I have a male cat approx eight years old who has always been good and no problems with him, he was doctored when he was a kitten. Over the last week he has gone very reclusive and has taken up residence under the bed, and won't come out when called, and will go extra long periods before coming to eat, although he will come out to use his litter box or go in the garden on occasions, although there is no sign of using the house as a toilet. When he comes out and I talk to him, he backs himself up against the wall and growls at me or himself, then will run back to be under the bed again. He tends to come out during the night to get something to eat, but any noise he takes this strange attitude of growling and rushing under the bed. I am worried about him as he has never acted this strange until the last week. What is wrong with him?

He's very possibly sick. Any change of behavior is reason for a visit to a Vet.

Thanks for your prompt response, just a natural animal carer that's worried

He is either hurting, or feeling otherwise lousy, and is hiding. Hiding is an animal's attempt to 'get away' from whatever is really bothering them. I've seen this with abscesses, bad teeth, or something totally unexpected. For example, he may have something sharp stuck in his fur that is poking him when he moves or sits just wrong. I have seen cats that have developed hair mats that really pull his skin. Only when some of the hair pulls out of the skin is some pressure relieved. He may have something he has tried to eat, like something bony, become wedged between his teeth, or otherwise stuck in his mouth. No need to try and explain how that must feel. These are but a few of the weird things that can be happening, and I strongly doubt you will be able to help him out of his predicament without winding up in one of your own.

He may well bite you if you try to handle him, so use caution. You will need a cat carrier of some sort to get him to the vet. Hopefully, if you put it near him, he will go in it, eventually, and you can creep up and close the door.

When you get the chance pick up your cat very carefully because a possible reason for this behavior is that he may have got a wound somewhere on him shot by a slug gun etc? Look all over and check paws for glass etc If he is wounded it depends on the kind of wound i.e. cut by barb wire cat can usually take care of it its self, but Embedded slug, Glass etc, Take to vets.There are also other reasons cats act like this dogs being in house? A lot of commotion etc Chris. "Satansproblem"