My cat is crying in the litter box after neuter surgery. Why?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not uncommon for a cat to eat more after being neutered and it has to do with the hormonal change. The crying could be due to discomfort and so if this is a consistent issue, it would be best to check in with a veterinarian to ensure that Pumpkin is ok. Best of luck!

Unfortunately, there is very little you can do in terms of pain management for a cat at home, as far over the counter medications. They are all dangerous and ineffective. A cat neuter is a typically very simple, quick, and free of complications. So, if he is experiencing this type of reaction now post-operatively, I would be concerned and get him back to whoever performed the procedure. If you take him to an emergency clinic now, they'll be able to do the same and get him medications that will help calm him down, and hopefully make him feel better. The one thing you can try to do if he'll allow it is, if the area where he was operated looks swollen, you can try icing it. Hope this makes sense.

It depends on when your guy had surgery and if you mean urine/feces or both. If recent it could be anesthesia related as this can slow the gi tract down and/or he may be a little tired from the procedure/sedation. It could also be pain related. Do you notice anything abnormal about the neuter site (redness, swelling, discharge)? If he is eating and drinking normally then he will re establish normality soon. If he is not feeling well or you are worried about the surgery site it would be best to have him checked by your vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I would give the vet a call before stopping the pain medication, and let them know that he has stopped eating or drinking. This isn't normal behavior a day after surgery, and the vet should know about this.

Good Evening...thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Bunny is having some trouble. Was Bunny sent home with any pain medications? If not, you may want to contact your veterinarian to either get some pain medications or possibly refill some more. You may also want to schedule a recheck with your veterinarian to be sure the surgical site does not look infected. It is also normal for pets to experience abnormal behaviors for a few days after an anesthetic event - this may also be the case for Bunny. I hope this helps, good luck, and I hope Bunny gets the relief he needs!

It would be highly unusual for a kitten to have urinary complications after neutering. You are a good pet parent for monitoring him, but as long as he is interacting with you, interested in food, and is doing normal cat behaviors such as grooming I wouldn’t worry yet. If he’s repeatedly getting into and out of the litter box without producing anything, if he starts vocalizing in the box, or if there is bloody discharge from the surgical area take him right in.

DoReMi will be a little painful from the surgery, which is why he's walking funny and hiding as well. He will be tired and want to be alone. The only problem with him hiding in the litter box is if it is still full of pebbled kitty litter. That can get into the incision from the neutering, and cause an infection. His litter box should be filled with shredded newspaper. If it is, then it's fine for him to hide there, but if it's not, I would take him out, remove the litter, replace it with shredded newspaper, and then he can go back to hiding in it.