I have a 15-yr old cat who I adopted from her previous owners about a year ago. She is generally very sweet in disposition, always wanting to be in the same room as me, and a big fan of lap time and things like head scritches. The only time she gets at all feisty is when I accidentally touch her on a certain part of her back. She's old and has some arthritis, and I suspect she may have it in the spinal area as well, but I try to avoid that area altogether when interacting with her, though occasionally I'll absentmindedly stroke her there and she will give me a warning swipe/bite before running away.
Lately, in the last few days, she's become afraid of my hands, and 90% of the time when I raise them to pet her, she'll run away in fear. She'll sometimes submit to a stroke along the cheek, but sometimes she'll smell my hand and back away, or stare at my hand, even if I'm keeping it still, and then run away. She's not afraid to be near me otherwise, and she definitely acts like she wants to be near me -- for instance, she'll sit at the end of my bed and meow, but when I call her over she doesn't come. Or if she does hop up on the bed, she'll stay for a few moments and then run off again scared.
I have no idea what could've happened to make her feel this way all of sudden. I am always very gentle with her, speak sweetly, and generally let her come to me for interaction. It's really bumming me out that she's acting this way and I'm not sure how to make it better. I've tried feeding her treats from my hands, and she'll gladly take them, but as soon as I go in for pets, she bolts. She herself seems a bit confused, like she'll cry for attention, but if I go towards her, she leaves.
Does anyone have any insight here?
Lately, in the last few days, she's become afraid of my hands, and 90% of the time when I raise them to pet her, she'll run away in fear. She'll sometimes submit to a stroke along the cheek, but sometimes she'll smell my hand and back away, or stare at my hand, even if I'm keeping it still, and then run away. She's not afraid to be near me otherwise, and she definitely acts like she wants to be near me -- for instance, she'll sit at the end of my bed and meow, but when I call her over she doesn't come. Or if she does hop up on the bed, she'll stay for a few moments and then run off again scared.
I have no idea what could've happened to make her feel this way all of sudden. I am always very gentle with her, speak sweetly, and generally let her come to me for interaction. It's really bumming me out that she's acting this way and I'm not sure how to make it better. I've tried feeding her treats from my hands, and she'll gladly take them, but as soon as I go in for pets, she bolts. She herself seems a bit confused, like she'll cry for attention, but if I go towards her, she leaves.
Does anyone have any insight here?