My cat is behaving differently after getting out

L
Ludivinemilleret Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone, we have an eighteen-month-old indoor cat and we've noticed he's been acting differently since his little escape outside.

He managed to get out on Friday night because a door wasn't shut properly... We finally found him nearly 48 hours later, cowering under a car in one of our neighbours' outbuildings...

We've brought him home; he was a bit dehydrated but nothing too worrying and he's been drinking well since. I've given him some wet food and tuna as he absolutely loves it, to help remedy the slight dehydration.

He's been back for two days now and since then he's been sleeping almost 24/7, and he isn't very interested in his dry food, which he usually scoffs down. I also noticed what look like small burns on his front pads; I've disinfected them and they don't seem to be bothering him.

I must admit I'm worried, even though he's usually a bit of a sleepyhead anyway (though not as much as this) and I imagine he must be exhausted after his ordeal outside.

I have a vet appointment next Thursday to get him microchipped and I was thinking of waiting until then to talk to them about my concerns regarding his behaviour and to show them his paws.

Do you think that's okay or should I call back and try to get an earlier appointment? Have any of you dealt with this with your cats before, and do you have any advice?

Thanks in advance!!

Translated from French
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6 answers
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    • L
    Ludivinemilleret Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for your replies! Following your advice, I called the vet back and managed to bring the appointment forward to tomorrow afternoon so my cat can be seen sooner. Thank you so much, everyone!
    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, As a vet student, after being outside for 48 hours, it’s quite normal for a cat to be very tired, sleep a lot, and have a reduced appetite for a few days. He’s likely been stressed and has exhausted himself. You should still be cautious, though. The fact that he’s eating less, seems very lethargic, and has injuries on his paw pads warrants close monitoring. If his condition improves quickly—he starts eating again and becomes more active—you can wait for your scheduled appointment. However, if he remains very listless, eats little to nothing, or if you notice other signs like limping, a fever, or vomiting, I would suggest seeing a vet sooner. If in doubt, it’s best to bring the appointment forward. Best wishes, Romane
    Translated from French
    SoleImpressionnant2221
    Soleimpressionnant2221 Icon representing the flag French
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    It’s completely understandable that you’re worried after he’s been out for 48 hours; sleeping more than usual, a poor appetite, and sore paws can all be signs of exhaustion, stress, or a minor injury. Since he’s still drinking and doesn't seem to be in any obvious distress, it might be okay to just monitor him closely for now, but I’d still think about giving your vet a ring a bit sooner just to describe the symptoms and get their advice before Thursday.

    In the meantime, keep him indoors, encourage him to drink plenty of water, and let him rest in a quiet spot. If you want to share updates with your vet or document any changes, you could even use a photo enhancement tool to make sure any pictures of his paws or behaviour are as clear as possible.

    Hopefully he’ll bounce back quickly with some rest and a bit of TLC.

    Translated from French
    L
    Ludivinemilleret Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for your replies!

    Yes, you're right, there’s nothing majorly alarming, but those 48 hours were just as exhausting for him as they were for me haha, and I’m probably overthinking everything that could go wrong now that I’ve finally found him 😂

    Regarding the dry food, he’s not exactly wolfing it down like he used to, but he is having a few bits here and there. More importantly, he’s polishing off his wet food, so it’s clearly not an appetite issue.

    Aside from that, he’s not limping and hasn't got a strange gait or any specific difficulties that might be down to the injuries on his paw pads.

    Unfortunately, it’s a bit tricky for me to move the vet appointment forward because his usual practice is near my parents’ place, and the vets in our local area have really poor ratings and lots of bad reviews… I think I’ll give the vet a call back anyway to get their take, specifically on the small sores on his pads.

    Thanks again for your help!

    Translated from French
    C
    Chatzen Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, what you're describing is quite typical after a big scare outdoors, especially for an indoor cat. Between the stress, exhaustion, perhaps a bit of dehydration, and having spent time hiding away, it can take them a few days to "settle back down".

    The fact that he’s sleeping a lot doesn’t worry me too much right now; it’s often their way of recovering. However, the lack of appetite for his dry food plus the small sores on his paw pads mean it's worth getting him checked out a bit sooner.

    If I were you, I wouldn’t necessarily wait until Thursday. Without panicking, a quick call to the vet to bring the appointment forward, or at least to get their advice, would be reassuring. Especially to check:

    • that there is no infection or deeper burning on his paw pads

    • that he hasn’t had a knock (from a fall or impact)

    • and that he isn't coming down with anything after those 48 hours outside

    In the meantime, you’re already doing the right thing:

    • plenty of water available

    • wet food to keep him hydrated

    • peace and quiet at home

    Just keep an eye on him to make sure he’s slowly starting to eat again, moving normally, and that his paws aren’t getting any worse.

    If he remains lethargic, refuses to eat, or starts limping, then yes → get him seen by a vet straight away.

    But honestly, many cats take 2–3 days to get back to themselves after this kind of escapade.

    Chatzen 🐾

    Translated from French
    J
    Jocely Icon representing the flag French
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    If you feel he’s been traumatised, bring your appointment forward to have him checked over and to put your mind at rest too. If he settles down, eats and sleeps well, there’s no particular cause for concern. Keep disinfecting his paw pads until they’ve healed. Kind regards.
    Translated from French

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