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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat behavior different after spaying

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 1/20/2009


Question
I took my 8 month old cat(Chloe) in last Friday to have her spayed. After bring her home that afternoon, she slept till the evening. She then slowly limped into the bedroom and under the bed to sleep. I figured it was just to loud for her in the living room. Well, she won't come out. She hasn't eaten since Thursday night. She is absolutely terrified of everyone, including my 3 year old, whom she LOVED before getting spayed. They were the best of friends. If I didn't know any better, I would swear this was a different cat. I've been trying and trying and can't get her to come out on her own. I pulled her out once and she scratched me up so bad and then ran back to the bedroom. She acts like she's completely wild and has never seen a human before. I expected she'd be mad at me and pout a bit, but never expected this. What's wrong with her, and is she ever going to be a pet again?

Answer
Wendi,

She is traumatized and in pain. Pain and fear causes aggression. Remember, she just had a hysterectomy and went through a traumatic experience! I would suggest letting her be. Put her food and water in the room, and a litterbox. Food isn't as important as water. She will return to normal as soon as the pain subsides and she re-acclimates to being home and the memory of the trauma fades.

Talk to her and spend some time just quietly sitting by her to reassure her, but I wouldn't try to pet her. Maybe offer her something special like some people tuna.

BUT, to be on the safe side and to make sure nothing is wrong from the surgery, or an infection is starting, I would call the vet's office who did the surgery and tell them how she is behaving and see what they think.

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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