Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/post spay behavior

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/3/2008


Question
My 3 month old kitten was just spayed on Monday April 28th.  While at the shelter clinic she "experienced" a broken toe on her back foot.  So now she is home, spayed and with a cast-like bandage on her foot.  5 days later, Saturday,her behavior is normal except she is not eating very much.  She looks at the food and salivates but does not put her face in it to eat.  I have been force feeding her with a syringe of pureed food.  Will she get her appetite back?  I am worried.  I just lost a cat to illness and am sensitive about "symptoms".  Thank you.

Answer
Kenya.

More than likely your kitten is going through a lot of pain and mental trauma from both the spay and from the 'accident' which can affect her appetite. Or her throat may be sore, her tummy may hurt, etc. Personally I would not force feed her. You can sometimes do more damage by doing that than good. Just make sure she is drinking fluids. Try tempting her with some treats...like some people tuna, or tuna juice, canned sardines in oil, fresh or cooked shrimp, etc.

Did the vet give you any pain pills for her? Have you called the shelter clinic to tell them how she is behaving? You should do that first. It's possible that her loss of appetite has a connecion to a medical issue from the spay or toe. They may want to check her. OR you may want to take her to a private vet for a '2nd opinion' on her condition.

I'm sorry about the loss of your other cat. I'm glad you are being a responsible pet owner and getting your new kitten spayed.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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