Mother cat attacking kitten

[jeam97]

Hi everyone,

So, out of the three kittens that our cat, Patches had, we have one left. The kitten, Nemo, is almost 8 weeks old. We took Patches to the vet to get spade today.

Before this, she was so playful with Nemo, and they would just pal around every day, all day. Ever since we brought Patches home from the vet today, she has been nothing but mean to Nemo. Pathces is NOT a mean-natured cat. She's very reserved and has been such a wonderful mother to her kittens.

But since she's been home from surgery, she hisses at Nemo (we've NEVER seen Patches hiss at anything before) and then does this growl thing. This happens everytime she sees Nemo. On the last incident, she jumped at Nemo, scratching and attacking him. So, we've separated the two.

What in the world is going on here? Will their relationship ever be the same? Is this just a phase Patches is going through? How long will this last?

Please help as we don't know what to do or what is going on.

Thanks friends - Jeff

[Traci]

If she was only spayed today, you need to try to keep Nemo away from her when she hisses or growls. Not only is she recovering from anesthesia, but the spay is probably a bit painful and uncomfortable and she doesn't need a rambunctious kitten to prohibit her healing. She needs to rest and her activity level slightly restricted for the first 24-48 hours post-op. Spays generally require at least a week to heal and for kitty to resume her normal routine, activity level, etc. You can certainly let them in the same area together for company and familiarity, but if she is uncomfortable with it and begins to hiss and growl, seperate them again.

Also watch Patches closely during her recovery. Watch her incision area for any signs of blood, pus, or swelling/brusing, decreased appetite, lethargy or withdrawal, in which you'd need to get her back to your vet immediately to rule out possible incision site infection. If the sutures used were non-absorbable, you will need to get her back for suture removal in 7-10 days or as your vet requested.

[Ash]

If there are not, as Traci points out, any problems with the incision site, I'd say Patches behaviour is totally normal. I've had several cats going through surgery and they weren't in a 'good mood' so to speak on the same day and the next day. They're simply exhausted, there is probably some pain, they've been through a lot, they were scared etc. They just need to rest for a couple of days, they're certainly not in the mood to play. If you yourself had surgery you would also feel a bit low for a couple of days.

We also had our mother cat spayed when the kittens were still young (albeit a little older than yours, 3 months), and after the surgery she was kind of 'through' with them. Before she had been playing with them, grooming them, nursing them still sometimes, but after the surgery it was all 'leave me alone now'. She would give them a little hit with the paw and walk away, even went to our neighbours to sleep there, so fed up she was with that unruly, playful bunch! Lol! Maybe yours is cutting off a little earlier? Possibly, not necesarily though.

Nevertheless, as Traci said, watch her closely if she's physically recuperating alright.

[gsc4]

I too had a mother cat spayed while the kittens 8 weeks old and all 4 still with her. She was grumpy coming home from the vet. But she returned to normal after about 24 hours. She even let the babies suckle for a few more weeks. Mostly for comfort nursing because they were all eating kitten chow for main meals by then.

Think about it, you would be grumpy if you came home from major surgery to 4 brats screaming for attention.

[janet]

I have (2) cats that are normally inseparable - 24 hours a day. But, the last time I brought one home from the vet he, too, hissed at his brother for a day or so. It was also the first (and last) time I ever heard him hiss! The anger did go away though, and the "love" continues.