Enquiry about my kitten's behaviour after his neutering surgery...

cheryl83

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Hello everyone,

I have just joined the forum. I just want to share my experience with you, and I am wondering if anyone else can relate? My 6 month old kitten was neutered yesterday morning. Vet said all went well, and he came round from the anaesthetic really well. We picked him up to come home around 5pm that day. I was expecting him to be really tired and lethargic (he's my first cat, but I'd read this is what to expect, and other people had told me the same) and even bought him a brand new, plush, soft, comfortable bed that cost £28 
 I opened his carrier and he was soo pleased to see me, gave me a little "hello" chirp, and some head butts, then jumped from his carrier and began running around the room like a loon! I'd put all his toys away in a box on my desk, but he jumped up and got them out and started playing. I was so worried about him hurting himself, but just could not for the life of me get him to calm down. He ran out of my room and began darting up and down the stairs, and jumping up on the banisters. I had to pick him up and shut him in my bedroom with me (with litter tray, and water, of course) but he just stood at my door meowing and looking at me as if to say, "What's going on? Why can't I go play?" Don't get me wrong, I'm soo happy that he wasn't sick or lethargic and seemed just like his normal crazy self - if not crazier, but is this normal? 
 He hardly slept last night (which meant I hardly slept) and was just so hyperactive. He's calmed down a lot today, and has had several naps, which I'm relieved about as I was worried about him not healing if he didn't rest.

Another thing is - last night he used to his litter tray to wee and poop just fine (which I was also relieved about as it showed everything was still working properly) but around 4pm today he had some diarrhea
 It's now just gone 9pm and he hasn't been since, but I haven't fed him since the diarrhea. He went a really long time without food yesterday, and I gave him quite a bit throughout the evening as he was so hungry (only small bits though - little and often!). Could it just be that not eating for so long and then eating often has upset with his G.I. tract? Plus the stress of what he'd been through, as well as the effects of the anaesthetic? Is it something I should be concerned about? I'm making sure he's drinking lot's of water. I feed a mixture of wet and dry, but he seems to tolerate the dry food better (though I know it isn't very good for them) so should I just keep him on dry for a few days?

Any thoughts/opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated it.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and nice to meet you all.

Cheryl.
 

stephanietx

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This is exactly how my Tumbles responded to his neutering, except he stayed overnight at the vet's!  LOL  They called bring and early and asked, "When can you come get him??" 
  When we got home he ran around like a wild kitty until he finally collapsed!

I would go ahead and feed him small servings.  He may have diarrhea from the stress of the surgery or the anesthesia.
 
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cheryl83

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Thank you for your reply, Stephanietx. It's good to know that there is someone else who can relate. Yeah, when I called the Vet to check how he was doing, she told me that he was up and about in his crate and that he was even having a "swipe" at her whenever she walked past or went to check on him 


The good news is (so far) he hasn't had anymore diarrhea since that one episode. So maybe it was the waste by-products of the anaesthesia leaving his system or something? Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays away.

The only thing I've noticed today is that he's meowing quite a bit and seems to be "complaining" to me quite a lot. Probably because I'm not feeding him as big as portions as normal. I'll be glad when this is all behind us and things are back to normal.

Thanks again,

Cheryl 
 

procat

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Thank you for your reply, Stephanietx. It's good to know that there is someone else who can relate. Yeah, when I called the Vet to check how he was doing, she told me that he was up and about in his crate and that he was even having a "swipe" at her whenever she walked past or went to check on him 


The good news is (so far) he hasn't had anymore diarrhea since that one episode. So maybe it was the waste by-products of the anaesthesia leaving his system or something? Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays away.

The only thing I've noticed today is that he's meowing quite a bit and seems to be "complaining" to me quite a lot. Probably because I'm not feeding him as big as portions as normal. I'll be glad when this is all behind us and things are back to normal.

Thanks again,

Cheryl 
If cats are anything like humans, sutures tend to hurt more the day after surgery... once all the anesthetic & pain killers have worn off.

He's probably just a little sore and letting you know about it.

 
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cheryl83

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Thanks, Procat! I thought male cats don't have sutures though? 
 That's what I've been reading anyway, but maybe he has. I should have asked really. She probably told me when I went to pick him up, but it was a case of "information overload" so I can't remember. When I check the area, it almost looks like there's glue or something there, could they have used a surgical glue instead perhaps? 

He's slept A LOT today. I'm trying not to get worried about that - but I am a BIG worrier when it comes to my baby. I'm just putting it down to everything he's been through the last 2 days and how hyperactive he was at the beginning. Maybe his body is telling him it's time to rest so it can heal!?

Thanks again,

Cheryl.
 

procat

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Thanks, Procat! I thought male cats don't have sutures though? 
 That's what I've been reading anyway, but maybe he has. I should have asked really. She probably told me when I went to pick him up, but it was a case of "information overload" so I can't remember. When I check the area, it almost looks like there's glue or something there, could they have used a surgical glue instead perhaps? 

He's slept A LOT today. I'm trying not to get worried about that - but I am a BIG worrier when it comes to my baby. I'm just putting it down to everything he's been through the last 2 days and how hyperactive he was at the beginning. Maybe his body is telling him it's time to rest so it can heal!?

Thanks again,

Cheryl.
I looked it up, and you're right. The incisions are small so they don't usually need to suture the wound.

Sorry for the misdirection... the only male cat we've ever had came to us already neutered.
 

jcat

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Your kitten's behavior sounds normal. Our last cat bounced off the walls (literally) after he got home from being neutered at six months, and he was absolutely certain he was starving to death. He finally "crashed" that night and slept more than usual the next day. Two days after the surgery, he was back to his usual overexuberant self.
 
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cheryl83

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Thanks Jcat. He's STILL sleeping. I'm hoping that it's just because he's exhausted after everything he's been through. He hasn't been interested in much today, except sleep and food, whereas yesterday he was his normal energetic self 
 Maybe it's just caught up on him. Fingers crossed he's back to his usual self tomorrow, otherwise I'll start to really worry...
 

fleabags mom

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My 6 year old male was the same - the moment he came home from having an abscess drained he was bouncing. It was a strange kind of stressed energy tho. The vet told me I had to keep him in for 24hours after anesthesia and not feed him too much - fat chance! He was so hungry! I fed him a half portion like suggested and he just asked for more and more. I kept giving him a little more every 30-60 mins until he finally felt full.  And he was getting so stressed to go out that I had to meet him in the middle and take him out on the lead.  It wasn't until later, on a second lead walk that it caught up with him and he curled up on some grass and made to go to sleep. I carried him home (unheard of!) and he finally relaxed. He pretty much chilled the next day and popped out to piddle only.

I think that its just so stressful for them and it's kinda hyper coming home. I think too that diarrhea and stress can go hand in hand.  Hopefully your kitty will be just fine soon!
 

stephanietx

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If he doesn't show signs of returning to normal tomorrow, definitely call the vet.  It's possible that the stress has brought on an upper respiratory infection.
 
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cheryl83

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Thanks for your insight, Fleabags Mom.

Stephanietx, what would be the signs of a URI? He's seems more like his old self today - alternating between sleeping, then having his little "mad moments". He's ran around the house a little, jumped up on the windowsill, and jumped at the window as birds passed, and had a good old tear at my bedroom wallpaper 
 He's still sleeping quite a lot, but having active moments too. He's eating and drinking normally (still has a great appetite) and using potty -- so I'm thinking as long as he's doing these things, I shouldn't be concerned? I have noticed though that he's been kind of "snoring" when he sleeps, which he doesn't usually do...

Thanks, Cheryl 
 

stephanietx

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Generally, URI symptoms include lethargy, loss of or decreased appetite, squinty eyes, sneezing, and congestion.  If he's more like his old self, though, I'd say he's on the mend from his surgery.
 

reneelouise

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What makes you think dry cat food it not good for them? According to every vet I have ever had in my long lifetime it is as good or better than canned.

By the way, My male is going banana's after being neutered yesterday. I have had males neutered through out the years and never seen on go hyper on me.
 

gatsby1509

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Hi Cheryl

This is exactly what happened to Gatsby only yesterday

I was starting to go crazy too and worried that he would hurt himself.

So it was 24 hrs away from home

( We take them the night before their op )

And then 16 hrs thereafter he fell asleep , first lightly then deeply , waking up his old self . Whew !!

This is my about 6th time for "snip snip " with a male cat , but never had  I even heard of this.

So we know that each cat is different from the other now matter how many you may have in your lifetime

A cat is not just a cat , Its an 
adventure we share with them !
 
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