Rough tough ginger boy cat has lost his mojo

[Limelight]

...and I don't know what to do. He got stuck up a tree about three weeks ago and he hasn't been the same since.

He is normally a very confident cat (he has ginger cat swagger in spades), a prolific mouser, and has pretty much seen off all the other cats in the area from his patch.

These days he's incredibly anxious. He doesn't really want to go outside and when he does he skulks around looking very frightened, and doesn't really leave our garden.

My parents are here this week with their dog. The cat is very used to this and although they're not best friends, it's ok. Normally the cat disappears off during the day to avoid the dog (with a look of extreme contempt on his way out of the door ) and arrives home at tea time. This week I honestly think he'd rather be here, even with the dog in the house.

So any advice. I've no idea what's spooked him or what it was that made him climb so high in the tree. Possibly he was chased up there by something I guess. No idea though.

Thanks for your help in advance.

I'm not sure I would do anything - other than making sure he has good littering facilities so that he can stay in if he wants to and doesn't need to go outside to do his duty. (If he used outside.)

He may have received a really bad fright from something and be taking time to recover psychologically - he might even have pulled a muscle or aggravated something else lingering during his escapade up the tree (I'm assuming he was vetted to check for problems afterwards?)

Either way, I'd leave him to it and let him recover his equanimity in his own time. (Or welcome him as a housecat if that's now what he wants. ) Just make the house a really nice place for him, don't push him into anything and give him lots of TLC.

I don't think you said how old he was but maybe this was a wake-up call to him that his days as cock of the walk might be numbered?

He's 3 so still pretty young really. He's happy enough inside so I think you're probably right. He's spending more time inside at the moment and we're just letting him get on with it. I did get him checked out after his mini adventure and the vet was happy there was nothing amiss. I'm sort of hoping the summer will inspire him a bit. He usually spends most of his time sunbathing on top of our shed when the sun comes out. The squirrels in our garden can't believe their luck! Squirrel hunting is his full time vocation and they're getting an easy ride at the moment. Not that he's ever actually caught one.

Yes - that is pretty young. I think you're right to just let him get on with it although I'd maybe keep a weather eye on him - which you're clearly doing anyway. It may just be that he received a very bad fright over something but changes in cat behaviours can sometimes be the best clue we're given that something is up with them.

Good luck to him.

How's he doing, Limelight ?