Cat suddenly unusually grumpy, reasons?

[Bogburglar75]

Bogbastard is usually so laid back and good natured it's untrue - happy for kids to carry him around and hug him, you can do a lot of things where another cat would have you counting your fingers (pills, flea treatment, washing floofy backside etc).

But last couple of days he's been unusually grumpy. Has hissed at the kids a few times and when I went to try and move him from under DDs high sleeper he pulled a real basso profundo growl on me.

Still Pollyanna in comparison to certified psychopaths of cats I have known in my time, but nevertheless it's unlike him.

He has had rather soft/ squidgy stools on and off since before Xmas and his third eyelids were intermittently across a few weeks back. Vet couldn't find anything wrong and eyelids fine now.

He also has a lot of mats in his incredibly floofy coat so I've been trying to overcome his hatred of being brushed. Could mats be sore and/or he thinks we are about to brush him whenever we approach?

Would you risk pissing him off even more by a further trip to the vets? Or do we just pander to his every whim for a bit and see if the sunny nature returns? Or assume that the disruption of Christmas and two adoring kids at home full time has put him out of sorts? Normally he laps up their attentions, otherwise I wouldn't allow them, but perhaps a cat can have too much of a good thing?

[Toddlerteaplease]

Vets I think.

[phoebe2016]

I would definitely take him to the vets, if he is grumpy he might well be in pain. Definitely worth getting him checked out. Let us know how you get on.

[Bogburglar75]

Poor puss. Okay, will give vets a whirl. Thanks for the advice. Just hesitating as there aren't definite symptoms you can put your finger on, and could see myself at the best explaining that 'my cat appears to be pissed off'

Thanks again.

[Bogburglar75]

At the vets even.

[LivingInMidnight]

I think 'my cat appears to be pissed off' is a symptom! Cats hide pain so this is a good indicator that something isn't right.

[cozietoesie]

In my experience, vets take owner-reports of behavioural changes in cats very seriously indeed. As Living said, they're masters at hiding pain. Changed ways are sometimes the only way to tell that something isn't right.

[Bogburglar75]

Thanks. Just to update - I was going to take him today but ever since Tuesday he has reverted entirely to HappyCushionCat so I am hoping whatever it was has sorted itself.
But first sign of PissedOffCat reemerging and I will pop EvenMorePissedOffCat into his carrier and get the vets to have a look.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Is he weeing?
And if you stroke him, do you notice any cuts or sore spots/areas?

[Bogburglar75]

Yes weeing is fine - he has had cystitis so that's something we keep an eye on. I can't see any sore spots but his coat has a lot of mats just now, because he's moulting, and he won't let me at him with a brush for long enough to deal with them properly. Cat groomer as well as vets I fear!

[TheSpottedZebra]

Oh no, poor cat!

[Bogburglar75]

To nice people who asked for an update - had him to vets today as temper restored but guts still quite unsettled. All generally well so just empirical treatment for a week or two. He is now looking at Special Vet Food with a particular kind of mournful disgust.

Felt a definite prat explaining to the vet that he had been grumpy, while he was allowing her without protest to stick a thermometer where no gentleman should have one. Plenty of cats I've owned would have reckoned that entitled them to a pound of flesh of their choice!

[cozietoesie]

They can ('can') be extraordinarily civilised at the vets. (It's not inevitable.) Seniorboy flirts so hard that it's almost embarrassing!