Why is my recently neutered cat so restless after a room change?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! On the whole, I’m not worried about this yet. It can take a couple weeks to feel completely normal after a neuter, especially in adult males. If you have pain medication still, go ahead and give it as even mild pain can cause some cats to be a little crankier than usual. Sometimes, a long trip to the vet or anesthesia seems to disturb cat relations and anxiety is more of a problem. If this behavior is not improving with pain medication, or persists for another week or more, consider these anxiety-reducing home helps. -Feliway- calming cat pheromone- comes in many forms from pet stores or online. 

- Adding a litter box. Studies show that the ideal number of litter boxes for a home is #of cats +1 . This is regardless of how clean you keep his current litter box.

 -making sure he has plenty of “high space”. The safest (and therefore least anxiety-inducing) place for a cat is up. If you don’t already, get a cat tree or put up a shelf or two that he can go perch on. Best wishes to you and Gus!

Some pets will be more active once they wake up from sedation. This is usually temporary and will usually wear off in a few hours. It is very important to try to keep his activity minimal. I recommend to have him contained in one room with his litter box, food and water. Try to pick a room that does not have tall furniture or anything that he may try to climb or jump off and on. You may need to hang out with him until he calms down. Playing classical music may also help and decreasing stimulation in general. If he is still hyper tomorrow, you may want to call his veterinarian and ask about a sedative. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

You should have him checked, or rechecked, by your veterinarian. Neutering typically does not result in more aggressive behavior. Additionally, any sudden behavioral change can be due to illness or injury. Once medical causes have been ruled out, you can focus on behavioral issues. Consider a pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffusers, to help decrease anxiety or aggression. Provide additional litterboxes, bowls, toys and bedding to prevent resource protection. You may have to separate them for a week or two then gradually reintroduce them while employing the measures described above.

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.

I would wait a few days before panicking about long-term effects. The stress of being hospitalized, the after-effects of anesthesia, and any medications can cause temporary behavior changes. If the cats weren't prescribed pain medications, then I would talk to your vet about that.

If it is an abrupt change in behavior, it could signal some kind of discomfort, physical, such as a bladder infection or some other ailment making him painful, or something mentally distressing him, like a strange cat outside, being in a new place. If he seems fine physically, i.e. eating, drinking, eliminating normally, being his usual self, I would keep an eye on it. If you see any symptoms of illness, get him in to see your vet as soon as possible. Check around and see if you can identify when/where it is happening and if there is anything that might be causing him to vocalize.