what’s up with my cats?

i have 2 boys. both outdoor cats (not my choice) but they are mainly in 24/7 anyway. the eldest is 6 next month and the youngest is 3. since we’ve got the eldest we haven’t moved houses or shifted him out of the home that we’ve lived in. there’s been no big changes recently, we haven’t done anything to the house in over a year and we have the same arrangements as per usual. they get on fine, they’re both quite feisty and will play fight but they’re comfortable with each other. definitely not bonded, the most they will do is sniff each other and the eldest will occasionally lick him but other than that they pretty much are just indifferent to one another

recently i’ve noticed weird behaviours in them both. they’ve always been really cringy towards me, constantly sleeping in my room and pretty much won’t leave me alone whenever i do anything but the eldest is acting reluctant to come into my room or any bedroom at the moment he’ll come in occasionally, sniff around and look under my desk or looking around before running out. he’s only slept with me or in my room a few times this past month

i know not to touch him or make noises that could spook him more. i’ll encourage him to get pets himself but he’s reluctant. he’s never been spooked before, he’s the kind of cat where you could completely destroy a room and he’ll just act like it doesn’t bother him but for some reason my room now spooks him? he’ll investigate before running out and waiting for me to leave the room. again, nothing ever scares him. he sits there whilst im hoovering or if i have the shower on. am i doing something to upset him or is my room a bad place for him now? did i accidentally make him scared of being in my room?

my room has been the same for years, never changing. i have my pc on constantly so he’s used to the sound of the fans and the youngest has been fine in with me but i’m confused if he’s had a bad experience in my room when i haven’t been here? they’re also acting on edge constantly, not with me. they’re both still their affectionate clingy selves who will meow until i hold them or just pet them but sometimes they’ll hear something and stare down the bottom of the stairs and just stare and stare until i have to put them in my room to calm them down. so maybe it’s that? there’s recently been a white cat that’s moved in and he’s been bullying the youngest but the eldest seems to have no issues with him

it started around a month ago they’ve been doing it constantly now, they just won’t stop looking at something i can’t see. i don’t know if there’s an intruder or a cat that they’re getting upset over but i’m never sure what to do. i’ve gone downstairs with them to show them there’s nothing there or ill stand with them so they know they’re safe but it’s starting to freak me out.

are they okay? do they see or hear someone they’re not familiar with? is there a ghost? is there some kind of leak? i struggle with bpd and my paranoia is very bad some nights and if they’re doing something quite freaky like that i’m not sure what to do.