My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Vaccination side effects or stress

9 replies

waxlyrical · 06/02/2014 21:36

We have just taken in a 6 month semi feral kitten that was desparate for a home. All going ok and confidence growing daily until yesterday when he had his first jabs at the vets. Catching him was a bit traumatic as he doesn't like being handled and the whole thing was very stressful for him. Ever since he has been hiding under a bed upstairs. I'm not sure if this is because he is feeling poorly from the side effects or distressed about being caught. Anyone else had similar? How long do the side effects last? He has eaten a few pieces of chicken in hiding and wee'd on the bathroom floor rather than in his tray which he was happily using before downstairs.

OP posts:
Report
cozietoesie · 06/02/2014 21:47

He could be feeling a little odd - they sometimes do after their shots. Sleepy or 'not quite 100%', say. That, combined with his travel to the vets, new experiences, and not being quite confident with you yet could all contribute.

I'd give him a little longer - see how he does tonight for example. At least he's eaten so make sure he's got water to hand as well. (And if he's hiding upstairs, could you move his tray closer to him as a temporary measure? He may be a bit tentative about coming down to relieve himself in his current mood.)

Report
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/02/2014 21:59

Lots of treats & tlc, vaccinations make me feel pretty vile.

Last time ours had a bad reaction it took 3-4 days for him to recover. It's not nice to see & you feel like a bad owner and your dh says this proves the cat doesn't need jabs so you take him in secret each year & don't mention it unless asked.

Report
waxlyrical · 06/02/2014 22:31

Thanks will keep a close eye but try not to worry as much as I have been. Have put water near for him and poss extra tray in bathroom. I keep going to talk to him without being too in his face. Poor mite and yes I feel like a terrible owner.

OP posts:
Report
Fluffycloudland77 · 06/02/2014 22:35

You did the right thing. He will get over it.

Report
cozietoesie · 06/02/2014 22:40

I try to do a 'business as usual' routine, cats being creatures who love a structure in my experience. It might sound cruel but if they're having a fit of the flibbertigibbets I just get on with what I'm doing and leave them to it. They soon realize that life goes on and that home is 'samey' and safe.

If you're feeling real guilty, take a book upstairs and read in the bedroom where he's hiding. (Or take a telly/device up there and watch a movie on lowish volume.) If you do that and ignore him, he'll likely come out soon enough. (Your unconcern and normality will signal to him as safety etc.)

Report
cozietoesie · 07/02/2014 07:46

How did he do overnight?

Report
janeyjampot · 07/02/2014 13:28

Mine had his booster recently and he definitely wasn't well after it. He slept more than usual, was much, much grumpier than usual and barely ate, which is unheard of! I tried to move him while he was sleeping (we often do this because he tends to fall asleep on the wrong bed in the evening) and he made an awful growling noise as if he was in pain. He was clearly unwell for 24 hours or so but then seemed fine.

Report
waxlyrical · 07/02/2014 17:24

Thanks all he is much better today. Emerged from hiding late last night downed a bowl of food, used his tray and had a couple of angry swipes at a toy mouse. It's as if nothing happened at all! I just dont dare mention the booster in 3 weeks to him.

OP posts:
Report
cozietoesie · 07/02/2014 17:46

That's good. Smile

I wouldn't be too too worried about going for the booster. Get him in the box fast and businesslike and do the deed - and then he's home and safe. He should learn the routine and it might even have the effect of making him more settled at home in a funny way. I know that Seniorboy - who used to be a vetophobe when he was with my Mom, now knows that going in the box at the vets means that he's on his way back and pretty well dives into it when it's put on the consulting table and the door is opened.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.