Behavior issue after spay

wrote in message

> Hello. I recently took my cat to an animal hospital and got her shots
> & spayed. After the surgery, she has had an issue with peeing outside
> the litter box. She still goes in the litter most of the time. Is it
> possible that the issue is related to the surgery? Any help
> appreciated. Thanks, Paul
--------
Have you had her checked for a urinary tract infection?
Best regards,
---Cindy S.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

wrote:

> Hello. I recently took my cat to an animal hospital and got her
> shots & spayed.

Cool. How has it affected her behavior otherwise?
Just curious.

> After the surgery, she has had an issue with
> peeing outside the litter box. She still goes in the litter most
> of the time. Is it possible that the issue is related to the
> surgery? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Paul

Just in case you didn't already know, key points IMO about the
litter box area.

The litter box area is the most critical/sensitive area, it's what
distinguishes cats from other pets (AFAIK, even supposedly
intelligent monkeys). Always be kind to your cat around the litter
box area. If you're cat were uncomfortable outside it would just go
to a different area.

Keep the litter box area clean. All-purpose cleaner and recycled
paper towels work well (like paper towels that have been used for
soaking up water, but not used for chemical/biological purposes).
Always keep the platform and sides of the litter box clean so your
cat doesn't smell stuff there. You might find plastic grass doormats
good for underneath (or around) the litter box area, and they are
easy to shake out and clean with spray cleaner and then a garden
hose sprayer (if that is available to you).

Good luck.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

On Oct 23, 9:40 pm, "cindys" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
> news:1193168408.856410.259760@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com...> Hello. I recently took my cat to an animal hospital and got her shots
> > & spayed. After the surgery, she has had an issue with peeing outside
> > the litter box. She still goes in the litter most of the time. Is it
> > possible that the issue is related to the surgery? Any help
> > appreciated. Thanks, Paul
>
> --------
> Have you had her checked for a urinary tract infection?
> Best regards,
> ---Cindy S.

That, of course, was my first question. My other question was how
recently was this done? Is it possible the stitches hurt her to get
inside the litter box? If she was spayed a couple of weeks ago, this
is not the problem, but if it was only a day or two ago, I'd try using
a box with very low sides to see if that helps.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

Thank you for the responses, I will try to address them all.
- Her general behavior/personality has not changed.
- I'm good about keeping the litter box & area clean. This has
happened weeks after the surgery and after stitches were removed.
- She poops in the litter box, but is not always peeing in it. She
has peed in different spots (my bed, a pillow on the window sill, and
on clean clothes on a couch - all different rooms)
- I'm not 100% certain, but I do not believe she squatted when she
peed.
- She is the new cat in the house, and my old cat is somewhat
aggressive. I was keeping the new cat in a room and supervising
interactions in the evenings. I keep her litter box on the opposite
end of the room from where I have her food.
- I have not gotten her checked for urinary tract infection, I should
do this. Thanks. However, she did not have this problem before her
surgery, so I wonder if getting her spayed has caused some internal
damage that affects her bladder.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

wrote in message

> Thank you for the responses, I will try to address them all.
> - Her general behavior/personality has not changed.
> - I'm good about keeping the litter box & area clean. This has
> happened weeks after the surgery and after stitches were removed.
> - She poops in the litter box, but is not always peeing in it. She
> has peed in different spots (my bed, a pillow on the window sill, and
> on clean clothes on a couch - all different rooms)
> - I'm not 100% certain, but I do not believe she squatted when she
> peed.
> - She is the new cat in the house, and my old cat is somewhat
> aggressive. I was keeping the new cat in a room and supervising
> interactions in the evenings. I keep her litter box on the opposite
> end of the room from where I have her food.
> - I have not gotten her checked for urinary tract infection, I should
> do this. Thanks. However, she did not have this problem before her
> surgery, so I wonder if getting her spayed has caused some internal
> damage that affects her bladder.
>

The most likely cause of this is UTI (which are very common), with "new cat
introduction" issues being a close second. As often as vets do spays I'd
opt for the UTI before suspecting that there was damage to her bladder
during the surgery. UTIs are pretty easy for a vet to diagnose, they can
take a urine sample with a catheter at the office and they have the
equipment there to test for bacteria and make an immediate diagnosis.

You don't specify whether you're male or female, but most women know how
extremely painful UTIs can be. If your cat has a UTI she may associate the
pain of urination with her litter box so avoids the litter box when she has
to urinate but not defecate.

Hugs,

CatNipped
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

wrote:

> - She is the new cat in the house, and my old cat is somewhat
> aggressive. I was keeping the new cat in a room and supervising
> interactions in the evenings. I keep her litter box on the
> opposite end of the room from where I have her food.

I've been taking care of cats for a long time, but my experience
isn't nearly as expensive as some. What you just described appears
to be the rule. You might have to keep them separated indefinitely,
sad but a real possibility. If I were you, I would clip the
aggressor's claws. The way I see it, there is a real problem with
cats that don't get along inside. As a general rule, I take into
consideration the fact that outside a cat can run away from
something they don't like. Inside they are stuck. That inability to
run away probably causes a lot of stress in a hostile situation.

Good luck.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

On Oct 24, 8:39 pm, John Doe wrote:
> wrote:
> > - She is the new cat in the house, and my old cat is somewhat
> > aggressive. I was keeping the new cat in a room and supervising
> > interactions in the evenings. I keep her litter box on the
> > opposite end of the room from where I have her food.
>
> I've been taking care of cats for a long time, but my experience
> isn't nearly as expensive as some. What you just described appears
> to be the rule. You might have to keep them separated indefinitely,
> sad but a real possibility. If I were you, I would clip the
> aggressor's claws. The way I see it, there is a real problem with
> cats that don't get along inside. As a general rule, I take into
> consideration the fact that outside a cat can run away from
> something they don't like. Inside they are stuck. That inability to
> run away probably causes a lot of stress in a hostile situation.
>
> Good luck.

The new cat could handle the aggression of the old cat, until the
operation sapped her strength. If she checks out okay with medical
issues, then it's inter-cat dislike.

Offer treats and food while insisting they both attend. Let them
associate each other with good times.

If one is always passive and the other playful, try to urge one to
pick up the dominant mood of the other. If you can get rowdy cat to
enjoy a petting session, try to get the other one in on it (helps with
another person) so they are both lapsitting, or both playing, at the
same time. See if they regard each other better if they see the other
cat is not so different.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay 

wrote:

> On Oct 24, 8:39 pm, John Doe wrote:
>> wrote:

>> > - She is the new cat in the house, and my old cat is somewhat
>> > aggressive. I was keeping the new cat in a room and
>> > supervising interactions in the evenings. I keep her litter
>> > box on the opposite end of the room from where I have her food.

The old cat is probably jealous. It might take a while. Good luck.

> The new cat could handle the aggression of the old cat, until the
> operation sapped her strength.

Seems to me that cats operate on a significant if not high emotional
level. Handling the aggression isn't all physical.

> If she checks out okay with medical issues, then it's inter-cat
> dislike.

Being unable to get away from what one doesn't like can be a major
problem.

> Offer treats and food while insisting they both attend. Let them
> associate each other with good times.

Unless the old cat is beating up on the new cat while she is away.
By the way. A digital camera that can take movies can be a good way
to gather behavioral information when you aren't there.

> If one is always passive and the other playful, try to urge one to
> pick up the dominant mood of the other.

Playful isn't the same as dominant.
 >> Stay informed about: Behavior issue after spay