I have seen a cat’s personality change after his feline companion died of old age. I guess you could say he got lonely. We ended up returning him to my sister, who still had some of his littermates.
John:
Yeah, that struck me as well.
Which naturally brings up the question of suicide; if Bubba’s thinking about offing himself because he feels so lonely (and humiliated) as well. By your description, he sounds pretty isolated. Since he probably doesn’t have anybody he can comfortably confide in, the whole episode will weigh even more heavily on him, I’m guessing.
Were it me, I think I would try to keep an eye on him over the next couple of weeks, even see if you can get him to open up a bit and talk about it.
I agree with those who are concerned about Bubba’s frame of mind. He is, however, virtually un-approachable when it comes to topics like this.
I’ve heard that physical activity is one of the better cures for depression. If that’s the case, he should be OK. Driving past his place, it looks like he’s been working from dawn until way after dark. This is his busiest season of the year anyway, and he’s far behind due to the trips to Russia. Maybe he will work his way through to the other side of his current darkness.
SanibelMan: I don’t remember how I came across Randy Wayne White’s books. I’m no stranger to that lovely (heh) stretch of coast between the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River on the west and Card Sound on the east. But that was in a previous life, before they bulldozed the jungle on Marco Island to build high-rise condos. If you haven’t already read it, I’d suggest you try Peter Matthiessen’s Killing Mister Watson.
jackelope: Jim Beam and Roy Orbison eh? I can relate to both. My personal favorite cure was always Jack Daniels in a bar that featured country music and feral women. But that was also in a previous life.
I just hope there’s no Russian messageboard with a thread called Fun and Games with Bubba. Poor guy.
Jim Beam and Roy Orbison? Jack Daniels and country?
It’s been many years for me, but I vote for Stoli and Pink Floyd; they soothed many a breakup.
Sauza and Tom Petty.
Allright, how did I miss more than 3 months’ worth of this thread? 
Hamsters, give me back my subscription.
Do keep us posted on future updates with Bubba. Personally, I can’t relate to somebody who would do that to his cats, but I hope the best for him anyway.