Weird Behavior

clw01

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I have a stray that has been living inside for about 3 years. She is skittish and fearful but we have developed a bond and I think she trusts me. I had her spayed two weeks ago and her behavior since has been very strange. First off, I found out that she was already spayed (obviously she got out from someone...) and the vet just closed her up. She was pretty out of it for three days but I left her alone (checked occasionally) and eventually she ventured out for a couple drinks of water and food.

We used to play every morning/night and it helps her not be so wacko. Since the spay I try to get down on her level and play a little bit - don't want to bust the stitches - but she just isn't into it. She has started staying in one room and will only come out early in the morning but she goes right back to the room and on the rug and stays there for the remainder of the day. Not typical behavior. This was the first time she has been in a carrier and to the vet. Tramatic events for her I'm guessing.

Would her age cause her to take longer to get over the surgery? Could she be upset with me for taking her to the vet? Do cats have those types of emotions? I was wondering if I violated her trust (as she sees it). I thought two weeks would be enough to show improvement but I don't see a lot. Her scar looks ok, the sutures are still intact. Her tail is up but she so timid. I think I'm worried too about her hurting and I won't be able to tell. I called the vet but they basicaly told me to bring her back in if I was worried. I'm afraid that putting her in the carrier and taking her to the vet again will just add to her fear level.

Any suggestions from those of you with experience? Should I just hold on a couple more weeks to see if she is ok?

Thank goodness I didn't have any children.... I probably would have taken them to the hospital everytime they scraped their knee! :)

Thanks in advance!
Carla
 

tabbytom

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Hi Carla,

Any cats that have been spayed or neutered will have their energy at a lower level as theirtestosterones diminishes. Their activities will slow down and become calmer and mellow.

Since you had her spayed 2 weeks ago, the anesthesia have worn off by now. As long as there are no infections at the sugery site is ok. It's just that she don't heed the call to find a mate.

My boy after he was neutered, now he sleeps a lot and always go to his favorite sleeping spot to snooze. He slept more than before he was neutered. But he still play and have bursts of energy and speed around the house at least twice a day. Other than that he'll be sleeping and sometimes I've gotta go look for him :lol3:

Think you don't have to be worried that much. It's pretty normal unless she has other illness that you are not aware of but other than that, dun't worry ;)
 
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piano cat

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Poor girl, to have been spayed already and then opened up again. I am going to guess when the Vet did not find a uterus and ovaries in there he looked around a bit. Uterus should have been obvious but if he/she poked around looking for ovaries where there were none she might be pretty sore still. Two weeks to feel reluctant to play is not bad but keep an eye on her. It's been really hot here, my cats are not playful or hungry, is it hot where you are.

Another idea, not a nice one, has there been blood work done on this little girl? Stress will ramp up some diseases. We very sadly lost a just neutered stray to FIP. Wet FIP, probably aggravated by the stress of us live trapping and neutering him,.

You are always safest in taking her back to the Vet for another check, stressful though that in itself might be.
 

msaimee

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You might want to take her temperature to see if she may have a fever, which would indicate that an infection has set in, which can sometimes happen when a cat has surgery. The quick digital thermometers are the best--just lube it up with Vaseline and slide it into her anus. A normal cat temperature is 99.5-102.5--anything above indicates a fever. If she has a fever, she'll need antibiotics, which the vet can prescribe.

Since she had already been spayed prior to this surgery, there wouldn't be any hormonal changes causing depression, and most cats recover from the trauma of a vet visit within a day or two. Anesthesia causes drowsiness for a few days. If she doesn't improve within another week, I'd take her to the vet to get lab work done. Many strays are anemic, and since there's blood loss during surgery, that could have aggravated the condition if she has it. I think the cause is likely medical, not emotional.
 

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You might want to take her temperature to see if she may have a fever, which would indicate that an infection has set in, which can sometimes happen when a cat has surgery. The quick digital thermometers are the best--just lube it up with Vaseline and slide it into her anus. A normal cat temperature is 99.5-102.5--anything above indicates a fever. If she has a fever, she'll need antibiotics, which the vet can prescribe.

Since she had already been spayed prior to this surgery, there wouldn't be any hormonal changes causing depression, and most cats recover from the trauma of a vet visit within a day or two. Anesthesia causes drowsiness for a few days. If she doesn't improve within another week, I'd take her to the vet to get lab work done. Many strays are anemic, and since there's blood loss during surgery, that could have aggravated the condition if she has it. I think the cause is likely medical, not emotional.
:yeah:
 

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It is possible that she is still sore from the surgery, or her scar is still tender. Not to mention that vet's offices, and surgery can be traumatic to some.  If she does still have stiches they could be pulling or poking if she moves too much, so that could be why she's taking it easy and not moving around a lot.   I too took in a stray to be spayed only to find out she had already been spayed.  Mine was apparently from our town's capture and release program (our town no longer tips their ears), and that could be the case with your girl too.  Luckily they saw my kitty's scar when they shaved her, and didn't open her up again before they realized it. 

I agree with the others that if nothing indicates an infection-(i.e. elevated temp, redness, swelling, or drainage from the incision site) I'd probably give her another week or so then if things don't improve take her to the vet to get checked out. You can also check her gums, and her lower eye lids to see if they are really pale almost white, or yellow in color could indicate anemia from the blood she lost during surgery.  Anemia will make an animal very tired, and sluggish, but if her gums, and eye lids are a nice pink color that shouldn't be the issue with her. 

For now I'd check for any signs of infection/anemia and ensure she is eating, drinking, voiding, and defecating appropriately. then I'd just sit in the room with her while gently rubbing and talking to her, and hopefully she will start to get back to her old self soon.  Good luck, and please keep us posted on how she's doing. 
 
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clw01

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Thank you for all the replies.  When you first get a cat you don't know what to expect.  I am always worrying that I don't do something right.  I was surprised the vet didn't tell me more of what to expect.

I can't get close enough to check her scar or her gums.  She tolerates me as long as I don't touch her in certain areas.  I previously would brush her back to get her to turn over so I could see her scar.  Now she won't have anything to do with me. 

I am concerned about her getting dehydrated.   She hasn't had any water since Thursday morning (this is Saturday) and barely anything to eat.  I've tried to entice her with all her favorite wet food but she only takes a couple of licks, then quits. She took a couple of the treats I put down for her but thats about it.  I know she has to want some water - she drinks some a couple times a day.  She did go to the bathroom this morning about 5:30 am.

I think I have another problem though.  She has done something to her back leg/hip.  I can't get her to eat since she eats on the bathroom counter and I won't let her jump up there.  I've tried various other locations to feed her but she isn't interested.  I was going to take her back to the vet this morning  but she got under my bed and I can't get her to come out.  I thought I did a good job of blocking her entry points with pillows and I have no clue how she got back there.  Never underestimate a cat!   They are only open for a couple of hours and its 30 minutes away so my window of opportunity passed before I could catch her.  She will definately be going on Monday - trauma or no trauma!

I thought I'd try giving her some tuna from the can and see if that worked.  I am about to go searching thorugh the forums to see what I can entice her to eat.  I'm not as much worried about the not eating, but I am worried about the not drinking. 

Thank you for the commets!  It really does help to learn what to look for and what to do.  I sure do love this kitty cat but she can be a pain in the butt! 


Carla
 

crackerjack4u

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Dehydration is certainly a concern if she's not drinking.  It is possible that her leg got injured during surgery because they turn them on their backs and tie their legs out spread eagle so their legs won't be in the way.  The leg/hip issue may have been her problem all along?  Since she's not drinking try giving her tuna in water and give her the water and all instead of draining it.  Perhaps the tuna smell in the water may be just enough to entice her to drink some of the tuna juice.  I'd offer her some every couple of hours this weekend, and leave a little out for her at night then Monday I'd try to get her in to get checked out cause something is apparently hurting that baby. 
 
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clw01

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Thanks for the reply!  Yes, the dehydration is what I am really worried about.  I went through some of the forums last night and found several things to try today.  She did come out for a little while last night and I hand fed her a couple of bites of dry food that I got as a sample at the pet store.  It probably helped that it was something different.  She does love her "treats".  :)

I'm going to go get some water packed tuna as well as some sugar free yogurt today.  She likes the sweet stuff so it might be enough to keep her going.  I tried giving her unsalted chicken broth flavored water and also tried pedilyte last night.  No luck.  She won't even eat her favorite wet food, which really all she does is lick the juice. 

Is she not eating out of pain? Or is it because I moved her food from her normal eating place (on the counter in the bathroom).  She normally won't drink water if she can't get it from the faucet and right now she can't jump up there and I don't want to pick her up and put her up there.  She's an extremely timid cat but usually I can get her to come out.  These past few days all she does is hide behind my bed.  It can't be comfortable, just the hard floor!

I'll do the best I can today.  If nothing else I will eventually try to put a couple drops of water in her mouth by a syringe.  That totally makes me shutter.  Either I will be shredded or she will get even more scared and not come out at all!

When I called the vet's office Friday the receptionist told me that they sometimes suggest a half of a crushed baby aspirin for pain.  Of course they haven't seen my cat about this so she didn't actually say do it.  If it will give her some relief I will get some, but after reading what I have on this site, you don't give cats people medicine. 

Why do these things happen right before a weekend when the vet's office is closed???

Carla
 

piano cat

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You can give cats very small amounts of aspirin to help with pain, inflammation and fever.  My own Vet told me to give my cats aspirin for a problem years ago.  I would only do it on the Vet's say so and amount is critical.
 

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It could be either one or both that's causing her to be this way.  Pain can cause a person/animal to not want to do anything except lay around and try to not hurt  anymore.  If she's sleeping behind the bed anyway maybe put her a pillow of folded towel or something back there to get her off the hard floor.  I don't know why things like this always seem to happen on the weekends, but they usually do.    If she like to drink from the faucet I wonder if she'd drink from one of those little pet drinking fountains?  I probably would Not try to syringe any water into her since she's being so stand offish with you right now because it will probably increase her pain from the struggle of trying to get it down her, and you'll probably not get enough down her that way to make much of a difference.   I'd just keep trying to find other ways to get some in her by her drinking it.  You may be able to boil her up some chicken breasts, and leave some of the juice with the meat, like with the tuna, and maybe she'll eat and drink that way?    I suspect she has to really be hurting though, or she would have probably come around by now.  Good luck. 
 
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clw01

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Hi!  Wanted to post an update.  I took your advise and gave my cat a quarter of an aspirin (couldn't believe it but I couldn't find baby aspirin anywhere!)  last night hidden in some tuna water.  Within 30 minutes she was up and walking around!  She didn't stay up long but she did want some water and ate a couple bites of food.  She went back into hiding but at least she got out long enough to get a drink and save me from stressing out.

Took her to the vet this morning.  The vet checked her scar (from spay) and it was ok and took out the remaining stiches.  She checked her hip/leg/foot and the only thing she could find was a small scab on her foot.  She was concerned about her eyes which were crusty in the corners.  Come to find out she had a high fever and was given an antibiotic.   We have no idea where the fever came from but she told me to watch her and if she doesn't improve within a couple of days to call them.   It was nice to have my cat come out and want me to pet her even if it was for a little while.

Thank you for all of the input, hints and suggestions.   This has been quite an education!

Carla
 

crackerjack4u

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That's wonderful news that the aspirin helped her a bit.  Hopefully the antibiotics will make her feel like a new woman.  I'm really surprised they didn't send her home with some Rimadyl or something for her pain though?  Wonder if she may have stuck her foot on a nail or something and then an infection set in?  You will probably never know what happened to her foot or is causing the infection, but hopefully, with the antibiotics, she will be well on her way to fully recovering.  Good luck. 
 

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I figured that the cause was medical, not emotional. The infection could be from the surgery, or from the URI that's causing the crusty eyes. Fevers can cause cats to become sluggish and lose their appetite. I'm glad you took your cat back to the vet, and I'm sure she won't hold a grudge against you for the additional trip--cats are very intuitive and understand when we're trying to help them. Hopefully she will be feeling better in a few days because of the antibiotics. Thanks for the update.
 
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clw01

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Thanks, me too!  Its sad to see a cat so lethargic! 
 
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clw01

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Well, second verse same as the first.  My cat is not doing well tonight.  When she got up this morning she was slow but moving around but just suddenly went downhill fast.  She hasn't eaten or drunk anything all day.  I just tried to give her some canned salmon with lots of juice but she didn't want any of it.  I smeared it on her nose thinking she might go ahead and eat it but she didn't.  She just looks so pitiful!  Her head is hanging, her tail is hanging and she just has this dejected look on her face.  She still has the crust in the corner of her eyes too!  The only thing that has helped her these past couple of days has been the aspirin and the vet told me not to give her any more so we don't upset her tummy.

Could this be a reaction to the antibiotic?  She received a convenia injection yesterday and I would have thought it would help her by now.  She seems worse than she was!  When I left the vet yesterday they told me to wait a few days and if she isn't better to let them know.   I can't take her hiding in a corner feeling so bad.  This just isn't like her.  Its one thing for her to want to go nap but its another when she goes and hides and doesn't even want to come out. 

I'll call the vet in the morning but I'm not sure how many more days she can take either not eating or barely eating.  She did drink some water last night before we went to bed but that was the first in several days.  I'm hoping that she gets a bite or two during the night but she's been going up to her food bowl and smelling it and turning her head.  I have a water fountain for her but she won't drink out if it.  She will only drink out of the faucet. 

I just don't know what else to do for her!
 

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Do you have a plastic medicine or food syringe? You could make a very watery paste of canned food (pate) and gently feed her with a syringe. If you don't have any Pate canned food, you can at least give her a little water with a syringe. You will need to be very careful though and only give a tiny bit very gently because if you shoot too much into her throat too quickly it can go into her lungs and make her ill. If you don't have a syringe, use your finger and gently dab the wet food or water onto her tongue. If you aren't able to get anything into her tonight, you may need to take her to the vet so the vet can give her Sub-Q fluids. Are you able to take her temperature? If her fever is gone, then it may be something other than an infection making her ill. I am so sorry you are going through this. I Pray for both you and your kitty tonight.
 
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tabbytom

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CLW01,

Best is get her to the vet asap. At least over there they have the facilities to do tests and and administer food or water safely.

Hope she gets well soon.
 
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clw01

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Took BW back to the vet yesterday.  She no longer has a temp but is still lethargic and still not eating/drinking.  Vet stil couldn't find anything but did give her a B12 shot and something to increase her appetite.  Afterwards she looked and acted a little more like her old self.  She got up and ate and even drank water.

This morning we're back to the same... lethargic, won't eat.  She wants me to stay next to her and pet her and that is totally out of character.  I haven't seen her go to the bathroom since yesterday and that is worrying me.  She was sitting on the patio all morning yesterday so she might have gone outside but that would be unusual.  She usually goes to the cat box 2-3 times a day to pee and she hasn't been at all for a bowel movement.

The vet did tell me yesterday that if she is still lethargic by Monday to bring her back in and they will do blood work to see what's causing everything.  My concern is if this is a UTI or something like that I'm not sure I should wait until Monday.  I should have gone ahead and said to do blood work yesterday but honestly, and I feel bad saying this, all these vet visits are starting to pile up.  I don't want anything to happen to my baby but she told me the panel would be $150.00 so I've got to figure out where to come up with that. 

I'm just frustrated.  It hurts my heart to see her feel so bad.  She just has this look on her face that says help me. 

Can any of you advisors give me anything to look for?  Its not that I don't trust the vets but they seem to have her in and out in such a short time.  Me thinking it is a UTI is just me pulling at straws - I don't know what else it could be.  I just "assumed" they see so many cats they would know to look for a UTI.   This all started when I brought her home from being spayed and getting her shots.  Could she have gotten a UTI from her spay surgery?  Could this be a reaction to one of the medications?  It has now been 3 weeks that we've been going through this.  I don't know what else to do.  I'll call the vet again this morning and take her back if I need to.  I know what a UTI feels like, I can't imagine waiting for another three days if that is in fact what is going on.

Thanks for any help. 

Carla
 

tabbytom

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Carla,

I know how you feel and what you are going through but hang on in there, I do hope that the vet or some advisors can help you with your questions.

I also hope that your kitty get over this episode soon. :grphug:
 
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