Cat suddenly acting anxious and stressed?

Hi this is my first post here as I made an account just to make this thread. My cat's sudden change in behavior is worrying me. He is about 10 years old, and a bit overweight (14.3 pounds). He is usually very playful and loving but now he hides under the bed most of the time for some reason.. he had urinary problems (infection in bladder so he had trouble pissing), but we took him to the vet and it has been fixed. He know pees with no pain. All his life he had been eating dry food, but as of a few weeks ago I switched him to wet food, adding extra water to it. This will help him with his overweight problems. There have been no environmental changes in the past few months either.

As of a few days ago he has been acting really frightened and looking around like he sees a ghost or something.. he goes under the bed a lot now. However there have been intervals (usually in the mornings or afternoons) where he is normal and is being his normal self. However when I lock all the bedroom doors so he can't go under the bed, he constantly meows until I give in and let him inside. He has a brother and he seems to be doing fine, so i'm not sure if its a genetic issue. My neighbors have been setting fireworks a few days ago, but they haven't been doing it for a few days. I thought that was the issue since he kept looking out the window like he saw a ghost out there, but I don't think its the problem anymore. His appetite seems to be fine as he is eating a lot, and he is also urinating well. He sometimes groans in his sleep when I pet him and he readjusts his position. I'm taking him to the vet sometime this week or next week. I wonder if he has PTSD from the fireworks from a few days ago or if something else is wrong with him. What do you guys think?

his favorite hobby is usually looking outside the windows, but he doesn't do that much anymore. at night he lays in my bed but he doesn't really sleep; his eyes are wide open like he is afraid of something..  he seems to be getting irritated easily. whenever i pet him and follow him his tail wags around like crazy. no vomiting at all, but can't remember the last time I treated him for fleas though..

besides his urinary problems I don't think he had any other health issues.

You know @MrRager it very well could've been the fireworks. ..has anyone been by to cut trees mow lawns any type of noise producing situation? Are there any stray animals walking around where you live? Do you live in an apartment or home...if apartment is it possible a maintenance man came by...cats can get spooked easily...one thing that just occurred to me is have his hearing checked to make sure this isn't reason he may not be sleeping...I have one cat that absolutely freaks out over loud noises and one that does ok...the one time my girl actually peed on my pillow was someone walked outside the window and it scared her...she's actually peed twice on my pillow because she got scared by something outside of window...my male hides under bed when its thundering or if the lawn mower us going...each cat is different. ..it would be a good idea to take him to vet justv to rule out anyb health issues...there are plenty of knowledgeable people on this website that will chime in...but as for myself thats the best I can tell you for now...I will be praying for your baby to not be so scared...andc welcome to TCS...everyone here is really friendly also [emoji]128008[/emoji][emoji]128522[/emoji]

Well his ears twitch backwards as if he hears something..  few days ago my neighbors were partying and have been making a lot of noise, maybe he is still traumatized by it i don't know. i live in a home. Didn't hear any lawn mowing for the past few days either. He is usually the one spooked by noises, such as trash bag sounds, but then he recovers from that pretty easily. He isn't scared of my neighbors dog barking either. His brother is not scared of loud noises as much as he is.  I wil be taking him to the vet just to see if there are any health issues or if he is just getting old. Thank you so much for your response

Your welcome please keep us updated and if you are able please post piks of your furbabies. ..here is a picture of mine

So I just took him to the vet.. unfortunately I have to hold off on the blood work and urinary work because they are very expensive, but they did find a tiny wound under his chin. I'm thinking he scratched it too hard causing it to hurt.

Could that possibly be the reason he's acting this way, because of the pain from his wound? Whenever i touch that area his mouth tightens up, but not completely sure if thats the cause for his strange behavior

Aloha tnx for update...does it look like a scratch wound? Google cheap vets in your area...you may be able to find a vet who will do tests for considerably less...has your cats behavior changed at all in the last couple of days? I'm so sorry I wish I could be of better help...try and check out the other forums here and check in to new cats on the block and I think an advisor will reach out to you...ok keep me posted please [emoji]128008[/emoji][emoji]128049[/emoji][emoji]128515[/emoji]

I don't think its a scratch wound. It looks like a tiny bruise. its like the shape of a dot and theres a bit of swelling. i am applying ointment to it but he keeps attempting to lick it off. Any tips to prevent him from licking it off? My cat has been getting better. He is being more affectionate  but he still hides once in a while. I am putting him on a diet, and he apparently lost 1 pound in 1 month due to me not giving him enough food, which is too much according to the vet. maybe his stomach hurts from the fast weight loss? i am giving him a bit more food to compensate for the past 3 weeks when i didn't give him enough food. he was getting 180 calories a day when he should have been getting 240 calories a day.

Hmmm really your vet said one pound in one month is too much hmmm...as far as not licking what I would do is monitor him...every time he wants to lick interrupt him and hopefully he'll stop...it is in cats nature to clean what is foreign off of them...I will continue to pray for your baby...and you...thank you for the updates meow [emoji]128049[/emoji][emoji]128008[/emoji]