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Cats/4 month old kitten, spayed a day ago still hasn't gone to the bathroom
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Question
Hello,
I'm writing because my fiance and i just adopted a 4 month old male kitten from our local animal shelter. He was spayed yesterday and sent home with us. He was groggy most of the day yesterday but slept peacefully in a little bed we made for him in the bathroom all night.
I introduced him to the litterbox but it's been a day, day and a half at the most, and he still hasn't gone to the bathroom (at least, we haven't found anything on the floor and the litterbox is untouched).
Is this normal? Should we be concerned or is there anything we can do to help him go potty?
Thank you!
Jessica,
While some cats react poorly to stress and may not use the litterbox for 12 hours or even a bit longer when they first come into a new home this baby has me very concerned. Any cat that hasn't used the toilet for more than 24 hours absolutely must see a vet on an urgent basis as there may be something seriously wrong, particularly after having had a major surgery like a spay (girl) or neuter (boy). I would suggest getting this cat to the nearest vet immediately for assessment and treatment, if your shelter offers free follow up care with a vet for a certain period of time then get this baby seen by their vet because if there is a complication from your kitty's surgery or some other serious problem it may turn out to be an expensive set of medical bills if you go elsewhere since the shelter may not reimburse you for medical costs incurred outside of their clinic or designated veterinarian. Your kitten may need to be sedated and catheterized if his bladder is full so that it doesn't become so full that his bladder ruptures so be aware that this has potentially life threatening implications if it's not treated immediately. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again at any time, I'd be more than happy to help in any way that I can.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you very much for your quick response and answer! I suppose I was a little overly worried, but I was told by my fiance that the day right after the surgery he did go to the bathroom in his litter box. He has been just fine now, using the litterbox and peeing/pooping regularly now. I think he was just very exhausted from his spaying from the previous day. Thank you again! | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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