Billy is acting weird and its just not like him

The past couple of days Billy has been acting odd, he was very good friends with my bunny that I had PTS yesterday and whenever I am out in the garden Billy usually joins me and sits on the bunny hutch. Saturday he came out with me and refused to come in off the rabbit hutch,it was like he knew something wasn't right with Jase. I eventually got him to come in and he just went upstairs to bed. Then yesterday when I got back from taking Jase to the vets I picked Billy up and he hissed at me,he frightened me,he isn't like that at all normally. I left him alone,he is eating and drinking and looks fine. I tried him again today and the same he hissed and growled at me. He runs away from me when I go near him and he was fine the other night,I posted pics of him on here being all relaxed,he is just acting so strange. I really don't know what is wrong with him. Maybe just coincidence that I had to have his friend put to sleep. I love all my kittys but Billy is my only boy and I have a special place for him in my heart. Any ideas would be gratefully received.xx

I'm so sorry that you lost your bunny Jase!

I have seen some very surprising behaviors in my gang anytime that anyone crosses, whether that be another cat or a dog. If they are friends with one where it is close to their time, their behavior starts to change when it is close to the end. Once gone, it can be very unpredictable how they go through their grief. Even though I hate to put human behavior attributes on a cat, the only way that I can describe their grief is in human terms. I've seen deep depression that lasted for a year, I've seen them go into denial that their friend is gone, I've seen frustration, I've seen them celebrate when a nemesis is gone, and of course I've seen them act perfectly normal.

I suspect you are witnessing Billy's form of grief. Give him his favorite food and treats and if he likes to play with something in particular, give that to him. Give him space if he wants it but watch him closely. If his aggression remains, get him to a vet to see if he is ill. Stress can trigger health issues.

Momofmany said:

I'm so sorry that you lost your bunny Jase!

I have seen some very surprising behaviors in my gang anytime that anyone crosses, whether that be another cat or a dog. If they are friends with one where it is close to their time, their behavior starts to change when it is close to the end. Once gone, it can be very unpredictable how they go through their grief. Even though I hate to put human behavior attributes on a cat, the only way that I can describe their grief is in human terms. I've seen deep depression that lasted for a year, I've seen them go into denial that their friend is gone, I've seen frustration, I've seen them celebrate when a nemesis is gone, and of course I've seen them act perfectly normal.
I suspect you are witnessing Billy's form of grief. Give him his favorite food and treats and if he likes to play with something in particular, give that to him. Give him space if he wants it but watch him closely. If his aggression remains, get him to a vet to see if he is ill. Stress can trigger health issues.

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Thank you,if he carries on acting strange for the next few days I will take him to the vet. It's like at the minute he hates me. I have never had a pet put to sleep before and signing that consent form and watching him go,I just feel so responsible and although they couldn't do anything for him i just feel terrible. Perhaps Billy knows that I "killed" Jase,thats how I feel at the minute. He is upstairs a the minute and usually in the evenings he is on the sofa on the pillow next to me, he growled at dh last night when we went to bed. I just hate seeing him like this. I think if by wednesday if he is no better he needs to see the vet.x

Oh, I'm so sorry about Jase!

I have no experience with this either, but (sadly) Amy does. I suspect this is Billy knowing something's happened to Jase. I doubt very much, however, that he "blames" you for killing him. It may just be Billy letting you know he wants his space. This is how feral cats communicate to us that they want to be left alone (once their comfortable enough with us to hiss at us). :rub:

He could be grieving, poor fella. When we lost one of our dogs, our other dog grieved so hard we thought we would lose him too. We had no intention of getting another dog but he was so upset and even 6 weeks after he still refused to go out, was barely eating and did nothing but lay on the couch we decided to adopt another dog for him. The night we brought her home was the happiest I had ever seen him. He was beside himself. And he returned to the good old' dog we remembered. Losing Andy absolutely devastated him and he grieved, just as much, if not more than we did. 

Give him the space he needs but still be present with him. 

Oh I am so sorry about your bunny and now this.

It just crossed my mind that maybe he smells the vet on you.  Whenever I bring one of my gang home from the vet, the others hiss and shun them.  I just wonder if that is the case.  Maybe the smell on your clothes.  They have such good sniffers these kitties!

But if he does not settle down, I would vote for a visit to the vet to r/o anything festering.

He seems to be getting a bit back to his old self now, thank goodness, still not as affectionate but he's getting there.x