My spayed kitten is walking backwards and in circles. Should I worry?

Occasionally they will act "off" for a day or 2 following anesthesia, and a lot of cats really hate wearing a cone. (though you should keep in on her!) The combination of everything you mention could lead to her being a bit cranky. And the walking backwards and falling over is probably from the cone. Take it off for a few minutes and watch her move around to ensure she walks normally without it. If she continues to be stumbling/clumsy/abnormal gait with the cone off, then take her to your vet for an exam. But If she is eating some (even if its less than normal), give her some space. Let her have her own isolated area... a small bathroom, laundry room, etc, with food, water, litter box, and some comfy beds and or boxes she might like. She should be acting more like herself over the next few days. If at any point she is becoming increasingly lethargic, she starts vomiting, she is completely anorexic (not eating anything at all for more than 24 hours), then take her to your vet right away. Thank you for asking PetCoach1

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds as if Chloe may be having trouble with vision as well? Often times when we see patients hugging close to walls and having trouble negotiating surroundings it's either their vision is impaired or they have severe spatial perception defects (think vertigo). It is possible that anesthesia can affect balance but it is normally seen pretty soon after a surgical process and not so far out. If she is having actual weakness as a problem with ambulation (walking) this will require a more in depth exam than we can provide online. Likely she will need a neurological work up with labs and x rays to find the source or her problem. For now I think you are doing everything correctly-keep her calm and in a small contained space (like a bathroom) to make her feel more secure for the time being. It is great that she is eating and drinking and having normal bathroom habits-these are positive signs. It sounds as if you are very good kitty parents. Just let her stay close to you if it helps and hopefully you will have some more in depth answers soon. My best to all of you.

It is normal that a kitten will be quieter than usual after a spay. It is an abdominal surgery, and it's important that she does stay as quiet as possible so she can heal correctly. Wearing an Ecollar can also lead them to be quieter than normal, as cats do not like them and act resigned to wearing them. As long as she eating and drinking normally, I wouldn't be too concerned about her but you can mention your concern with your vet at the appointment tomorrow. I hope this helps!

It may not be anything to worry about but I do recommend to call your veterinarian and them know. Pets are commonly very tired for about 24 hours and every pet responds differently. It is important to make sure Kipsico is eating and drinking. If she is not, she may need to go back in today for subcutaneous fluids. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would not worry too much at this point. Zoii has just undergone major surgery and it can take up to 48 hours for her to fully recover. She is probably still processing some of the anesthesia that is in her system. She also was probably very stressed and did not get much rest while at the vet so she is making up for that now. Just keep an eye on her tonight and if you are still not comfortable with how she is acting in the morning you can take her in for a recheck. My guess is that she was just more sensitive to the drugs used and it is taking her a bit more time to recover than some cats. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

These could be signs of pain, the anesthesia wearing off, or combination of both. If she's not on pain medication I would call your veterinarian to discuss this possibility. If she is on pain medication it may just be she needs more time for the anesthesia to wear off. Continue to leave her a collar on to prevent her from looking at her incision. You may try applying a warm compress to her incision to see if that helps. If she's on pain medication and has not return to her normal self by this afternoon she should be examined by the veterinarian that did her surgery to make sure everything is OK.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pooki. Yes, she may be painful. Keep her quiet tonight if she is otherwise acting normal. Contact her veterinarian first thing tomorrow to discuss her pain control and what may need to be changed. Do not give her any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps.