Why is my cat suddenly hissing all the time?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Hi, don't usually post on this thread, she generally muddles along with us just fine! She's 12, a rescue at 5 months, not particularly affectionate but does like a lap to sit on, just about tolerates the DC. She's always been one to bite you after you've been stroking her for a bit but for the last few days she's been hissing if you get too close, or bother her when she's lying down. She's happy on my lap now but I just reached past her to get something and got hissed at!

She's eating fine, everything else normal. Is she just getting bad tempered in her old age?

Oh and she had an op in June to repair a deep cut to her abdomen but has had no problems since.

Theres a possibility she may be in pain somewhere.

I think she needs to be looked at by a vet as it seems a sudden change.

Sounds like she's in pain.

We had a cat years ago that was mardy all the time, but the sudden onset of it makes it sound like there is a problem.

yy def vets - sounds like ill or in pain

hope all goes well

Definitely sounds like she is in pain.

Possibly an eyesight issue which would also be a vet trip. Given her age it's a distinct possibility
Hope she's ok

Oh dear, I was hoping you wouldn't say that. Was only saying the other day she's the same as when she was a kitten.

She's not sitting on my lap GROWLING. That's not right is it?

Sorry, now not not! She is actually growling!

No, Thistle - I'm afraid that that's not right at all. Get her to the vet as soon as you can. Is she still eating/drinking and using her tray?

I mean this evening - as far as you know.

Thistle

Sorry to drip feed questions but I meant to ask. Does she go outside? (I'm wondering if she could have had an accident or, say, an encounter with a car or other animal.)

She's outside quite a lot but we've had snow this morning so she's been inside most of the day today. She scratched to get out of the kitchen door this morning so I ASSUME she's been out of the cat flap at some point. No tray so don't know about that. Trouble is she is an extremely independent cat, I couldn't tell you where to find her at any given time. It's been about 2 or 3 days that she's been hissing though - wouldn't she be worse if it was an accident?

She definitely had meat last night and has eaten some dry food today, and she did nag me for that.

Thinking about it (this is going to make me sound like a terrible cat owner now) she has been scavenging a lot the last week or so - have caught her stealing food off the DCs' plates and stuff. Any way that could be linked? She does get fed twice a day, honest!

No - you don't sound like a terrible cat owner. Quite the opposite!

If she's still eating/drinking and asking to go out (so presumably pooing etc) then that's good.

Thinking more about it, I'm wondering whether she could possibly have had a wee stroke or something like that. If you know her well (which you clearly do) and you've noticed a sudden change in her behaviour, then something has happened. It could have been an accident outside or a sudden worsening of a long term condition, but if she's still functioning then I'm less inclined to think 'car'. (Cats who've been injured usually, in my experience, want to go off by themselves and not sit on people.)

And yet - this hissing and growling would probably indicate either pain or fear/aggression. It just could be what my grandma would have described as a 'wee turn'. I only mention this because cozieseniorboy had a little turn about three weeks ago - suddenly started being clingy and desperately fearful of everyday things. He's very old so it wouldn't be entirely unexpected but your girl isn't a spring chicken so it's possible.

If so, she'll likely start to act more normally over this weekend as her brain adjusts. How's she doing this morning?

I'd still have her to the vet but just bear in mind that it may not be a pain reaction.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

PS - I don't think that the scavenging has anything to do with it. If you can link roughly the timing of the scavenging to her changed behaviour, it may be that she's used to supplementing her diet with titbits 'on the hoof' and if she's feeling a little off for some reason, may also be feeling vulnerable and not want to go outside to hunt as much. Just a thought.

oh thanks for replying, you're lovely! She's woken me and Dd up thismorning asking for breakfast so that's good.

Last night she came in and out of my room a couple of times but didn't get up on the bed as usual - it's quite high and she's been struggling to do it for a while but she didn't even try. She seems to want to stay close.

I did have a very gentle feel of her abdomen last night and she didn't bat an eyelid, -not even a hiss. She hasn't hissed so far today either. I'm hopeful she'll be fine but I think I'll take her to the vet just in case. Interesting about stroke, I didn't know cats could have them.

Thanks again

Well no hissing, asking for food and allowing herself to be felt are all good.

As you said, though - get her up to the vet just in case. When an owner knows their animal, a sudden change in behaviour is worth reporting - and at least if she's seen the vet, you'll know that she's been checked out. The vet will either be able to identify what it was or maybe to rule things out (like an accident) which might be good also. At the end of the day, your vet is the port of call.

Yes - they can have strokes although they're maybe not that common. The symptoms can vary widely in severity and nature so if she might have had one (and it's very much tentative speculation on my part given her age and her very recent behaviour) it's been a very mild one.

Best of luck with her and let us know how she does.

PS - be sure to tell the vet about her difficulty for a while in getting up on the bed. (Write down a list of things before you go if you feel it will help you to remember.)