Background
So I am starting to get really worried about my almost one year old cat, Diego as he has been acting very strange. I'm sure part of it is that I have put both him and his sister through the ringer these past few months. Back in May I had to move out of my apartment suddenly and left them here. They had someone that they knew coming by each day to check on them but once I realized my absence was going to be extended I made the choice to move them with me.
Where we were staying they were just confined to one bedroom and a bathroom. It was a lot louder there than they are used to, but his sister, Ella, seemed to adjust pretty well. And, for the most part, Diego did too. I then had to go out of State, and, instead of moving them back to the apartment I left them there at the new house. Again, the person who checked on them everyday was someone that they knew. I was gone for three weeks and finally moved them back to the apartment at the end of last week.
Here is what I have noticed about Diego's behavior that concerns me:
1. He is no longer interested in his wet food, which he used to love. He will still eat his dry food but not his wet.
2. It seems every noise, even noises he is familiar with (like my turning on the shower) scares the stuffing out of him. He used to be very outgoing and now all he does is hides. I have found him under the dresser, in a hideyhole that he's never gone in before, even scrunched up in his carrier- completely terrified.
3. Last night he woke me up in a dead panic because I heard him making this horrible howl. It was not just a 'give me attention' meow but the deep, guttural, 'I'm in pain' bellow (you all know the one I'm talking about). I grabbed him and looked him over but he was totally fine on the outside. I put him back on the floor where he continued to sit, staring up at the bookcase and wailing for the next 45 minutes. He only stopped after I picked him up, put him under the covers, and tried to sooth him. He stayed under the covers for the next 12 hours- something he has NEVER done before.
4. Frequently when he jumps, he misses. It's like he misjudges distance and doesn't quite put enough power behind it. He has missed the counter so many times lately he no longer even tries to get up there. Instead he whimpers at me to pick him up.
5. When we were staying at the other house I noticed that when someone would come in the main door he would panic and hide. But, when they came in through the bathroom he was completely fine. The only difference I could come up with was the lightening. The main door was very dark while the bathroom had a lot of back lightening.
So I guess my questions are these:
1. Has anyone experienced this type of behavior before? I'm sure he is partially traumatized from the move and then my being gone but I can't imagine that that's all of it.
2. Does it sound like something is wrong with his vision? This is my main concern. The different reactions to people based on the lightening and his inability to make his jumps are what concern me. I also wonder if he has become more fearful of noises because he can't see where they are coming from. Does anyone have experience with a visually impaired cat? Anyone know of any ways to try and check/test to see if there has been a change? Externally as far as I can tell the eyes look normal. They are not cloudy and don't have any sort of discharge.
3. I hate to go there because it is so rare, but I'm getting increasingly concerned that he might have FHS (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome). Mainly, because he suddenly seems so freaked out by everything. Every sound makes him run for cover and he is constantly looking back at his tail. I have noticed some tail attacking and some back rippling but certainly not an excessive amount. Any thoughts on this?
Sorry for the novel I was just trying to be as detailed as possible. I do have a vet appointment for him but it's not for another week, and I don't feel that this is an "urgent" issue (like an illness) that must be addressed sooner. I think it's a long term problem that is surfacing.
I welcome anyone's tips, advice, and feedback. Please tell me what you think so that I can try and make life less terrifying for my poor baby Diego!
So I am starting to get really worried about my almost one year old cat, Diego as he has been acting very strange. I'm sure part of it is that I have put both him and his sister through the ringer these past few months. Back in May I had to move out of my apartment suddenly and left them here. They had someone that they knew coming by each day to check on them but once I realized my absence was going to be extended I made the choice to move them with me.
Where we were staying they were just confined to one bedroom and a bathroom. It was a lot louder there than they are used to, but his sister, Ella, seemed to adjust pretty well. And, for the most part, Diego did too. I then had to go out of State, and, instead of moving them back to the apartment I left them there at the new house. Again, the person who checked on them everyday was someone that they knew. I was gone for three weeks and finally moved them back to the apartment at the end of last week.
Here is what I have noticed about Diego's behavior that concerns me:
1. He is no longer interested in his wet food, which he used to love. He will still eat his dry food but not his wet.
2. It seems every noise, even noises he is familiar with (like my turning on the shower) scares the stuffing out of him. He used to be very outgoing and now all he does is hides. I have found him under the dresser, in a hideyhole that he's never gone in before, even scrunched up in his carrier- completely terrified.
3. Last night he woke me up in a dead panic because I heard him making this horrible howl. It was not just a 'give me attention' meow but the deep, guttural, 'I'm in pain' bellow (you all know the one I'm talking about). I grabbed him and looked him over but he was totally fine on the outside. I put him back on the floor where he continued to sit, staring up at the bookcase and wailing for the next 45 minutes. He only stopped after I picked him up, put him under the covers, and tried to sooth him. He stayed under the covers for the next 12 hours- something he has NEVER done before.
4. Frequently when he jumps, he misses. It's like he misjudges distance and doesn't quite put enough power behind it. He has missed the counter so many times lately he no longer even tries to get up there. Instead he whimpers at me to pick him up.
5. When we were staying at the other house I noticed that when someone would come in the main door he would panic and hide. But, when they came in through the bathroom he was completely fine. The only difference I could come up with was the lightening. The main door was very dark while the bathroom had a lot of back lightening.
So I guess my questions are these:
1. Has anyone experienced this type of behavior before? I'm sure he is partially traumatized from the move and then my being gone but I can't imagine that that's all of it.
2. Does it sound like something is wrong with his vision? This is my main concern. The different reactions to people based on the lightening and his inability to make his jumps are what concern me. I also wonder if he has become more fearful of noises because he can't see where they are coming from. Does anyone have experience with a visually impaired cat? Anyone know of any ways to try and check/test to see if there has been a change? Externally as far as I can tell the eyes look normal. They are not cloudy and don't have any sort of discharge.
3. I hate to go there because it is so rare, but I'm getting increasingly concerned that he might have FHS (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome). Mainly, because he suddenly seems so freaked out by everything. Every sound makes him run for cover and he is constantly looking back at his tail. I have noticed some tail attacking and some back rippling but certainly not an excessive amount. Any thoughts on this?
Sorry for the novel I was just trying to be as detailed as possible. I do have a vet appointment for him but it's not for another week, and I don't feel that this is an "urgent" issue (like an illness) that must be addressed sooner. I think it's a long term problem that is surfacing.
I welcome anyone's tips, advice, and feedback. Please tell me what you think so that I can try and make life less terrifying for my poor baby Diego!