Thank you for all of your comments about a heating pad for our elderly outdoor cat Biggles...
Sadly, we have a new issue with him that I'd like to ask for advice about...
This has happened a couple of times before, but this is the first time it's been so clear to me.
Biggles had been out front, enjoying the sun. I went out to greet him, and he asked to be let in; he went to the other cats' food dish and ate a bit, then asked to go to the garage... this is standard operating procedure for him. I went out there with him and sat down to make a lap for him, as we always do. He stretched out in my lap, and I started scrubbing his cheek as usual. I don't have to worry about scrubbing too hard, because he *clearly* communicates how hard he expects me to scrub!!
But then things changed... I was scrubbing his cheek, he was pushing back against my fingers as usual... but then he started growling... Loud!!
I immediately stopped scrubbing, and just sat with my hands lightly on his side, but he kept growling. I tried touching different areas, to see if there was some spot that he was growling about, but it didn't seem to be the case. After sitting there and growling for awhile, he got up and walked to the garage door, asking to be let out, but then he turned around, came back and climbed back into my lap, stretching out in his resting position. I sat without touching him, for a few seconds - no growling, but as soon as I set my hands lightly on his sides, he started growling again.
This is *very* different reaction, from what he shows when the indoor cats approach him - them, he just hisses at. This growling is unique for him.
Anyway, I stood up and just walked toward him, to see what would happen; he stood looking back at me, like he does when he expects me to walk up and skritch him, but when I got near him, he HISSED !! This was much more assertive than the casual hisses that he makes at the cats.
So I backed off at that point, and walked to the side door in case he wanted out, which he did. He's now out back, looking for a sunny spot to settle in.
He has previously growled or hissed while in my lap, a couple of times before, but it wasn't this assertive, and I assumed that he was annoyed by the boys making sounds at the garage door (they *really* would love to make friends with him!). This time, they were not active at all.
What do y'all think about this?? My gut feeling is that something is very wrong inside... but it popped up so suddenly; a couple of hours ago, I spent about 15 minutes in the front yard with him in my lap, giving him scrubs, and he was quite contented...
Sadly, we have a new issue with him that I'd like to ask for advice about...
This has happened a couple of times before, but this is the first time it's been so clear to me.
Biggles had been out front, enjoying the sun. I went out to greet him, and he asked to be let in; he went to the other cats' food dish and ate a bit, then asked to go to the garage... this is standard operating procedure for him. I went out there with him and sat down to make a lap for him, as we always do. He stretched out in my lap, and I started scrubbing his cheek as usual. I don't have to worry about scrubbing too hard, because he *clearly* communicates how hard he expects me to scrub!!
But then things changed... I was scrubbing his cheek, he was pushing back against my fingers as usual... but then he started growling... Loud!!
I immediately stopped scrubbing, and just sat with my hands lightly on his side, but he kept growling. I tried touching different areas, to see if there was some spot that he was growling about, but it didn't seem to be the case. After sitting there and growling for awhile, he got up and walked to the garage door, asking to be let out, but then he turned around, came back and climbed back into my lap, stretching out in his resting position. I sat without touching him, for a few seconds - no growling, but as soon as I set my hands lightly on his sides, he started growling again.
This is *very* different reaction, from what he shows when the indoor cats approach him - them, he just hisses at. This growling is unique for him.
Anyway, I stood up and just walked toward him, to see what would happen; he stood looking back at me, like he does when he expects me to walk up and skritch him, but when I got near him, he HISSED !! This was much more assertive than the casual hisses that he makes at the cats.
So I backed off at that point, and walked to the side door in case he wanted out, which he did. He's now out back, looking for a sunny spot to settle in.
He has previously growled or hissed while in my lap, a couple of times before, but it wasn't this assertive, and I assumed that he was annoyed by the boys making sounds at the garage door (they *really* would love to make friends with him!). This time, they were not active at all.
What do y'all think about this?? My gut feeling is that something is very wrong inside... but it popped up so suddenly; a couple of hours ago, I spent about 15 minutes in the front yard with him in my lap, giving him scrubs, and he was quite contented...
