If the cat is old then it might be just aging but by the way its acting I would say that its injured. If it was an internal injury (or old age issue) like urinary tract or something along those lines the cat would not be eating and would most likely hide somewhere and not come out.
Whatever the injury its clear that it causes a sharp pain when touched which is why the biting so I would definitely get it into the vet in the morning. Hopefully its not critical but I doubt it if its moving around.
One of my cat experiences is I had a cat come home after being away a year but while petting it upon our first meeting after the year I accidentally touched a wound it got from a recent fight (probably why it came back home). Well, it bit me hard and I mean like all four paws locked onto me with the claws digging in to hold and he sunk his teeth in all the way into my hand, we both froze for a second or so and then he let me go. Oddly though when I shewed it back outside (not understanding the reason for the bit) it hung around the house all weekend long meowing outside the window of whatever room I was in (it knew my habits) until I finally gave in and let it back in (persistent little bugger). But that’s when I noticed the wound which eased my mind about its earlier action. Turns out all it wanted was a warm, dry place to stay while it healed up I guess. Less then a week later it was gone again. :(
Right now I’ve got a couple cats just over a year old sleeping on the floor behind my chair while I type this. I also have one well into its teens in age in the next room sleeping (what else) and another one outside the house for mouse control.
Needless to say I love cats. :)
JB
Pinging FReeper vet!
My best guess is that she has an injury there — could be a pull/sprain type thing, but could also be a fracture. If possible, I’d recommend trying to keep her confined to an empty room where she can’t jump or climb much above floor level, so that she doesn’t end up jumping down and making the problem worse — possibly turning a simple fracture into a compound fracture.
A dear departed kitty of mine was showing a very slight limp at age 19.5, and vet quite reasonably figured it was just arthritis and suggested started kitty on Cosequin. One day after the vet check-up, he got a horrible break in his hind leg. No one saw it happen, but it was definitely indoors, and most likely from missing the jump from kitchen table to counter (about a 2 foot span) and falling uncontrolled onto the hind legs, one of which probably already had a hairline fracture that had been mis-guessed as arthritis. $3000 and a plate and a few screws later, kitty’s leg was serviceable again, and carried him through a pretty active final year and a half of his life. Would have been much better if we could have avoided that break, though . . .
It’s just hungry and cold.
Cat’s love Chinese food, pizza, burritos, nachos, a nice bowl of beer and maybe a finger tip covered in brandy (at least my dog’s cat does).
I’ve seen the alternating leg stretch every step or two when ‘Chew Toy’ is getting up from a nap. Seems like something they do when they are cramped. If it’s an old cat try a heating pad or an affectionate Lab to keep it warm.
Most of all don’t worry so much. It’s a !^%#&^ cat. They’re independent. If it was really sick it wouldn’t let you (a stranger) near it.
I had to laugh at the one poster who said 'You've been adopted'---lol....been there done that.
Please let us know what you do...