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Strange Sudden Mood Change

post #1 of 12
6/25/10 at 3:54am
Thread Starter 
Hello all!

My wife and I are the proud owners of four indoor cats. The two males basically have one side of the house while the two females have the other side because they just don't get along and all merging attempts have failed. The oldest male cat has always been the cat in charge for sure. Very confident, very approachable, and clearly the more dominant one in the house.

In the last 24 hours he's a completely different cat. He's walking around with his tail down or nearly between his legs, he won't leave our guest bathroom, and he's randomly hissing at us whenever we try to move him. What gives?

His world has certainly changed over the last two months with the arrival of our first child and we have already decided to thin out our cat numbers because the four are turning out to be to much with the baby. However, his behavior change has literally occurred in the last 24 hours and it's a bit extreme.

Any thoughts folks?

Many thanks!
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post #2 of 12
6/25/10 at 4:20am
The same recommendation here as in the kitty moping thread another person made. The cat has to go to the vet. You're disturbed by how drastic this change was, so just follow your instincts that this is bad and get it checked out. Stress can trigger illness in cats.

During this, though, you need to have some feliway diffusers in the home. Make sure you have enough for the square footage of the cats' living areas.

Until he gets in to see the vet, let him have the bathroom if he's comfortable in there. Set him up a litter box if there's not one there, make sure he has water, food, make him a nest (towel or his favorite bed). Keep the other cats out if upsets him so much.


How old is this kitty? And is he still eating?
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post #3 of 12
6/25/10 at 6:19am
Yes, please take your male cat to the vet immediately. He could have developed a UTI which is extremely painful, and potentially fatal if he blocks. Judging by your description of his behavior, he may already be blocked. this is an emergency situation.

Welcome to TCS and congratulations on your new baby, but I don't like the sound of "thinning out" your cats. Your cats were there first, and are family. You don't thin out family when more family comes. You simply adjust to the new challenges.

Cats are living beings with feelings, just like people. They form emotional attachments to their humans and each other. Please don't start dumping your cats. Everyone will adjust with time, but do please get that boy to the vet now!

And yes, Feliway plug in diffusers will go a long way toward helping to reduce stress.

Keep us posted.
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post #4 of 12
6/25/10 at 6:37am
I agree with everything said here, but I have to ask,

how long have you had all four of these cats together?

If it's been a prolonged amount, it may be unfair to seperate them. That may even cause more stress-related illnesses in your baby. I would try the feliway plugs first and bring this baby to the vet.
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post #5 of 12
6/25/10 at 9:50am
Actually, otto, I'm not thinking UTI here. We'd need to know the kitty's age and weight, but it could be something senior cat related if he's at least around 7 or 8 years old. Things like thyroid issues or diabetes cause pretty major behavioral changes.

Either way, the cat needs a vet and a full blood panel.
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post #6 of 12
6/25/10 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Actually, otto, I'm not thinking UTI here. We'd need to know the kitty's age and weight, but it could be something senior cat related if he's at least around 7 or 8 years old. Things like thyroid issues or diabetes cause pretty major behavioral changes.

Either way, the cat needs a vet and a full blood panel.
It is this quote taken from the original post

Quote:
In the last 24 hours he's a completely different cat. He's walking around with his tail down or nearly between his legs, he won't leave our guest bathroom, and he's randomly hissing at us whenever we try to move him. What gives?
That leads me to think blockage These are the symptoms of a cat in terrible pain. Pain that can no longer be hidden. Sudden onset of this kind of pain is often a urinary tract blockage.

This cat is in dire need of emergency treatment.

If my cat acted like that I would be on my way to the vet, not browsing an internet board. I hope they have gotten him seen by now.
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post #7 of 12
6/25/10 at 11:18am
No doubt the cat needs to be at the vet today, I just think they need to ask the vet to do some blood work too since they stated this is an older cat. It wouldn't do to only look for one thing and completely miss another.


As amazing as it sounds, when Sherman blocked he no behavior changes. You can't rely on that to tell you something is wrong, if I had waited for those types of symptoms he probably would have died. In his case the only reason I found out is because I have a habit of checking in on the cats when they're using the litter box and he was taking too long. As much as they hate it, from time to time I'll lift their tails up a bit so I can see how they're peeing, if they're straining to get out any urine, etc.
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post #8 of 12
6/25/10 at 11:28am
I do the same...checking peeing habits. Very litter box 'obsessed' some might say.

I agree with blood work of course, I always think blood work is a good idea.

However a new baby can cause stress, and stress can and does cause urinary tract problems in cats. This is very painful for both males and females, but males will block, and once blocked die a terrible agonizing death within 24 hours without treatment.

to OP in case you don't know: cats are masters at hiding illness and pain. For a cat to act as you describe means he is very seriously ill and in pain. I do hope he has been to the vet by now.
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post #9 of 12
6/25/10 at 11:38am
^It's very simple to check a cat for a full bladder. Has your vet shown you how to feel for it? Of course, if you know your way around a cat, it's very hard to miss. I think it's something all cat owners should know how to do - this way you can catch that the cat cannot or is not peeing a lot quicker. I knew how to check Sherman, thus I don't believe he was blocked but for a few hours at the most.

Stress can send cats into all sorts of acute illnesses, several of which can be painful, so there's really no way we can know anything here. Heck, for all we know he could have fought with another cat in the household and has an abscess hidden somewhere. Only a vet will know.
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post #10 of 12
6/25/10 at 11:50am
Yep, I know how to determine a full bladder, thanks. And a full bowel. Not to mention excess gas build up.

I have a lot of experience caring for special needs cats.
However, if I had a cat acting as described above, I would have been on my way to the nearest available vet at the first hiss.

I don't believe in "wait and see" for a cat who is suffering, regardless of what I might think the problem is.
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post #11 of 12
6/25/10 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
I don't believe in "wait and see" for a cat who is suffering, regardless of what I might think the problem is.
Neither do I, that method can come back and bite in you in butt so to speak. What may have been a quick and affordable problem to remedy becomes expensive and complex pretty quickly. Neither the pet or owner gains anything from those experiences.

Others do need to learn how to check and do a basic wellness check on their cats. Readers, don't be afraid to ask your vet to show you this stuff!
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post #12 of 12
6/25/10 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Neither do I, that method can come back and bite in you in butt so to speak. What may have been a quick and affordable problem to remedy becomes expensive and complex pretty quickly. Neither the pet or owner gains anything from those experiences.

Others do need to learn how to check and do a basic wellness check on their cats. Readers, don't be afraid to ask your vet to show you this stuff!


......
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