i made an account just so i could ask this, ive been really worried about my cat the past 24 hours or so. last night (around almost exactly 11:00 pm), he snuck out of the house and got into a fight in my backyard with another neighborhood cat. it was pitch black so i couldn't see anything, i only heard screeching, hissing, and growling outside my window. at first i had no idea it was him (ive heard cat fights in my backyard before, there are numerous different strays that pass through my backyard). it wasnt until about maybe 5 minutes later i realized i couldnt find my cat anywhere in the house, and almost like a gut instinct, i knew it was him out there. i got my mom and we found him crouched under some bushes in my backyard, and eventually he bolted across the lawn directly to my front door, thankfully and we got him inside.
for the next hour or so, he just kinda hissed and growled at us under the coffee table, but eventually he calmed down and just kinda wanted to be alone. after a while we looked over for injuries, or really anything, but it seemed like he was unhamred other than kinda spooked, and possibly a slightly sprained paw even. no bite marks, no scratches, nothing. (we've had him for 9 years and this is the first time he's ever gotten into a cat fight)
anyways, to cut the story short, its been about 24 hours and i can just tell my cat is not himself. i mean, he's eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, purring, and otherwise seems completely fine, but he still just seems way more lethargic than usual. when i usually pet him in certain areas like his lower stomach, he'll get frustrated with me and go move somewhere else, or even claw at/bite me depending on how annoyed he is, but when i do the exact same thing now, he seems kind of annoyed but he just kinda lays there not really caring, or lazily gets up just to plop down in a different position. i wasnt worrying about this too much earlier today and just chalked it up to him being worn out from that insane experience, but i dont think that something like that would still be affecting him 24 hours later. i just have a feeling that my cat was hurt somehow in the experience, the fighting i heard outside was really loud and vicious, and it occurred more than once. he's 9 years old, about 20 pounds, and he's up to date on his rabies shots.
sorry if this seems convoluted at all, i just want to know for sure that we should take him to a vet. my mom is convinced he's absolutely fine and we don't need to go to the vet, but i can tell for a fact that something is wrong.
for the next hour or so, he just kinda hissed and growled at us under the coffee table, but eventually he calmed down and just kinda wanted to be alone. after a while we looked over for injuries, or really anything, but it seemed like he was unhamred other than kinda spooked, and possibly a slightly sprained paw even. no bite marks, no scratches, nothing. (we've had him for 9 years and this is the first time he's ever gotten into a cat fight)
anyways, to cut the story short, its been about 24 hours and i can just tell my cat is not himself. i mean, he's eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, purring, and otherwise seems completely fine, but he still just seems way more lethargic than usual. when i usually pet him in certain areas like his lower stomach, he'll get frustrated with me and go move somewhere else, or even claw at/bite me depending on how annoyed he is, but when i do the exact same thing now, he seems kind of annoyed but he just kinda lays there not really caring, or lazily gets up just to plop down in a different position. i wasnt worrying about this too much earlier today and just chalked it up to him being worn out from that insane experience, but i dont think that something like that would still be affecting him 24 hours later. i just have a feeling that my cat was hurt somehow in the experience, the fighting i heard outside was really loud and vicious, and it occurred more than once. he's 9 years old, about 20 pounds, and he's up to date on his rabies shots.
sorry if this seems convoluted at all, i just want to know for sure that we should take him to a vet. my mom is convinced he's absolutely fine and we don't need to go to the vet, but i can tell for a fact that something is wrong.
