Firstly, I apologise for the length of the post; I’m just trying to give as much info as possible.

We’ve never had a problem with our 2yr neutered male, until recently that is.

We have a cat flap which he’s used to as he’s been using it since he was 6mths old but for the past 10-days or he seems unwillingly, bordering on being scared, to come indoors. He’ll come in for food and then immediately turn tail and go straight back out again whereas previously he’d go into the front room to wash, look for a bit of fuss from either myself or my bf, or simply curl up on the sofa or a bed for a nap, etc.

At first we thought it was something to do with the summer nights and hot weather although I don't remember him being like this last summer (if we had one), but in the last day or so even though it’s been slightly cooler and today it’s tipped it down on and off all day, he’s still hasn’t come inside where it’s warm/dry.

He did have an ear infection recently which resulted in an antibiotic injection at the vets and a week long course of eardrops which finished last Tuesday. Not something he liked, obviously, but we were never rough with him whilst putting the drops in and always made a fuss and gave him a treat afterwards for being a “good boy”.

Last night I opened the back door and called him in to see if he would come in a eat, but as he came in and I went to close the back door behind him he turned around and shot out again, almost as if he was scared of being trapped (despite having a cat flap!). When I pulled the door open wider again, he’d come back in. Once he was eating I was able to shut the door but as soon as he’d finished, out the cat flap he went.

If he’s in the front/back garden he’ll come up and greet us, or allow us to stroke him, but on the rare occasions we have managed to entice him indoors with treats he’ll take the treat out of your hand, we’ll gently stroke him whilst uttering words of encouragement/praise, or we've tried to engage him with a toy, but he seems nervous, and won’t stay in for very long.

He does have a good relationship with the people next door; they give him the occasional treat and he has been known to sleep in the husbands chair (with their full knowledge and blessing of course) during the day, but he doesn’t sleep in their house overnight and even they commented on Saturday about the fact they unusually hadn’t seen him that day.

Anybody have any ideas why he’s suddenly got like this? Is it a case of hot weather and / or fear of eardrops (even though he hasn’t needed them for a week)? Any suggestions as to how can we get him over this fear he seems to have developed of being indoors with us, if that’s what it is, gratefully received as we’re missing the relationship we used to have with our cat!

Some cats do tend to stay out of doors more in the hot weather. Weather conditions do change the behaviour of cats. Some stay out more,some come into the house more when the sun is out.

If he was fearful of eardrops he wouldn't come near you. He is friendly and sociable towards you. There is no hissing or lavatory brush tail.

It may well be is happier to be outside at the moment and when the duller Autumn weather comes he may well return indoors.

Could another cat have got into your house through his cat flap while you weren't there and have frightened/fought him? From your account it sounds like something indoors has frightened him.
Might be worth keeping him in for gradually extending periods, with food and fuss and cat flap temporarily closed, so he can rediscover his security.

I agree that it sounds very much like something has frightened your cat indoors & the chances are that it is another cat coming through your cat flap. Have you noticed any other cats (& particularly new arrivals) in your neighbourhood? Is it possible that another cat has come into your house & sprayed urine or even sprayed the door around the cat flap? It will be worth checking this out or asking your neighbours. The only thing that doesn't add up is that your cat also seems wary of going into your neighbour's house, when he used to be a regular visitor. Have they noticed a strange cat in their house or garden?

I would also give your cat a thorough examination next time you can get him indoors. Sometimes cats tend to keep to themselves when they are not feeling well, e.g. an abcess or infected wound. It may be worth a check up at the vet in case he has an infection or temperature.

Is there anything else going on indoors that could have frightened him? e.g. workmen, meter readers, banging from neighbours, new furniture etc?

In the meantime, make sure you keep up the attention, affection & spending time with your cat to ensure that your relationship with him is kept on a positive note. Was there a particular room in your house that your cat preferred to sleep/rest in, especially when you are out? If so, try putting him there with the door shut & sitting quietly reading or stroking him, to see if he calms down & relaxes a bit. Make sure that the room is not accessible (or perceived to be accessible) to any other cat so perhaps, close windows & draw curtains.

Let us know how you get on & if there's anything else you discover.

Thanks for your replies one and all.

We’ve not come across anything to suggest another cat has been venturing through the cat flap. We have a 2nd younger cat who isn’t exhibiting any strange behaviour at all if we have had an interloper.

Our 2nd younger cat isn’t a new addition, they’ve been living together for the last 18mths and actually get on exceptionally well; there’s only about 6mths in age difference between them and they’re half brothers, whether or not they’re aware of the family connection.

Apart from the ear infection (which the vet believes was caused by scratch in the ear during a fight) that he’s been treated for he doesn’t seem to have any other injuries.

We’ve not had any new furniture or workmen around. The other next door neighbour has been doing some DIY recently but he never seemed to be affected by any banging going on, but this neighbour is on holiday at the moment anyway.

On the occasion’s he’s wandered in to eat we have gently stroked him whilst talking to him in a soothing tone and/or giving him a treat.

A slight break through since my post of yesterday; he did wander in late last night just before I went to bed and sought out a bit of fuss from me, however brief. And this morning he wandered in again a curled up on their cat chair in the living room. Looked a bit wary at first but after some gentle reassurance he seemed to settle and in fact stayed there until at least after I left for work.

He hasn’t quite regained enough confidence to go upstairs and curl up nose to tail on the futon in the spare room with the other cat like he used to, but patience and small steps, eh?

Exactly ~ patience & small steps. Still a bit of a mystery though. Perhaps his behaviour is down to the ear infection, vet visits & days of ear drops. If the ear infection was caused by a fight with another cat, then obviously there is at least one other cat around that he doesn't get on with! He may have "lost" some territorial fight with another cat & has become more withdrawn, had his confidence shaken or something like that.

I would also suggest that you keep an eye on his relationship with your other cat ~ relationships between cats can change as they grow up & reach social maturity which can be anytime between 2 & 4 years old.

I hope he continues to improve & gets back to normal.

I think it's the ear drops. Presumably you did the deed indoors, which is why he is happy to greet you outside but doesn't want to linger indoors - in case he is pounced upon and medicated.

If it was simply that he liked being outdoors in the hot weather he would (a) not be scared of coming in, just keen to get out again and (b) wouldn't stay out in the rain.

I have a cat who is very timid, she would never hiss or bushy-tail at us but is very scared of being handled particularly indoors as that is where cat baskets and medication appear, and that is what your cat seems to be exhibiting. Sounds like he is 'getting over it' now he's been free of eardropping for a while though