Cat became a biter after a rabies shot

Hi everyone,

I just took my cat to the vet this past Saturday for an annual check-up. This is the first time I've brought the cat to a vet and I know it's time to bring him because his record shows his last visit was August of 2012. He's currently 1.5 years old.

So at the vet, some blood sample was collected from him to test for FIV and also he was given a rabies shot. After he's gone home, he seems pretty tired at first but still full of appetite so I didn't feel concerned.

However, it's been 3 days now and while he continues to eat without any problem he seems to be more aggressive than before. Giving him a neck massage will result in him using all of his limbs to grab my hand and start biting (though not terribly hard, but still painful). He's also running around more than before. And the final thing (also the most concerning) is he hasn't pooped in 2 days.

I called up the vet and they asked me to bring him back to get a closer look. However, the coordinator at the shelter that I adopted Elvis from advised against it and thinks the cat is probably too stressed out from the previous one and one more visit will make it worse.

Has anyone experienced something similar after a vaccination or pet visit?

Thanks in advance.

Unless the cat is truly laid back about travel and strange people and places, all vet visits are stressful. However, they are necessary sometimes. If the vet wanted to see him again after you described his behavior, I would take him back. He could be having a reaction to the rabies shot. Also, if he normally poops every day and he hasn't gone in 2 days, that's definitely a cause for concer.