Berkeley cat has sudden aversion to being petted

DEAR JOAN: My 9-year-old beloved indoor cat has taken to clawing at me after I pet him more than a minute. It’s very odd. He is usually very docile. Any ideas what might be causing this?

Stephanie Manning, Berkeley

DEAR STEPHANIE: Whenever pets start acting differently, I always suggest taking them to the vet for a check-up. There could be something physical going on that is causing him pain or discomfort when he is petted.

Because your cat accepted being petted in the past, there’s a chance that he is feeling stressed. If you’ve been home with him more during the pandemic and are now spending more time away, or if there have been changes in the household, he could be feeling some anxiety and lashing out.

It’s not unusual for a cat to change his mind about things, and cats can be particular about being petted. Many will tolerate it, and some even seem to crave it, but animal experts say it’s not in a cat’s nature to enjoy extended petting sessions.

When cats have friendly interactions with other cats, they might rub against each other, but that contact is brief. Grooming sessions between them typically end when one cat has had enough and swats away the other.

If the vet gives him a medical all-clear, then I suggest letting your cat call the shots. When you pet him, watch for signs that he is starting to feel agitated, then stop.

DEAR JOAN: Do you have any idea why the permanent resident birds have disappeared from my backyard?

I used to have to replace the suet block every other day. Now it sits for over a week. I used to have to replenish the seed feeder every couple of days. Now it sits for days on end.

House finches, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, oak titmouse and others rarely show up anymore. I’m not aware of any environmental changes in my immediate neighborhood. I thought that this time of year they would be hungry.

Any idea what is going on?

Vicki, Oakland

DEAR VICKI: It’s always difficult to know what’s going on when looking only at your yard. It could be that a few doors down, a cat has started prowling the area. Or further away, your neighbor might be putting out tastier food. The recent rains might also have stirred to life a new, natural food source.

It’s safe to say that something has either lured them or frightened them away, but know that all birds migrate, even the ones that live here year round. They don’t leave the Bay Area, but they do move to other places where food supplies and shelter are more abundant.

Now’s a good time to assess your backyard. Plants grow and landscapes change over time, so the feeders that once attracted birds might not be in the best location now.

I have no doubt that the birds will return at some point, so keep the feeders clean and filled with fresh food.