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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

What’s got into our cat?

27 replies

AttackCat · 02/05/2022 12:50

DCat comes and goes as she pleases but is normally fairly consistent, has her prowling hours, rest of the time she can normally be found in one of her favourite sleeping spots in the house. She’s confident, thinks nothing of wandering into other people’s houses uninvited, has a fairly big territory.

In the last 3 days she has been in the house briefly in the middle of the night (our cat flap records her movements), other than that we haven’t seen her. We know she’s ok as she’s been in, and has also been seen in neighbours’ gardens.

But it’s really out of character. I don’t really know what to do? Just leave her to it?

OP posts:
Hexen · 02/05/2022 12:55

She might be enjoying the lighter days and warmer nights. Also, this is the time that lots of mice and voles start having litters, so she might just be staking out a nest, if she’s a hunter.

we are near a farm and have lots of vermin. Our hunter often vanishes for a while at this time of year. (And returns with with half a Rat by way of a gift)

urbanbuddha · 02/05/2022 12:57

Leave her to it but leave out treat type food. Sounds as if someone else might be feeding her. Make yours better.

Want2beme · 02/05/2022 14:43

Maybe she's found a friend to spend time with. I had a cat who'd be absent for big chunks of the day, on and off. I didn't have a clue what he was up to.

Original poster
AttackCat · 02/05/2022 20:03

She’s not really a hunter, as far as I am aware (at least she’s never bought anything home). She doesn’t hang out with other cats. She is friendly with other houses, has been for ages, but she is very clearly an “owned” cat (she wears a collar with name and address) so I hope no-one else would be feeding her more than the occasional snack.

it’s just such a sudden change of behaviour - last week she was just out for an hour or so here and there mostly at dawn and dusk. Last few days she’s been only been inside the house for 20 mins in the middle of the night.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 02/05/2022 20:07

Has anything else changed? Visitors, new furniture...

TheSpottedZebra · 02/05/2022 20:08

Can you set your catflap to in only ? Then check she's OK?

SkankingWombat · 02/05/2022 20:37

Our cat is a real homebody and entering her twilight years, but even she has been spending more time out and about over the last week. The better, warmer weather and more wildlife abroad (to watch if not catch) means she is happy to hang out in the flower beds and doze there if necessary. A week ago she spent 23hrs/day in the house. Now it is closer to 18, which is a huge change even if not as much as your furball. By high summer she'll be out more than she's in.

Original poster
AttackCat · 03/05/2022 07:43

No, no changes in the house, and she takes visitors etc in her stride, she’s not easily unsettled.

Another night of her popping in at about 3am and then heading out again. She often comes and jumps the bed to say hi in the middle of the night if she’s been out, but she’s not even doing that, I’ve not set eyes on her at at all.

OP posts:
StooOrangeyForCrows · 03/05/2022 07:48

Someone local has given her those cheesy cat snack thingies. They are like crack cocaine to cats.

A friend bought some and put them in a jar on the counter in the kitchen. DCat that normally is out and about, now just sits by the jar almost 24/7. Christ knows what's in them but I have heard this from other people too.

Beamur · 03/05/2022 07:51

Lighter warmer evenings do tempt them out more.
Or maybe there's a new cat on her territory or she's found something really interesting like a bird's nest or a mouse nest and she is keeping guard.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 03/05/2022 08:00

I would do as a PP suggests - set the cat flap to "in" only so she's coming in and you can see her and check her over just to make sure she's not injured or unwell.

thesunwillout · 03/05/2022 08:04

My cat in her 17th year has decided to start bringing me gifts again in the last couple of weeks.
I really think the lighter and milder evenings are perking her up.
There's alot of birdies around, spring has come to life.

It's nice to see.

Original poster
AttackCat · 03/05/2022 14:48

I could set the flap for “in” only, though I know from previous experience she gets very frustrated when she can’t get out and has made a good attempt at trying to destroy the cat flap!

Also at least she IS coming back at the moment and I worry that if we cramp her style by locking her in she might stop returning altogether. She’s been sighted by a number of neighbours coming and going so I don’t think she is injured or anything.

Four days now and she’s only been in for a few minutes in the early hours each day! Until then, although she would have the odd day when she was out for longer, she was typically only out 4-5 hours a day.

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 03/05/2022 15:12

I am guessing there is another cat thats starting to claim part of her territory and its making her uneasy. I would try to keep her in at night for a few days so she can scent mark her home more/better. Just because you haven't seen a new cat doesnt mean that one hasn't walked past your door at 7.53pm and sprayed.

Original poster
AttackCat · 03/05/2022 15:43

We are in quite a heavily cat-populated area. There is actually a new cat I’ve seen in our garden a couple of times recently but she is a timid wee thing (in contrast to the big tom cat in the neighbourhood that ours has had numerous stand-offs with in the past).

it’s possible I guess that she’s been thrown by this new cat but it seems odd when she’s dealt with territory disputes in the past and she’s never behaved like this.

And it’s not even like the weather is particularly pleasant at the moment for her going alfresco, it’s cold and cloudy.

The interest in a nest or something seems like the best theory so far I guess.

i keep expecting her to pop back in through the cat flap, it’s very weird not having her about.

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 03/05/2022 16:07

She might seem timid to you but could be more dominant to your cat. Sounds like you cat could be put off by it. My very little cat is an absolute scaredy pushover to humans but give her another cat or fox or squirrel in her garden and she's a fiesty begger. Seen her smack many a fox bum as it runs through the hole in the hedge 😂

ClaryFairchild · 03/05/2022 19:40

A boyfriend or friend?

One of our cats many years ago took a shine to another cat from across the road. He was predominantly an indoor cat, and she usually never left her garden. But she started to come to ours all the time and the two of them would "hang out". They looked totally adorable. They even used to touch noses through the window. Both neutered, but loved being together.

Many years later another male cat of ours (while barely out of kittenhood) took a shine to another male cat and was determined to be his sidekick - several months of being bopped on the nose etc as other cat tried to chase him off, and eventually the other elder cat gave up trying got rid of him and the two became best friends, hanging out, hunting together (a formidable team!) etc. Both cats were one of a pair, and occasionally all 4 would hang out together. But these two were such a pair, everyone in the street knew them.

Original poster
AttackCat · 04/05/2022 09:11

Well - another night of her coming in briefly in the earlier hours, having some of her food and then off again without us seeing her. 😔

Glad we shelled out for the cat flap that monitors movement, at least we know she IS coming back in.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 04/05/2022 11:16

Surely it's time to make sure you see her at night, check she really is ok?

Original poster
AttackCat · 04/05/2022 15:56

Yes I think we will lock the cat flap tonight to prevent her leaving. I don’t think there’s anything obviously wrong with her - neighbours have seen her for a fuss, I’ve even been sent video of her being caught on their CCTV!

One thing we just thought of is just before this started we gave her a spot-on flea treatment - bad cat parents, we’ve never done this before!. Any way that could be related? Reaction to it that has freaked her out a bit?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/05/2022 16:53

Oh you flea treated her and now she’s sulking. Olympic level sulking too if she’s only coming home when she knows you’ll be asleep.

What a little bugger.

Original poster
AttackCat · 05/05/2022 07:22

Forgot to change the cat flap settings. She did exactly the same thing again, almost to the minute - in for about an hour around 1am then off again.

Had more sightings from neighbours yesterday so I know she is hanging out round other people’s gardens not very far away.

OP posts:
Original poster
AttackCat · 05/05/2022 08:03

Ah just spoke to DH - he was up late and saw her when she came in. She seems totally fine apparently, behaving normally with him, not injured or sick etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
AttackCat · 05/05/2022 11:12

Well she has just strolled in! Ignored me completely though!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/05/2022 15:00

That’s because you flea treated her. Good job you didn’t worm her too or she’s have to call an air strike in.