Post-op kitty behaviour

[DidoTheDodo]

Morning all!

My 5 month old kitty was spayed and microchipped on Tuesday. Although she seems fine, eating ok (although she turned down tuna last night) , moving about easily, jumping up onto surfaces ok, not in pain and wound healing well, she just seems sad.

Difficult to explain, but she seems downhearted, not interested in going out (I know she can't but she loves the garden so much she'd normally be scratching vigorously at her cat flap).

Is this normal? Am I expecting too much of her? Is she suddenly menopausal and feeling it? So many people have said their cats were completely back to normal after a day or so - I'm a bit worried.

Anaesthesia can affect different people/animals in different ways - and she's had a big op there as well as a GA. I'd give it longer.

Glad she's healing well anyway.

Thank you for the reassurance. I hate to feel that she is unhappy and hope she fully recovers soon. She does such heart-rending big-kitty-eyes at me!

Just out of interest, should I expect any change in behaviour for a neutered cat compared with an un-neutered one? Will she be more of a homebody for example?

Mine was done this week too (female) and she's been very quiet all week. Sleeping a lot, not eating nowhere near as much as usual. I've just left her to it but given her strokes when she comes near.

I'm guessing her hormones are going to need to settle down too after having the op.

I do have one question if Dido doesn't mind me hijacking the thread. When is best to let her out? She's bolted out today and come back within the hour (sat in the garden.) I was told by the vet she'd be fine 24 hours after but I was thinking of keeping her in for around 10 days - my own worry so that she's healed enough.

We recommend keeping them in for five days. The main worry(after the initial 24 hours when they're still recovering from the anaesthesia) is that if they go out too soon they might get the wound dirty, which could then get infected.

And to answer the OP's question about behaviour - it's a difficult one. It's not that having a cat spayed at the right age (five or six months) is going to change their behaviour, it more that their behaviour would change if you didn't get it done.

This is particularly noticeable in cats that can't get out. If they are not spayed the hormone surges end up frequently sending them deranged. Normally by the age of about 4 or 5 they will be so bonkers that they end up becoming very, very vicious and attacking their owners.

Of course an unneutered female that can go out will also change her behaviour as she'll be pursued by rampant toms and will end up giving birth twice a year, which is bound to have an effect ...

How's she doing today?

Thank you all for the thoughts and information.

My kitty has got so much better over the weekend - I'd say she is back to normal now - playing and cuddling and eating and demanding Dreamies and enjoying the back garden. She certainly seems happy again!!

Her wound is healing up nicely and just looks scabby now. Stitches out and a check up next Saturday.

That's good, Dido. And now you know that her particular constitution might be affected by anaesthetic for several days so can take that into account if she ever has to have another procedure.

Well done her.

Glad your kitty doing ok now Dido

Mine is being neutered tomorrow and I'm feeling anxious about it..

Really useful to know how she might feel and when she can start going out after etc.

itsnothing some kitty-vibes for your cat today.
No matter how routine this op is, it's a big deal for us cat-followers.

My kitty is back to her daft self (tree climbing, toe-attacking, moth eating, pouncing out of dark corners) after a week.

Excellent.

And hope your girl does well today, its.

Really good that she's fully recovered now Dodo

My kitten seems ok - but she's very active and not really groggy at all after her op. Am actually a bit worried that she's jumping around so much

I can't get the collar thing around her neck and she keeps licking her stitches... poor little scrap is all jumpy too. Must be pretty traumatic for them

Takes them all different ways - but try and keep her away from her stitches. Move her mouth away and say NO firmly. And try to distract her with something or a game.

With any luck, she'll flake out shortly and then she'll likely be good for 6-8 hours.

Thanks cozie

How's your furry friend this morning, its?

Winter girl is back to her usual self. You'd never know she'd been spayed if it weren't for her bald patch. She's been brilliant with her wound too - pretty much ignoring it and only washing it during daily routine.

Hope yours makes a speedy recovery it's and glad yours is back to normal too Dido.

Aww thanks for asking Dido She's s bit more subdued today - not jumping about much which I'm relieved about but imagine it's painful for her now painkiller will have worn off. Bless her

Glad Winter kitty back to full strength again too!

Is she still having a go at her stitches?

No she seems to leaving them alone now which is good

So all kits doing OK on this thread. That's good.