Any cat psychologists out there?

[DWalt]

I have an unusual situation with our tabby tomcat Cheddar. He is around 9 years old. About a month ago he underwent a complete and fairly abrupt personality change. He always liked to cuddle with his humans and was generally catlike, loveable and friendly, except for occasional run-ins with our other (female) cat of about the same age. They were never best friends. Now, he has taken to living on top of our dining room table all day and all night, leaving it only when he visits his litter box or to eat dry food and drink water on the floor. Took him to the vet two weeks ago, and there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with him. She gave us some Fluoxitine pills, which I gather is sort of a tranquilizer, but they seem to have no noticeable effect on his personality. Anyone else ever have a similar cat experience, and if so, what happened?

 

[lihpster]

I can't tell what a woman is thinking, and we are almost the same species. I have no idea what cats are thinking.

 

[LVSteve]

When up on the table, how does he react when you approach him? Staying high suggests to me he had a run in with something at floor level that has him well spooked. I'm thinking scorpion, solfugid (AKA sun-spider or windscorpion), or maybe even a large, aggressive reptile.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I can't tell what a woman is thinking, and we are almost the same species. I have no idea what cats are thinking.

Boy, have you got that right!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Cats are like people, they often don't act in rational ways. I had 2 pretty affectionate and cuddly male cats-unaltered-who ran away. In Winter. Go figure.

 

[Tom S.]

My mother's personality changed radically when she developed brain cancer. I don't know if cats get that type of cancer or not, or whether vets can diagnose it without x-rays. I hope that is not the cause however.

 

[oldman10mm]

As in post #3, it feels safe up there. Just let it be, it'll return to it's previous personality eventually when it feels safe to come down.

 

[mchom]

Its just a guess...but perhaps the dynamic (For reasons known only to Cheddar) have changed between the 2 cats. And possibly the table represents a safe space. Maybe its the highest defendable place Cheddar feels comfortable. Or Cheddar just needs a place to call his own? Difficult to say but A suggestion is to maybe put up a cat tree or something similar with this in mind? Another place Cheddar can call his own. Just a thought.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Dramatic announcer's voice:
"This sounds like a job for... JACKSON GALAXY!"

"...American cat behaviorist, YouTuber, and former host of the television show My Cat from Hell."

 

[Bald1]

Cats are funny. Ours likes to be up on things. He likes windowsills, coffee table, especially the back of couch in loft where he can look down on first flooor living room. But he has never got on dinning table or kitchen counters and island……. Which is good because I don't want a cat where I eat.

 

[Alk8944]

I have had more than one cat whose demeanor changed abruptly from their normal aloof behavior to being suddenly friendly and affectionate and a good pet. Unfortunately they died naturally within days of the change. It seemed as though they were aware their end was near!

 

[SMSgt]

Nothing a fly swatter won't cure.

 

[cruiserdan]

Dramatic announcer's voice:
"This sounds like a job for... JACKSON GALAXY!"

"...American cat behaviorist, YouTuber, and former host of the television show My Cat from Hell."

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

 

[oldbrownhat]

FWIW I was just chatting with my gf - indentured servant to two cats who have appeared here, Izzie and "Charlie of Epic Whiskers/Curb Feelers" - and she said if they are drinking/peeing, eating/pooping and grooming normally, there is probably nothing serious to worry about.

 

[Rudi]

Can you still pet him? Try some catnip, maybe some Starkist tuna. A real head scratcher.

 

[cruiserdan]

My cats go bananas for this stuff.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[Buford57]

I had a dog like that. The only negative reaction I ever got was when I asked him "Do you want to go for a ride in the truck with a cat?" He considered that an indecent proposal from the look on his face.

 

[ZGrand]

When our 19 year old cat did something similar, it turned out to be kidney failure. Since your vet didn't find anything wrong, I have no idea.

 

[venomballistics]

The table is a high and prominent location
This is not a frightened cat behavior.
Fear and discomfort drive them to low places and concealment.
he's either repelled by something on the floor, or attracted by something on the table

 

[Rustyt1953]

I had a dog like that. The only negative reaction I ever got was when I asked him "Do you want to go for a ride in the truck with a cat?" He considered that an indecent proposal from the look on his face.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Cats often seek out "the high ground" when they are feeling well and secure. They just seem to like being at the highest point they can reach relatively easily. Our tabby likes to perch on top of an armoir about six feet off the floor. How he manages to get up there is beyond me, but he does so repaatedly.

He does come down regularly, though. As already mentioned, if cats are afraid or feeling sick they may try to hide in or under something. The dining table offers no concealment, so who knows? Just another weird cat behavior.

 

[dmar]

Cats, you can't live with them, and you can't live without them…

 

[6string]

I have an unusual situation with our tabby tomcat Cheddar. He is around 9 years old. About a month ago he underwent a complete and fairly abrupt personality change. He always liked to cuddle with his humans and was generally catlike, loveable and friendly, except for occasional run-ins with our other (female) cat of about the same age. They were never best friends. Now, he has taken to living on top of our dining room table all day and all night, leaving it only when he visits his litter box or to eat dry food and drink water on the floor. Took him to the vet two weeks ago, and there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with him. She gave us some Fluoxitine pills, which I gather is sort of a tranquilizer, but they seem to have no noticeable effect on his personality. Anyone else ever have a similar cat experience, and if so, what happened?

If he's eating, drinking and using the litterbox normally then things are probably fine physically.
We have seven indoor cats, all rescues and varying in age from 9 months to 10 years. We also have had from one to three outdoor cats that have chosen to make our yard their home.
Every now and then, one of them will get to acting oddly, usually reticient or nervous.
Assuming their basic needs are being met, the one thing cats crave is human love and attention.
If Cheddar likes being petted or groomed, I suggest some regular extended time where you just dote on him a bit. Even cats that may react evasively at first will invariably find the affection irresistable. The breakthrough might be sudden or gradual, but it will work.
Make sure to alot time to your other cat, too. That way there will be no animosity or rivalry between the two.

 

[DWalt]

My cats go bananas for this stuff.

Cheddar loves the Delectible squeeze paste. We crush his pills into it, and he licks it right down. In fact, that is the only way to give him a pill.

 

[sheepdawg]

Cats, I have more luck figuring out nuclear science or women come to think of it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

In the last 43 years we have had over 30 cats. Every one with their own distinct personality. One size doesn't fit all.

Also;

 

[smoothshooter]

Did your vet check for a urinary tract infection?
That can affect a cat's behavior, and is usually fatal if not treated.
Urinary tract infections amongst middle-aged and older women can ( and ofter does ) change their personality and make them go nuts.
I suspect your cat in question recently had a serious fight with the other one and got his butt whipped big-time. Maybe more than once.
Pet and pamper him a lot every day, and maybe in a couple of weeks he will return to normal.

 

[JOliver]

I'm no cat expert, honestly I'm not a big fan but my wife is and we have had one ever since we've been married. We had one do something very similar, kept its distance, stayed on the back of the couch and wouldn't drink its water out of a bowl, it would however run to drink "running water only"... if you turned a sink on it would make a path to it and drink like no tomorrow. We went to a couple of different Vets before one diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and diabetes. The medicine cost more than my wife wanted to admit (I found out after it passed).
She bought it a water bowl that recycled the water and was like a small constantly circulating water fountain.
It lived another few months and passed away.
Had very similar symptoms as you described
No idea but thought I'd offer my story.
You may have had yours tested, we did too but the first one missed it totally.
Best wishes hope you figure it out