I need cat advice!
By wpark2419
@wpark2419 (265)
United States
January 20, 2009 3:17pm CST
Last friday I took our 8 month old cat Chloe to be spayed. I picked her up later that day and brought her home. She was very groggy until later that evening. As soon as she was stable enough to walk, she went into the bedroom and hid under the bed. I figured she just needed a peaceful sleep away from everyone. Well, she won't come out. She hasn't eaten since thursday night. She won't let anyone touch her. She is terrified of everyone, including my 3 year old daughter whom she LOVED before getting spayed. My 3 year old has been crying and can't understand why she can't play with her kitty. What's the problem? Has anyone else had a cat completely change personalities after spaying? I don't know what to do. She's been hiding in the closet since yesterday, so I've been going in about every half hour and sticking my hand in and petting her a couple times. I talk to her and call her by name, and then leave her alone. I figured that can't hurt. Does anyone have any helpful information?
5 people like this
19 responses
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
This is an odd occurrence.
I would contact the vet immediately.
The cat should be at least relieving herself.
Especially after surgery of this type.
You need to be sure she can urinate alright.
She needs water and food as well.
Since last Thursday??
It is Tuesday today! Far too long to go without eating and relieving herself.
My guess is that she is frightened.
Be sure to give her an exceptionally quiet area to recover.
Be sure she has somewhere soft, secure and warm to lay down.
If she is littler box trained, be sure she has access to her littler box.
Keep the child away from her until she has fully recovered.
Get in touch with the vet right away.
If I knew the cat, I would suggest possibly, going in, by yourself and picking up the cat very gently.
Get a soft blanket and lay it down.
Do not put on a couch, a chair or bed. You don't want her jumping down yet.
It usually takes about a week before taking stairs is okay for an animal just spayed.
Sit with the cat or lay with her and be gentle. Pat her and continue to be with her until she calms down. Have food ready and try and get her to eat something. At least drink.
If she wont let anyone touch her but you could before, then touch her. Let her know it is okay and that you are not going to hurt her.
She will come around if you just go ahead and handle her.
Keep the area quiet, no children and no interruptions. Nothing threatening or anything that will startle her.
If she is still not eating or drinking, try to have her lick your fingers that you dip in a dsih of cool clean water.
You can always try to syringe some water into her mouth.
She needs fluids.
You must contact the vet.
Let us know what's up, if you can.
Thank you for your post and best to you and your family, including the young cat.
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@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
You're Welcome.
Okay so she has used the litter box. that is the biggest concern. She is drinking to so that is good also.
Maybe she just had a bas reaction to the anesthetic.
I understand that she is like a wild cat.
I would try to do as little as possible around her so that she doesn't have to run quick like lightening.
It is said that if an animal is too active, too quickly after a spay they can get a hernia.
Just let her relax then. Keep food and water replenished. Little box clean and available.
I trust that since the vet doesn't seemed concerned and since she is becoming more responsive, that I would just give her space.
She wll come around.
Thank you for the update. i am glad that you went ahead and called the vet.
I imagine it is hard to watch your cat like this. Although in another month and surely another six months, you will be glad that you have had her spayed.
I almost regretted having my dog spayed.
Especially only weeks later I seen a Maltese giving birth on YoutTube.
Was the most precious thing.
I cried but I am glad my girl is spayed.
She will be better off.
Too small to give birth anyway, unless she possibly had a C section.
It is what is best.
Now you don't ever have to worry about who is getting the babies as pets.
That was my biggest concern and deciding factor.
Best to you!
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thank you very much for the response. I called her vet...he doesn't seem to be concerned. I see that she came out last night some time and drank a little water and used her litter box. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. She has no problem running full speed is someone tries to talk her out from under the bed. She honestly is like a wild cat. If I don't sneak up on her in the closet she takes off running. I can't really sit anywhere with her...unless I hold her down which wouldn't help her at all. She is really acting like she's never seen a human before. It's the strangest thing. I am definitely regretting having her spayed. I guess I'll just keep checking to see that she's at least drank some water. I did get some soft food for her...I imagine she'll come out tonight and eat some. Thank you :)
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@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I have 30 cats, (I use to rescue cats, get them healthy, get them fixed and find them a good home), so I know what I am talking about. A lot of cats act like that right after getting fixed, usually a week, and you just have to be patient, they'll come around. What will help so she won't get weak from not eating is buy a couple of jars of (MEAT) baby food, only the MEAT kind, it will say: turkey or beef or chicken in broth. Take some of that, add a little warm water to it till it is thin enough to drink and give her a bowl of it and shut the closet door and don't bother her for about an hour, she should drink it, but if she doesn't, you will probably have to squirt some in her mouth using an eye dropper or baby bottle. That usually starts a cat drinking the broth. And if she does not eat after a couple more days, take her back to the vets for a follow up to find out why she won't eat and what's wrong. Usually a cat will come around and be their old selves after about a week. Females will sometimes get a slight personality change and become more serious and less active but in time should get back to her old ways.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thanks for for your reply. I appreciate it. I think she may be getting a bit better. She's reacting better to me petting her in the closet. She's started to purr a bit, and even moved her head towards me a couple times. She came out last night and watched us from a distance. After we went to bed, she came out and ate some soft food, drank water and milk, and went to sleep by the fire. She's back hiding today, but I think she's getting better. Or, I hope she's getting better at least. Thank you very much for your response.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
20 Jan 09
As others have already said, she is just having a trust issue. Just carry on as you are doing and make sure that she has food an water close at hand and above all, don't take her to the vets anytime soon
She will remember!
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@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
That is true about the vet.
My little dog had no problem at the vet.
One day i took her to be spayed.
Two months later we stopped in for her to get weighed and she was shaking like mad.
She was so afraid.
Hope the cat doesn't have to go back to the doctor.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I really hope she'll come out of this. She seems to have gone completely wild. Imagine catching a wild cat and sticking it in your house...that's what I'm dealing with. Ugh, so stressful. Thank you for the responses though. They are appreciated!
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I called and the vet didn't seem to be concerned at all. Unfortunately, I live in a very small town and he's the only vet here.
1 person likes this
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
23 Jan 09
Chloe is doing great now. Yesterday my daughter went into the bedroom for a toy, and came out crawling on all fours with Chloe following right behind. They've since been inseparable just like before. I've never seen a cat and child be so close, especially a 3 year old child. She's eating and drinking lots and today has been running, jumping, and playing. She won't let me pet her, but she wouldn't before either. She's a very skittish cat with everyone except "her human". I appreciate all the help though. I'm very relieved to see her acting normal again. Thank you all!
1 person likes this
@zydecokitten (451)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I see that your cat has urinated but if your cat has not eaten in five days that is troublesome. A cat can die from not having food over a five day period. It does not starve but it sets off a chain reaction in their organs. Please call another vet even if you do not go there, get a second opinon over the phone.
Also, I see that your daughter is only 3, if your cat is acting in any way, wild, please make sure that your daughter is not around the cat at all. Even when the cat starts to calm down.
I think your cat was traumatized during her vet experience, maybe in a way she will never recover. I would be very cautious about the cats contact with your daughter.
I had a cat her changed personality on a dime. It was horrible. It was not immediately after her spay.
Did you possibly have her declawed at the same time?????
I am truely wishing you good luck.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Nope, I didn't have her declawed. Only spayed. She does seem to be a little better today, though she's still hiding. She did come out and eat and drink last night, so that's good. Now that she's eaten, I'm not as concerned for her health. I suppose I'll just wait and hope that she comes around again. Thank you for your response.
@zydecokitten (451)
• United States
21 Jan 09
THANK YOU so much for responding. I am so relieved that she has eaten. I feel so much better now. Please keep her quiet for the next week or so. I know all of these other wonderful people feel that this is not unusual but I have never experieced anything like this and have been very concerned. I am still concerned about a reaction with your baby. So take one step at a time.
Unfortunatley, when I was a newbie to my own cat ownership, I had a cat declawed.
She was a kitten. Everything seemed fine and I had been exposed to declawed cats before with no consequences. One day she escaped from the apartment I had in an old mansion. She ran down to the basement and when she got to the door of the caretaker she went berazerk. I got her back into my apartment and everything was fine. She was about a year old the next 4th of July, I had a friend stop in and a few moments later her husband came to the door with her toddler son.
My cat raced halfway to the husband and son and started screeching and I have never seen anything so horrible in cat behavior in my life. She looked like something out of a horror movie. Ever after that she was unfriendly to me, did not want to be touched very much and attacked several people that came to visit me.
She climbed up one of my landlords when he came to do work in my apartment and did some work and he kicked her off and she ran up his body again. She would sleep touching me but if I pulled her to me she would let me know not to touch her. She allowed me to hold her when I came home and when I got up in the morning for a few moments and then that was all.
I do believe that the caretaker of the first apartment went into my apartment, found her and hit her. That is the only thing that I can assume that happened. He was not told by my landlady that I had permission to have her.
@mjhicks (317)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Spaying does sometimes cause personality changes. Usually not in such a young cat. Sounds like she may have had a reaction to the anesthesia or is having post traumatic stress issues. She was handed over to strangers and you don't know exactly how she was treated while in their care. Even if she was treated as gentle as possible just being in a strange place filled with other animals who are scared an emitting fear hormones or hearing barking dogs can have a traumatic effect.
Make sure she is eating, drinking and relieving herself. Keep her on soft foods so she doesn't have any bowl strain. Give her space, comfortable bedding, and time to heal both from the physical trauma as well as whatever mental problems she is having. Instead of trying to approach her, go ahead and treat her as if she were a wild cat and just talk gently to her. Announce your presence whenever you enter the room "Its OK just me..." Talk to her as you go about your daily routine. Once or twice a day try coaxing her out with a special treat. You can also try some cat sign language. When cats want to be friends they will hold their tails high in the air waving slightly and make soft mewing or purring sounds. Such sign language says "I'm not going to hurt you lets be friends" Try holding your index finger up and gently wave it as a cats tail while gently talking to her or even make a few have purr have mew sounds. If she allows you to approach or approaches you just give her a quick gentle nudge. (Ever notice how cats will give each other a gentle head nudge) Allow her to initiate any further contact. This works when my cats have been scared by something and I need to get them to calm down. Soon you'll regain her trust.
Good luck and let us know how your kitty is doing.
@hallmarkjl (500)
• United States
20 Jan 09
The best thing I can tell you is to make sure you keep her food and water close to where ever she is hiding. Keep going to her and petting her and comforting her. If she doesnt start acting right soon call your vet and see what could be wrong. She could have something wrong with her. Such as an infection or something. I've known animals to act funny if something is wrong with them. But maybe try giving her a special treat (a can of tuna or something) and praise her for eating something. Your best advice is call your vet.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thank you. The vet doesn't seem to be concerned. I'll just keep watching her I guess. Hopefully she comes out of this. Thanks
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Just give her her space and love her when she will let you. Something must have happened with the vet-Of course, he won't say anything. My male cat was neutered five years ago, and he developed an infection in his paw because the vet jabbed the
needle in the wrong place. I wound up having to get an antibiotic from the vet. He charged me for it, of course. I would switch vets, but keep a close eye on her. She'll come out of it, I'm sure.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Just to add, even if you live in a small town, find another vet.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
22 Jan 09
My cat Rosie gets like that after her immunisation needle for around 2 days. She was a stray cat before we adopted her and she looked as though she may have been mistreated. She was very afraid of everyone except me as I am her primary carer and I am the one that feeds her. She was particularly scared of men. She too would hide under the bed and stay there for days. I used to call her name, give her treats if she let me pet her. She eventually became a different cat, affectionate and not so fearful. It took a while for this to happen; she just needed to feel safe as I am sure someone hurt her in the past. If there is nothing medically wrong with your cat she may just feel traumatized and if that is the case if you keep gently reassuring her she will probably be ok. I would keep an eye on her and do what the others have advised you to do and if there is no improvement in a week or so I would take her (if you can grab her) back to the vet.
@AmandaBarnhart (671)
• Canada
20 Jan 09
1. Call the vet to see if this is normal.
With my cat we kept her in one room for 3 days so she wouldn't aggravate her stitches and so that she was kept away from meddling hands. Not to say your 3 year old daughter would be rough with her but perhaps it's best that she can't touch her right now.
We put her food right beside her along with her water. This way it was effortless to stay hydrated and sustained as far as food and lost of rest goes. Place her food dish under the bed. The pain is probably what's scaring her perhaps put a nice fleece blanket under the bed with her so that she has something very soft and comfortable to lay on. I think she just needs time and space to properly 'heal' before anyone really interacts with her. My cat wasn't the same till 2 weeks after the procedure.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thanks for the response. I'll just continue like I'm doing and hope she comes out of this. Thank you
@jarnold51 (124)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I would call the vet immediately. There should not be such a drastic change and you need to talk to your vet.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thank you for your reply. I called her vet, and he does not seem to be concerned. He said she should be fine in a few days. That was about all he said. So, I'll just keep watching her I guess. Thanks!
@jarnold51 (124)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I was sure that is what the vet would say but as a breeder, I knew that any change like that should be reported to the vet in case there was something that happened that you are not aware of. Best of luck with your "baby".
@Operator93 (40)
• Belgium
21 Jan 09
maybe she is pregnant. we had kind of the same problem with our cat. she was always very nice and still, but one day she lookes always angry, she bite us when we tryed to calm her down, but it dindt worked. one day, when we returned from vacation, she had 3 little baby cats, in the clauset. she made her own nest, and everythinh was very clean.
i shouldnt worry if i was you, she'll get better some time
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
She can't be pregnant, she was just spayed. That is what started all this. Thank you for your response though.
@chocolatechilli (246)
• South Africa
21 Jan 09
It sounds like the whole thing was a terrible ordeal for Chloe. For our cats, getting spayed is usually their first encounter at the vet, and we always feel terrible, like we've betrayed their trust. A person wonders whether perhaps something happened there that frightened her, like for instance a huge dog in a nearby cage just as she was coming to. Find out if there is a homeopathic remedy for anxiety for cats. My sister's one cat was in a car accident years ago and she hid under a sofa for months, until someone recommended a homeopathic remedy - but I don't think what she used is available in the States. Ask your vet if perhaps she needs to be treated for shock or given a tranquilizer. Alternatively, just bear with her. Maybe make sure she has all her comforts - food, litter-tray, favorite blanket, favorite toy - close at hand and be gentle with her. Best of luck.
@wpark2419 (265)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I agree. I think everything was just too stressful for her. She's eaten some now, and drank, so that was my biggest worry. I'll just wait and hopefully she will trust us again. I will look into the homeopathic remedies though, that's a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for your response.
@zydecokitten (451)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I would have said call the vet but you have done that. I am still concerned. All of my cats have been fine right after the surgery. Most recently the vet called and said come get your cat NOW, she does not know she had surgery and wants to come home. That was at 12 noon and we were not supposed to even call before 4pm.
I have never had a cat mope at all, one even jumped on top of the door.
Frankly I would think about calling another vet. Something happened either during or after that surgery. I have never heard of a cat not coming out. If she has not urinated she should go back and they can at least drain her bladder. Something is not right.
I hope everything works out. I am sorry to sound like an alarmist but I just do not feel right about this.
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
That must have been quite an experience for your cat Chloe. I think this is her way of adjusting to what happened. I'm sure this was a terrible shock for her and she's going to have to get use to it now. I think you should just give it more time for her to get use to this by letting her stay where she's comfortable. Bring her food and water to her where she is and any toys if she had some. Keep sticking your hand in to pet her and I would tell your daughter that she's not feeling well right but she will be herself in no time.
Good luck
@sammy009 (259)
• United States
21 Jan 09
My one daughter took her cat to get spayed and it did the same thing yours is, she left it alone, checked on her cat, made sure it was ok. After about a week her cat started to come around more. I would just keep an eye on chloe and if things do not start improving, call the vet.
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