vulnerable to predators. As your cat is eating and using his litter box, and you mentioned that the vets are not much help, I assume that he has been checked and given the all clear. If not, then it's a good idea to make an appointment for him a.s.a.p.

Cats are creatures of habit and changes that might seem insignificant to us, can be a big deal to a cat. You need to put your thinking cap on to see if you can think of anything at all that might have scared him. Any new furniture, visitors, decorating etc., can be enough to unsettle some. Are there any loud noises going on outside or nearby, like roadworks or neighbours doing DIY? If he's allowed outside, perhaps he had an unpleasant encounter with another animal or a near miss with a car?

You might want to consider purchasing either a Feliway spray or plug-in diffuser, as the scent contains pheromones that are calming to cats. A lot of people use Bach Flower Remedies to treat nervousness in cats too.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It's very likely that your cat was attacked or chased by a fox or dog. Something similar happened to my cat.
It is common in young cats I am told, early experiences have harsh effects. Sometimes these experiences or similar ones repeat later on in life and send them back to the original experience. This could be why your cat is acting strangely. Try to reassure him. Choose a time when your home is usually quiet - even if this is in the night. Offer him milk or fish to coax him out and then stroke him and give him some attention for bout 5 / 10 mins. Then leave him and try again an hr later or something. Increase these intervals gradually and he will relax. If this doesnt work speak to an animal behaviouralist.

Answer 3

If nothing unusual happened to him, like any sort of scare, then you really should take him to the vet for a general checkup. This sounds very strange. Are there any other animals in the home that could have attacked him? Any human visitors that might have done something to him? If not, then a vet visit would be the next step. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

You don't say how old this poor fella is, but whatever his age, I'd be worried too! Take him to the vet for a thoroughcheck-over. Looks to me like he's either been injured somehow; scared somehow; or has a medical problem. Hope the poor thing is better soon.

Answer 5

There could be something medically wrong, it's best to take him to the vets. Sometimes animals try to mask their pain, so might not whimper or cry, but if he feels vulnerable due to an injury or illness, that might explain why he's hiding away. Best to get an appointment asap.

Answer 6

Have you left his cat basket anywhere where he can see it or even smell it. They are like humans, We don't like the smell of dentist, Hospitals etc. My Baskets are kept way out of sight, When they spot it, they run wild, then cower, Remember they know what they had done at the vets? Injections what ever treatment, The Cat knows. Hope he settles.

Answer 7

Maybe he has had enough attention or he has had enough shots or spooksat the vet. Try to cover the board so he cant get there and maybe he will go out into the open more so you can pick him up.

Answer 8

It sounds like something big has scared him badly, like a rat or squirrel, although a big rat is the most likely.

Sometimes cats appear to see ghosts or spirits and react to them. I have never believed these stories, but after reading about the cat who lives in a nursing home and seems to know when residents are about to die, I may have to change my thinking.

Answer 9

sometimes cats just... change, my cat used to run away from everyone, now she goes up to us and lets us pick her up. if your really concerned you should take your cat to the vet. also if shes acting depressed and such, she may be sick, cats usually dont do much when theyre sick, they usually just lay around... they dont like to be around people when theyre sick

hope that helped :]

Answer 10

Maybe another cat has scared him? Or have there been any strangers (workmen or something) in your house who might have aimed a kick at him and scared him that way? He certainly sounds as if he is frightened of something. Maybe you have a ghost! (joking!)