My parents have two cats, brother and sister, which they got when they
were six months old (the cats, that is, not my parents! :-)  Jake is
a big, heavy (although not fat!) black cat, his sister Chloe is much
smaller and not so independent.

When they first arrived Jake was playful, curious and very intelligent.
We tried to keep them inside for a couple of weeks until they settled,
but he became facinated about what lay beyond the back door - even going
as far as standing up on his hind legs and trying to paw the key in the
lock.  He would investigate bags of shopping and walk off with any
packets or items he considered 'his' dangling from his mouth.  And the
slightest touch would set off his very loud purr.

Three years on and Jakes behaviour is very different.  My parents are
away, so I've taken on the responsibility of looking after their cats,
and I'm staggered by how much he has changed!  He only comes into the
house for food, then he immediately wants to leave again.  If I pick
him up and carry him into another room, he bolts for either the front
or back doors like his life depended upon it, and sits there waiting
to be released.  He no longer purrs, hardly 'talks', nor enjoys being
touched, indeed he generally lowers his back when you attempt to stroke
him.  He will still come running up to me outside, and follow me a
short distance up or down the street.  He will engage, for a limited
time, in games like chasing a piece of string - but gets bored
quickly.  He does still play with his sister, laying in ambush for
her behind walls and fences.

About 18 months ago - during another period of cat-sitting - Jake re-
turned on day with a large lump mid-way down his tail.  The next day
when my parents returned I reported it too them, but my mother just
dismissed it as another battle scar.  A few months later I noticed Jake
had trouble jumping onto a bed, so I urged by mother to take him to the
vet.  The vet said it was nothing to worry about, and sent Jake home
without treatment.  Anyway I made a fuss and so eventually he got his
tail x-rayed - which revealed a metal pellet gun shot.  One of the
local youths had presumably used Jake for target practice.

I've noticed while I've been feeding him these last few days that
his tail sometimes twitches.  I'm wondering if he is still in
discomfort from that episode (they operated and removed the shot,
btw) - damaged nerves or something?  Is this the source of his
apparent depression?  

Or is he just bored by life in suberbia?  Perhaps he seeks the
jet-set life of fast cars and loose kitten?

He has started spraying inside the house over the past few months,
perhaps this is why he is afraid to visit anywhere except the kitchen
and hall (which he doesn't spray!) - because he thinks he's going to
get chased again?

Any help on diagnosing his problem would be gratefully appreciated.

-FISH-   ><