'He feels like a completely different cat': Beloved senior cat vanishes for days, returns silent and changed—but tests suggest his personality may recover

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 25, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Cats disappearing is not a totally uncommon thing. For some feline pawrents it is part and parcel of their day to day lives with their cat children. But what happens when your cat child goes off for a few days to get a taste of the wild and comes home with a different pawsonality?

Some might wonder if it is the same cat that came home and not an imposter. Others might question if the cat saw something while out in the wide world that shook it to its core. But what this pawrent thinks happened is far more sever and opens up the question of how trusting we should be with letting our cute cat child go of gallivanting in the unknown outside world. Luckily, this story does indeed hold some hope for the future of our feline protagonist, but there are several stories that do not get to enjoy such an ending. So, moral of the story? Maybe put an Air Tag on your cat and collect them after 24 hours outside the home.
 

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  • 01
    My 12 year old cat went missing for a few days and was found by my dog. under the table in our garden. We have no idea where he was and what happened to him whilst he was gone. Ever since he has come back, he has acted strange. He didn't
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  • 02
    meow to us when we called and were looking for him, and he usually does. He's a very chatty cat but he hasn't meowed at all. Sometimes now he tries and opens his mouth but no meow/ a raspy meow comes out.
    via ascendingforth

  • Oh goodness, that is rather concerning. As if it is not bad enough to lost track of your cat for days on end. But to have them come home with no meow, their signature sound that makes your heart melt and reminds us that we are their pawrents. That has got to be absolutely terrifying for a feline pawrent. 

  • 03
    He has slept in my bed close to me every night since he's been back, which he didn't do before. He would leave in the night before, but now he doesn't want to leave. He got up in the first night but immediately asked to be let back into my room. He also runs
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  • 04
    and hides under my sofa in my room when I try to get him out. He doesn't go to eat unless I pick him up and place him on the counter where his food is, and was instead eating my dog's food which he has never been interested in.
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  • 05
    He goes outside for several hours at a time and sits under the deck in our garden and refuses to come out unless we have treats for him. He doesn't meow at all when we call for him. I have to bring him in to eat otherwise he won't come on his own.
    via ascendingforth
  • 06
    He is less phased by loud noises/movement and stuff that would usually spook him, and doesn't really respond to his name.
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  • 07
    White cat sitting on sidewalk looking confused
    via Iryna Mylinska via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    He has no visible physical injury, and he walks okay. I suspect maybe he has some kind of brain damage. He feels like a completely different cat. I am planning on taking him to the vet but I don't really know if they could help as he seems okay to
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  • 09
    someone who doesn't know him, as the big change is his character. Any help in this situation would be highly appreciated, I am so concerned.
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  • 10
    Update: He just jumped off my bed and asked me to open the door, and I got really excited because this is normal behaviour for him, but when I opened it, he kinda backed up and jumped straight back onto the bed. It's so weird, and I'm
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  • 11
    currently crying next to him curled up. He seems so disoriented and traumatised.
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  • What a poor little fluff ball. It is confusing enough seeing such behavior from a third party hooman perspective. But for the poor catto who does not know what is happening to him, this must be terrifying. Or at least so confusing that he has no idea what is going on. We kinda hope for his sake it is the second option.

  • 12
    Update 2: We managed to take him to the vet who did basic checks on him (weight, temperature, etc) and they says he seems okay. They theorise
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  • 13
    that he ate something that caused him to get a bit disorientated, got lost, and came back feeling a bit odd. He asked us to keep him indoors for a few days so we can fully observe his bathroom
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  • 14
    business, eating and drinking, and possible vomiting. If we are still suspicious in a few days, they asked us to bring him back in for some b. and ue tests. I'm so relieved!! I'm hoping
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  • 15
    that he returns to himself soon. He's already starting to act more like himself.
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  • 16
    SpaceCraz... Cats are very VERY good at hiding physical injuries. He could be a little hurt and need comfort, or still scared.
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  • 17
    cat sniffing person's finger
    via psychoshadow via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    DarkMistik... Your kitty is SO stressed, poor thing. Being away must've been such an awful experience, and it's going to take a while until he is back to be his normal self.
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  • 19
    Taking him to the vet is a great idea, I'll suggest you be as gentle, patient and reassuring to him as you possibly can, because this is adding even more stress, but IMO is very important to
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  • 20
    get him checked so you can be sure there are no internal injuries or that he is not in pain, which is also very stressful for a cat.
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cat may disappear reddit story changed cat story test return senior cats different recovery personality silent complete
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