My cat was just neutered. Why is he hiding in the litter box? Is it okay?

I would say he is a little bit in pain from the surgery and therefore waited to pee until now. Being jumpy is also normal, it is a sign of stress, as he was in an environment unfamiliar to him, he got injections and he woke up with pain. So he would feel apprehensive. Usually there is no problem with the litter coming into contact with a wound, it will likely not cause infection and you do not need to use a special litter. He is happiest with everything staying the same , the way he is used to. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

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!

It sounds like he is still experiencing some pain. Talk to the vet who did the neuter about prescribing an anti-inflammatory/pain medication to help relieve the pain and make him more comfortable. Do not give any human pain medications as they can be toxic to cats.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tristan! Mild redness and swelling is normal. If you want to repost pictures we can take a look. As for not using his litter box, he could be stressed. I would confine him for a few days with his litter box to retrain him to use it. Also then you can be sure he is urinating normal sized spots. There could also be some inflammation. If he still isn't using the litter box appropriately by tuesday call your vet, he may need more pain medications. For the next 2 days just be sure is is producing urine and eating. I hope this helps!

It is possible that Toby is still disoriented from his surgery or acting different due to the surgery. I would recommend placing him in a bathroom with a litter box and some water so he can have a dark safe area to rest. It should be fine to wait to eat until tomorrow I hope that helps

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.

Hi, it is difficult for a semi feral cat to accept to be confined in a cage. It is probably easier to have a large room or just stay indoors where he feels he has control over his territory and resources. I would give him more space and the possibility of hide while making sure he does not lick/groom the surgery area.