Grumpy Old BuggersMoggy - biting and swiping?

[BuggersMuddle]

BuggersMoggy has never been a lapcat, has suddenly taken up biting and more swiping than usual in his old age.

He's anywhere from 16-19, still relatively fit (mousing, menacing, throwing competitors off roofs ) if perhaps a bit lazier than he used to be. In the last few months though, he's started biting. It can be completely unprovoked & he never breaks skin, but he is noticeably short tempered. (He was always one who would draw you in for tummy strokes and then swoop in with the 'warning nip' when enough was enough or try to hunt toes 'just because'. This does seem a bit different though.).

Wondering how I can deal with it? He doesn't appear to be in any discomfort, has been to vets relatively recently as he did have an injury needing anti-inflammatories, but that's now resolved. No known health conditions and the only nod to his advanced years is that we give him a joint supplement.

Some of it is herding / dragging (e.g. when he wants food), but at other times he just goes for an ankle or an arm. Anyone seen similar?

[WetsTheFinger]

It's not uncommon for cats to become more short tempered or aggressive as they got older.

This can be due to reasons such as

• Pain. Cats are very good at hiding pain.
  
• Hyperthyroidism. Quite common in older cats and causes aggression.
  
• Change in their senses causing anxiety, if their hearing or eyesight is worse than before
  
• Dementia, causing a shorter attention span or a change in personality.
  

As a vet, I'd recommend you get the cat seen and have their thyroid hormone production tested and a general health exam and blood panel to rule out anything causing pain.

[BuggersMuddle]

Thanks Wets. He had an examination recently, but no bloods, so I will go back and ask for a blood panel.

He has lost a little weight, although he's a large cat (not fat, long) and still a good weight. I did wonder about thyroid tbh - he eats a lot (he's a Six Dinners Sid and supplements with hunting prey, so it's hard to tell just how much he is eating). Also go from zonked to hyperactive at great speed in a way he didn't seem to when he was younger.

[BuggersMuddle]

Sorry should say I wondered about his thyroid for other reasons. I didn't realise it also made cats grumpy!

[WetsTheFinger]

Yes it's a side effect, sounds like it could be something to get looked at.

He could just be getting old and grumpy of course!