Pain and discomfort are two main reasons that cats hide in their litter box after surgery. Call your veterinarian to discuss the pain medications and any changes needed to the pain-management plan to ensure that your cat is not in pain. Make sure you are following all instructions to restrict your cat's activity.
Many cats disappear to their favorite hiding spot when they are in pain, and others simply conceal their discomfort. Stay vigilant and look for excessive agitation, crying, hissing, or limping. Your feline may avoid playing, jumping, or being held if these activities cause pain.
Fear or Anxiety: Introducing new animals to the house, moving to a new home, loud noises, pain or illness can all give cats anxiety. Often, an anxious or stressed-out cat will take refuge in a familiar and safe place and a litter box–especially one that's covered–can be a comforting place to be.
Your cat was given a general anesthetic or a sedative. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next 24-48 hours, your cat's behavior should gradually return to normal.
Can Cats Use the Litter Box After Being Neutered? Yes. Sometimes litter can get stuck to the incision, so veterinarians will often recommend using torn newspaper in the litter box for 24 hours after surgery to avoid this.
Sudden jumping or stretching can disrupt the healing process and may even cause the incision to reopen. Thankfully, few procedures require a significant crate or cage rest to help your cat recover, and most outdoor cats will be able to cope well with staying indoors for a few days as they recover.
Females need 48 to 72 hours of recovery, depending on their specific circumstances. You may return nursing mothers 24 hours following surgery, once they completely regain consciousness, so they can get back to their kittens.
1) You should keep your cat in the carrier or box until he/she can stand alone. Check your cat frequently for the next 6 to 8 hours while s/he is waking up from the anesthesia. They may walk and act like they are drunk and be disoriented. Do not try to handle cats for 24 hours or until they are acting normally.
A shift in behavior is normal
However, understand that your cat might still be slightly out of sorts for a few days after its surgery. Lethargic, anxious or needy behavior is normal; your cat may still be in pain during this time, so it may not behave as it usually does.
After their operation, offer them something small and light – most cats love things like chicken and fish, and since they're also nutritious these are good post-operation meals. If these aren't options for you, just use their normal food but only give them a quarter of what they would normally have.
If you have a cat hiding in the litter box or your cat lays in litter box this could indicate that they are dealing with a health issue, feeling stressed or feeling territorial. If you have other cats in the household or neighboring cats, your cat may be laying or sitting in a litter box to keep others from using it.
In the first 24 hours after surgery, you'll notice your pet may act groggy and sleep a great deal, which is entirely normal. The impact of the anesthesia may cause your cat to act aggressive or agitated, so keep your distance and don't handle him unless necessary.
For many cats, a trip to the vet and subsequent surgery might be a frightening and stressful experience. So your cat might act timid or jumpy for a few days after. This change is temporary, and you can encourage her with gentle petting along with a warm and quiet location for recovery.
Exercise and movement
Rest is an essential part of healing, but cat behaviour after surgery is different for every cat and it's not uncommon for some to be unusually energetic after operations. They'll need your help to stay calm and comfortable to ensure they heal properly.
Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.
Effects of general anesthetic may include temporary sleepiness or shakiness on their feet. These after-effects are quite normal and should fade with rest. Temporary lack of appetite is also quite common in cats who are recovering from the effects of general anesthesia.
Vets will often prescribe antibiotics and pain medications after surgery in order to prevent infections and relieve discomfort. If your cat has anxiety or is somewhat high-strung, our vets may also prescribe them with a sedative or anti-anxiety medication ot help them stay calm throughout the healing process.
To best help your cat after surgery, provide them with a quiet and comfortable place to sleep, away from anything that might cause stress like other pets or children. Make sure to have a warm, comfortable bed ready for your cat that allows them to stretch and alleviate any discomfort from surgical areas.
In a normal, healthy cat, properly healing, non-infected incisions typically heal within 10 – 14 days and a permanent scar forms within about 14 – 21 days.
She should be kept indoors for at least 2 days after the operation (longer if possible) to allow the wound to begin the healing process. If you have only recently acquired an adult cat it may be necessary to keep her in for a longer period after the operation until she has got used to living with you.
Other studies report an increase in separation anxiety and noise phobias (e.g., fear of thunder or fireworks) in some dogs and shyness in cats after spaying or neutering, particularly if done at an early age.