[Exiled]

happy new year, everyone.

I have noticed a big change in my (spayed) four year old female cat's behavior recently. She is usually pretty assertive. When she wants to go outside, she walks to the door and meows or even scratches the door. When she's hungry she'll try and "lead" me to her bowl. When I sit somewhere she jumps up onto the couch to sit with me. In fact, most visitors to my apartment say she acts more like a dog than a typical cat.

But in the last few days, she had been extremely skittish, jumpy, sensative. She won't sleep on my bed (as she always does). She hides under things, she meows and then looks confused, she won't go to the door to go outside but she just stares at it and meows. When I open the door she runs under the sofa and refuses to come out. She's just acting like a totally different cat! The only change in the environment is that I set up a fish tank 2 weeks ago--but it doesnt even have fish in it yet.
Any ideas why she might be acting this way?

 

[kitkat]

Maybe kitty saw something that spooked her really bad but sometimes my cats get strange too like that. It usually just lasts for a day maybe but then again maybe kitty is not feeling well like usual and may need a vet check up. Hope she gets better... :wink:

Cats can be very sensitive to change so maybe it is the fish tank scenario that's doing it too.... she should be back to normal soon if not you may want to take the kitty to a vet just to be sure.

 

[stormy]

any sudden changes in behavior make me very weary.
it usually indicates something is wrong...i would strongly suggest a visit to the vet to make sure there is nothing physically wrong.

hope your kitty gets better.
please keep us updated.

 

[Bean]

I'd watch her just in case... Sometimes cats can be hurting and they can't tell us. I hope she adjusts/gets better.

PS - try watching her litter to see if anything is out of the ordinary. It's probably nothing, but just to be safe.

 

[ForJazz]

When you say you open the door, do you mean she is an indoor/outdoor cat? And now whenever you open the door to go *outside* she gets scared and runs away? Because if this is the case then I'd say she's met a frightening foe outside and is scared he/she is going to show up again. Sounds like she's had a scare and is still shaken from it. I'd just make her feel as comfy and cozy as possible, and take her to the vet.