Need advice, help, opinions, ANYTHING!!!!

[rg_girlca]

Thank you for your replies.

I don't think that he was bullied by any of the others as he is still socialable with them all when they are in the room with him and no, he hasn't had any UTI's. Nothing seems to be different in the living room or kitchen. There is no indication that anything has fallen. When Buddy is in the room, Nugget rubs against him, so he isn't afraid of him and none of my friends or my sons friends have been in the house since about 2 weeks ago and I noticed that Nugget was acting this way on Thursday. The beginning of the week he was fine being in the kitchen and living room.
He came out from under the bed when my other son Mark and his girlfriend Kim, dropped by and he was rubbing up against their legs and when Kim got his string on a stick, he was playing with it like he always does.
He seems to just stay in my room, or just in front of my room in the hallway.
He seems even leery to go into my sons room which is just across from my room. He also seems to keep smelling the air. I don't know if that means anything or not.
I am going to observe him very closely for the next few days and see what he does. If he doesn't improve, then I will bring him to the vets, to make sure that it isn't anything medical.

Thank you all again and I will keep you updated on the situation.

[Jods]

is he an indoor cat??? My moms cat is like this when a stray hangs about our house he can smell them and seems to think they can get in. He watches them out the window and when they go around the house he runs! He muct think they got in or something. He is an indoor cat also. Good Luck!

[K & L]

Another thought, when some of ours started having teeth problems they would act kind of weird at times. We didn't connect this at first, but we believe that when one of their teeth started hurting they'd run and hide cause they didn't understand what was causing the pain. Just some thoughts here since it came on so sudden. Good luck!

[rg_girlca]

Jods, Nugget is an indoor cat but there have been some strays that come up on the widow sill and Nugget seems to just greet them with his little brrp brrps that he does. He isn't bothered by them at all where as the others will hiss or growl.

Lisa, I never thought of his teeth with him being close to 10 months old. But you never know. It doesn't seem to affect him eating his dry food in any way if that is the case. I remember my RB Katie had problems eating when her teeth were bothering her.

I just finished playing with him in the hallway by the living room with his string on a stick. I slowly backed a few feet into the kitchen, dragging the string and Nugget stepped near the entrance but that was it. It is very clear that he is avoiding the kitchen area for some reason and I noticed that any sudden noise, no matter how small it may be, makes him very nervous.

This has really boggled my mind and like I said before, I really hate seeing him like this.

Thank you again for your replies.

[Grace]

It is very clear that he is avoiding the kitchen area for some reason and I noticed that any sudden noise, no matter how small it may be, makes him very nervous.

Do you have a gas stove? I wondered if you did, and it had a leak, and he smelled it?

Did something in the kitchen get broken recently - maybe he did it, and is afraid of being punished?

[rg_girlca]

Nope, no gas stove and nothing has been broken either.

It's been just a little over half an hour and he is still laying in the hallway by the living room. So that's a start.

[jazzcat]

This really won't help but since you said he avoids the kitchen it got me thinking about Ripley. He used to run and hide for a little while when ever I would get a new trash bag out to put in the trash can. He still runs but he no longer hides. He also does that whenever we get ice from the ice maker, get out pots and pans or unload the dishwasher. He cries from the noise. Maybe Nugget is an extra sensitive boy like ole Rip.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Maybe an old bad memory has resurfaced and he just needs to work through it again, and remember that he can trust you and your family again. I would just give him some time and don't force anything on him. I think he will eventually come around again.

Poor baby.