I know that Cats can be moody, but...?

Question

My cat is roughly 15 months old, and has been a perfect little lady from the moment we brought her home from the Humane Society in December. But I have noticed within the past couple of days she has been behaving strangely. Jumping up onto surfaces and knocking things over (We trained her not to do this). Tearing things up (cardboard and paper) and becoming more moody and aggressive. She is a completely indoor cat. Is it possible that she has developed distemper? Or is she just going through a teenage phase? Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

15 Months is roughly equal to 15 human years (in maturity levels) . So yes...she is a teenager. Have you had her spayed yet? It could be that she is acting out from a sexual need. She should have already gone into heat by now if she hasn't been spayed....but it could be delayed, or she is now in a second or third heat.... This will definately make her act strangely. Is there any yowelling accompanying her strange behaviours or head rubbing on the ground with her tail end up in the air?? If this is the case, it is best to take her to the vet to be fixed. Unless she is a purebred that you will be breeding... as a pet owner, it is the responsible thing to do .



If she has already been spayed.... perhaps she is trying to tell you something. You mentioned that she has been normally well behaved. Seeking negative attention (ie jumping on things and knocking things over) is a clue that there is something wrong in her world. Tearing things is cat-speak for feeling frustrated with something....



Has there been a change in your home or routines recently? Is she lonely? Has she been played with enough recently? Does she need her litter box changed more frequently? Did you change her food? Does she want her water changed more often?



These are the common questions to ask when the frustrated/attention seeking behaviours start. One of my cats would start playing with my plants whenever she thought it was time to change her litter. After I established a regular schedule... that behaviour stopped within a couple of days.



It could be she is just a bit lonely.... she's still a kitten, make sure you play with her every day.



ETA...you added that she tried hissing and swiping.... that tells me she is mad at you – you are the human, so everything is your fault :) – and that something has changed.... This is very common when there is a new smell. Is there someone new in your life? Is it possible that she is injured (maybe she fell down or caught her paw on something?).



Good Luck.... BTW...it's not distemper. Distemper causes fever and diarrhea and vomiting.

Answer 2

All it is is a type of coloring, and I have seen it as one word. They have no particular personality because it can randomly occur. It is not a breed that is bred for temperament in addition to coloring/look. If the cat has white on it, it is called calico. It is almost only seen in females, because it requires one X chromosome with an orange gene and one X chromosome with a black gene. Males have XY chromosomes, so they would either be black or orange. Some males have a rare genetic abnormality giving them XXY chromosomes. This usually means they are sterile. ADD: THey are not different kinds of cats, a tortoishell is just a speckled orange and black cat with no white and a calico is a speckled orange and black cat with some white patches. I think in the UK calicos are tortoiseshell and white.Like I said, it is a coloring, not a breed or "type". It is the same type of gene combination, there is more than one gene for color so they don't all have the exact smae color combinations.

Answer 3

It sounds like normal cat behavior. She needs stimulation. Maybe playing with her more is the answer. However if she is behaving oddly for her you should call the vet.

Answer 4

If she is spayed then she is probably just really bored. Maybe you should get her a friend.

Answer 5

Maybe she wants a cat boy, has she been neutered?

Answer 6

if shes not neutered its probally because she wants to mate.if you neuter her you will see a big change!!