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Cats/Cat Surgery aftermath-not the same cat?

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Expert: - 7/14/2009


Question

My cat is Amelia, a brown striped shorthair, 8 years old, born here. She has

been living with her mother, her aunt and 2 siblings her whole life. Fairly

pleasant disposition. 3 weeks ago, she had surgery for a breast mass, and

while she was there, they spayed her. The first day home was fine. The other

cats (all female) were wary, but by the 3rd day, she was hiding in the closet.

She seemed to have stopped coming out even for food. I started feeding her

on the shelf of the closet.  Not sure if she was coming out to use the box, but

I have only found one "accident" on the floor.  After 4 days of that, I put her in

the bathroom alone to make sure she was urinating & pooping. She was, but I

took her back to the vet to be checked. At this point she would quietly lay in

my lap, allow the other cats to at least walk by, but she is agressively hissing

at her mother.  They gave me kitty prozac. By the 2nd day of that, she was

crouching in the covered litterbox all day. So I put her back in the closet. She

is now cowering in the corner of the closet, actively fighting with her mother,

and I have stopped the pills (for 48 hours). I forced her down to eat, which

she did. Vet has no explanation.  Any suggestions will be helpful.

Answer
Lynn,

I am not a vet, but it sounds to me like your cat either had an abreaction to the anaesthetic or it may be possible that something is wrong as a result of the spay surgery. This type of behavior is often a result of a medical issue and the cat being in constant discomfort.

You might consider a second opinion.

In these cases, if you cannot find the cause, and the kitty continues to become more and more aggressive towards the other cats, you may have to consider finding her a household where she is the only cat.

I am sorry I cannot be of more help.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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