just spayed my cat, now she is crazy!! - please help

16 years ago

I just had my 3 year old cat spayed on May 31st. After the first 2 days I had to put a cone on her because she was picking at her stitches. About a week later they healed and I took the cone off - she was ok for a day. Then, it started... she attacks my husband constantly. She growls, moans, hisses and has attacked him like she's crazy! - bites him, scratches him.. so bad that she breaks the skin and he has blood running down his leg, ALOT of blood. When he comes home, she 'hunts' him, crawls low to the ground under the kitchen table and will pounce on him. When he's home I have to put her in the basement to keep her away. She's fine with me and is even sweeter than before with my 2 children, cuddles them, sleeps in bed with them at night, and I can't sit down for a second without her jumping into my lap and cuddling me.. it's just my husband and it's only since she's been spayed. I took her back to the vet about a week ago to have her checked again. They took blood and checked her wound from the surgery and everything was ok. He said that her hormones are out of whack from the surgery and it could take up to 2 months for them to go back to normal. I've never heard of such a thing and I can't find anything on the internet that says this. I'm wondering if her surgery was botched and he doesn't want to be held accountable. The only thing I read about a cat's behavior changing so drastically was because the cat was sick, in pain, or that it could be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. I've never owned a cat before and I really have no idea what it could be, just seems strange that it's only since the surgery. My plan is to wait out the 2 months which will take me to the end of July and hopefully she'll be back to normal by then. If not, he ways we'll have to get rid of her because he can't live like this - he's afraid to walk into his own house. I love my cat, the kids adore her, they will be heartbroken. I don't even know what I would do with her if we had to get rid of her. I'm in tears just thinking about it. Does anyone have any idea what's wrong with her? Is this something that's common? Any and all comments are more than welcome - I really don't know what to do.

Thanks for your time :)

Joni

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Comments (7)

alison
16 years ago
Wow! That is definitely odd behavior!

Is it possible that she was pregnant when she was spayed? When I was a child that happened to my sisters cat, and I know it threw that normally sweet cat out of whack for a while. Nothing as overt or aggressive as your describing, but it was a definite mood change.

Interseting that she's only showing the aggression to your husband. Perhaps a male vet or vet tech frightened her before the surgery, and she's associating men with that kind of pain/disruption?

In the short term, maybe try something like Rescue Remedy in her water, or Feliway on her favorite areas -- or even something of his. Maybe if she begins to associate that calming feeling with his scent, she'll get over the urge to gut him!

Good luck; sounds like it's pretty unsettling for all of you.
happyjoni
Original Author
16 years ago
She was definately not pregnant, she's an indoor cat and is terrified of the outdoors.

Thanks for the quick response :)
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sylviatexas1
16 years ago
If spaying made cats act like this, no one would spay their cats.

Something's wrong, & if she were mine I'd consult another vet immediately.

I agree, the "reasons" this vet cited sound like nonsense.

I wish you & her the best.
Elly_NJ
16 years ago
There is something wrong. Please get her to another vet.
laurief_gw
16 years ago
That is very bizarre behavior. I would be inclined to think there was a physical cause - some complication from the surgery - if she were behaving that way toward everyone, but she's not. My best guess is that she somehow associates your husband with the spay trauma.

It's never a bad idea to get a second veterinary opinion in such a situation. If it is determined that there is no physical explanation beyond the obvious hormonal changes, then I'd try alison's suggestions of Rescue Remedy and Feliway/Comfort Zone. You may also want to try anti-anxiety meds (for the cat, not your husband) to see if they will help calm her nerves while she completes the hormonal transition to spayed female. Discuss that option with your vet.

Good luck,

Laurie
Lily316
16 years ago
It's not a normal situation. I have had many female cats and all have been neutered w/o any after effects. Consult another vet and get anti anxiety meds for the cat..(and maybe for you as well..lol), and things should settle down.
petaloid
16 years ago
Did your husband go to the vets for the spay or to pick up your cat? Besides what laurie mentioned about associating him with her trauma, his shoes or clothing might still smell like the vet's office -- your cat could be reacting to that too.

One of our cats (normally sweet) starts attacking if she smells anything from a strange cat.

just spayed my cat, now she is crazy!! - please help

Comments (7)

alison

happyjoni
Original Author

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just spayed my cat, now she is crazy!! - please help

Comments (7)

alison

happyjoniOriginal Author

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happyjoni
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