Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/spayed cat

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/26/2008


Question
Our cat was left out for several hours last night and when we found her, she was behaving quite
strangely.  She cried if we touched her anywhere under her tail, and repeatedly tried to clean
herself in that area.  Today she is listless and cranky, still very sensitive to any touch.  She is 7
years old and spayed.  We saw some kind of mammal leave our yard in a hurry when we went
looking for her last night.  Is it possible that she was "sexually" assaulted,  I say its not
possible, my family thinks otherwise.  your opinion please. thanks.

Answer
June,

I would say no, that she was not 'sexually assaulted'. But it IS likely that she was bit somewhere in that region. I would take her to the vet to have her examined, because if she was, it will abscess. She would need antibiotics and the bite cleaned. Puncture wounds are VERY painful and VERY difficult to find on a cat until they DO abscess. If a vet suspects one, and can't find it, he can shave the area.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

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.

Experience

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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