Usually placid cat suddenly started hissing?

[Shallysally]

Dcat is so placid and very friendly and cuddly. The last two-three days she has been her usual self but when I’ve picked her up as normal she has enjoyed cuddles but her ears have been down, not usual for her, and then she miaows, usual for her.
But if I don’t put her down immediately she hisses and bares her teeth.

She did the same when she was merrily scratting at the new rug and I shooed her off it.

She’s fine in herself. No signs of pain, eating and drinking fine, zooming about as normal and napping ok.

Only change is that a couple of weeks ago she had to be crated for three weeks following an operation but she’s been fine since. In fact I almost think she misses crate life!

She doesn’t really go out, she has a catio accessed through her cat flap and she’s been going in there as normal.

Do you have small children in the house? Could one of them have picked her up and hurt her or frightened her by accident?

They're extremely good at hiding pain. I'd want her checked out if it's completely out of character. My two only hiss or swipe at me when they're legitimately in pain/highly stressed or if they're in the middle of hissing at each other and I get in the way. Could it be redirected aggression after something made her jump? My twos relationship was damaged irreversibly after we moved house. Cats are strange.

We had similar- very placid cat suddenly started hissing. I went to buy a feliway plug in but the shop assistant said I should take him to the vets first.

When the vet checked him over the poor cat cried out when he checked his back.

We have no idea how he injured himself but he was obviously in pain.

The vet gave him pain relief etc and whilst his mood did improve he is not as placid as he was.

I would definitely take cat to the vet to see if there is a cause for the pain.

How old? Is she spayed?

Thanks all.

No, no small children.
No obvious signs of pain, and although she may present differently with each possible scenario, when she was in pain as her op site was starting to get infected she made this very clear to us. Stayed in her bed, didn’t eat etc.

Yes she is spayed, that was the recent op.

This morning she is her usual self. Currently sunning herself on the windowsill!

I’ll keep an eye and get her checked over if it happens again.

Same with mine I took her to the vet and it was tooth pain from a cavity which is on and off - they get a stab of pain, don't understand it and hiss. Get her teeth checked

@chickyellowcute I’d not thought about her teeth. Thanks for that thought.

I'd definitely make a vet appt. People expect animals to show pain but they tend not to, they mask it.

Vet appointment this afternoon, fingers crossed she’s just being stroppy because her humans are annoying her!

I’m wondering if her op site is still bothering her internally. Just brushed her and she wouldn’t let me near that area.

Just back from the vets. He checked her over, op site has healed really well and she let him press around the site with no sign of pain.

He checked her teeth, asked if she is eating ok. Suggested she had more wet food in case her teeth are sensitive at the mo but no signs of any tooth or gum damage/inflammation but I’ll try her on some wet food.

So all seems to be ok, she is currently curled up in her travel basket, she really likes being in there 😂

I’ll keep an eye on her. Thanks to everyone who suggested getting her checked over.