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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Radical Kitten Behavior After Being Spayed & Neutered

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/25/2008


Question
I have two 4 month old kittens from the same litter, male and female who were best friends. Ever since, they were spayed and neutered yesterday they hiss and growl at each other constantly and can't stand to be close to each other. Why are they behaving that way?

Answer
Isaiah,

That is common, and perfectly normal behavior for cats coming home from being fixed, or going to the vet.

Cats go by smell and not by sight in recognizing other cats (with humans, they go by voice...not by sight). Your fixed cats brought home MANY different smells from the vet: anesthetic, medicinal smells, and smells of other cats...all clinging to their fur and skin so they think each other is another cat because they don't smell like they used to.

As the cats groom themselves they will be replacing their regular scent. You can keep them separated if you want until the smells are gone from their fur. It will take a few days.

A trick that I've heard a lot of people use in that situation (though I have never tried it) is to put a small drop of vanilla on each cat's forehead so they smell the same.

They also can be hissing and growling at each because they hurt from the surgery and are blaming each other for it.

They will be back to normal soon. And you are a responsible pet owner for getting them fixed!

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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