- Joined
- Jul 23, 2021
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My 12 year old neutered Alfie (adopted 3 years ago) is suddenly acting very strangely. He has a cat-flap so he can come and go at will but tends to stick pretty close to home a couple of gardens either side of mine. About 5 weeks ago he came in limping. I examined his back leg which he didn't enjoy but there were no wounds. He often has the odd scab or two on his head so he obviously gets into fights now and then, so I suspected he'd come off particularly badly this time or maybe landed oddly and got a sprain. Next day he was putting the foot down and the following day he was back to normal. Then a week and a half ago he came in limping on the same leg again so that day, Friday, I made an appointment to see the vet and the earliest appointment I could get was for the following Tuesday pm. The leg wasn't wounded but it looked a bit puffy to me and I thought he might may have picked up an infection from his earlier catfight/foxfight?? By Monday he was completely back to normal again so I cancelled the appointment which was foolish because on Tuesday afternoon, although he was walking normally, I could see an open wound on the 'elbow' of his back leg which was weeping lymph-like fluid. The following day it leaked blood and the next day it had started to heal at which point he allowed me to gently inspect it. I think it had been an abscess which had burst and now he's re-growing fur on it and walking normally. But he isn't behaving normally. He's become VERY clingy and affectionate. Howls a lot, won't go outside and eyes the open back doors very sheepishly. I discovered, the day before yesterday that he'd poohed upstairs rather than go outside. Yesterday morning he did creep outside at the front of the house while I stood at the door - and did the longest wee I've ever seen before scuttling back immediately and then poohing in the garage!! This is MOST unlike him. I gave him a litter tray not far from the backdoor which I was intending to gradually move outside over the next week or so......but so far he hasn't used it at all. Something has really spooked him and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. I've sat just outside the backdoor and made cooing noises at him to encourage him outside while I am there - but all he does is miaow back at me and stay put. He's just come down from a morning in bed, eaten his foo(next to the open back door) and gone back upstairs. Has anyone got any ideas? Thank you. Sorry this is so long-winded.