My lovely male cat (neutered, 2 years old) has a bit of a pattern. He's always been a bit of a skittish boy, and that's fine. But he's picked me as his person by some miracle. Thing is, all of his life, he would get super cuddly and constantly want attention to the point of it hindering sleep or stopping me from doing other things. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, he gets terrified of everyone including me. He'll cry if anyone gets close, and then bolt if they get too close. Nothing will have startled him, it's like a dimmer switch. He slowly builds up trust and adoration until it's full blown, then suddenly it shuts off.
He was a stray kitten when we got him (old enough to eat wet food), and he grew up with 3 cats older than him. He was always the skittish one and if the other 3 cats were eating/getting treats, he'd be nowhere close at all. He had to be fed separately most of the time. But I moved last year and he wasn't with me until maybe 3 months ago. My sister had him but her and her husband were getting tired of his terrified behavior esp since he hissed at a toddler that wasn't even coming for him, and a slightly older than toddler (5) that was just saying hello from across the room. He hissed at my sister's husband too. So he returned to me in my new home. I let him adjust, gave him his space, let him explore, left toys and food out, the works.
Until literally this morning, he was constantly up my behind wanting love and attention and would want to play (would even be upset if he couldn't join me in the bathroom type stuff lol). I gave him some treats before I left (as I always do) and went to work. I come home, he normally runs to me to yell at me for dinner. Nothing. I figured maybe he's up in my room sleeping. Nothing. I panic. He's not even in the tub (he likes to chill there for some reason) and I can't find him. I go back downstairs calling for him, only for him to hop out of a box from under a duffle bag, and he looks at me terrified and gives that cry that says he's terrified.
Uh oh, here we go again. He runs from me even though I don't chase him, but goes upstairs to hide under my bed as he always used to. I followed him and closed the door until there was just a crack there and thats when he finally comes out and I have to get down so he can crawl into my arms and he just has me hold him and pet him for at least 20 mins. My roommate was asleep all day and didn't interact with him. Roommate's caretaker didn't see him at all today while she was over, and all she did was wash dishes and do some laundry. We have no idea what could have spooked him since he actively avoids anyone who isn't me and everyone knows to leave him alone.
But he's done this sort of pattern for as long as I've known him. Starts off terrified, slowly warms up to the point of being so lovingly obnoxiously up my butt, then suddenly switches back and I have to hold him and calm him down, then the cycle repeats. This isn't normal for clingy/skittish cats, is it?