My cat hates me after having all his teeth out

[Ladyboluna]

Maybe hates is a strong word, but one of my two cats, Bobby, had to have all of his teeth removed by the vet after a long battle with gum disease. We got him as a rescue with his sister and they had been mistreated, were covered with fleas when taken in by the charity and very underweight still when they came to us. Her sister is a tough cookie so came round quickly but Bobby took 6 months even to come downstairs into the living room when me and my OH were in there. So of course he's a housecat.

We spent hours and hours going to just sit with him when he couldn't come to us, and eventually he would meow and then get excited as he saw me and greet me as I came over to him.

Before he had his all teeth out had was on steroids for over a year and numerous courses if antibiotics and medicines added to water, etc, as well as a few teeth out before. He would also come downstairs, march up to me and meow for a fuss, roll onto his back for a belly rub and I'm the only human he's cuddled for lap time with. He would also sleep in bed with me most of the night if my OH was out. He would have a fuss from my OH but he was really attached to me, even meow around the house trying to find me if I was at work (my OH says).

But since he had his teeth out and he's had to have antibiotics every day again, he seems depressed. He patrols around the house all day and won't have a fuss from me and instead walk away. I don't know what the best thing to do is. It has upset me as he's not as attached to me and I feel guilty. OH has noticed too but assures me he'll come around.

[cozietoesie]

How long has it been since he had the op? And are the ABs in pill form? (Some cats really detest pills - Seniorboy is completely pill resistant (he has to have any ABs by injection) and I think would refuse to speak to even me if I had to give him any daily pills.)

[cozietoesie]

PS - how old is he, if you know?

[Ladyboluna]

He's about 2.5 years old, was 18 months when we got them.

ABs are pill form and after weeks of pills over the last year he takes them normally the 2nd time they're put in his mouth and doesn't run away when he's put back down but just carries on. We usually give him chicken as a treat after.

Tonight he came for a fuss but unusually walked away after only a minute or two. Sometimes he's still asking for a fuss or sitting by me but he's definitely more reluctant.

[cozietoesie]

He's likely annoyed about the pills - you've probably stopped being LoveMummy and have become PillMummy which is a shame because it's likely resurrected some of the bad feelings you worked so hard to overcome.

One tip I'd give you is to restrict your pill giving and similar matters to one place in the household. We have a rule here at cozietowers (which is actually a place of great fun for cats) that 'business' matters are dealt with in the downstairs sitting room and they're dealt with matter of factly and with no treats or cuddles. (That would be claw- cutting, spoton-ing, putting in box and so on.)

As a result, upstairs (or non- sitting room places) is seen as a completely safe place and any treats or so on would be given there or in the kitchen. Where does your boy get his medicine? If it's anywhere you can corner him, he'll likely not feel safe anywhere.

How long has he got to have the dratted things for as well? The course must surely be coming to an end soon.

[SecretNutellaFix]

It might be as well that he's just too hot and uncomfortable for close contact. Mine are seeking reassurance, but definitely aren't tolerating the longer fussing sessions we enjoy in Summer. They are lying near us, not next to us like they do in winter.

Add to the stress of having to take medicine everyday, he might be feeling a bit anti-social. Just give him some space and love him as much as he will allow and he'll come around. What about a play session after giving him the AB's?

[Ladyboluna]

He's only got 2 pills left I think and has one a day. He's had so many pills he just KNOWS when were going to catch him so we have to grab him when I can, but it's always downstairs in the living room or kitchen. Once or twice it's been upstairs but he's so pathetic with it now he doesn't resist once I've touched him but just sits there and yowls mournfully then when I hold him he buries his head in my neck so my partner can't get to his mouth. If he sees me coming and knows what's gonna happen he can run quicker than me after cake and is under the bed before I take another step!

I'm just worried he resents me for taking his teeth. He loved dry food before and now he can't have any of that for another week to give his gums time to heal.

[cozietoesie]

I should imagine that his teeth (or lack thereof) are the least of his current concerns - he's just thinking PILL at the moment. I would stop giving him treats after his ingestion and await Monday. Having warmed to you once before, he should come round quite quickly once you're back to normal with him.

Best of luck.

[Ladyboluna]

Why stop the treats? And thank you.

[cozietoesie]

From what you've described, he's resigned to the treatments so I'd keep the treats to be associated with 'love and cuddles'. Doesn't sound as if they're needed to go with his pills.

Poor lad after such an eventful life. Cats do really well without teeth though, forbye he won't be noshing many bones from now on.

[cozietoesie]

How is it going?

[Ladyboluna]

He's finished the pills now and he's getting a bit back to normal, thank you. :)

Last night he just started meowing in a demanding way at me before I went to bed, and flopped onto his side as I approached to signal for his usual belly rub. Also last night he curled up on a coat I put on the table for him as I played games on my laptop, this started several months ago when I noticed he tried to get comfy on the dining table as I sat there but he hadn't done it since he had his teeth out. Yay!

As it's been 2 weeks since his teeth being removed he's had dry food now, we give James Wellbeloved and the pieces are small enough to swallow whole but he still drops a few out of his mouth as he tries to eat. Getting better at it though and he's eating loads of it so can't be in much pain (if at all) any more.

Instead of chicken we gave some chewy sticks as a treat this morning and he also managed to eat that (though of course I had to break his stick up). My ears are still ringing from the solicitation meows as its they're favourite.

[cozietoesie]

Oh that's good. If his mouth was really bad, any pain from the extraction would likely be small compared to the previous discomfort so it sounds as if he's generally mending and gums hardening up. I take it he's still being offered wet food to give his gums a rest if they get a little sore from chewing?