Bach added that if your cat appears hesitant to jump after a few days, give your vet a call. He did not know what was wrong. Any illness in an ani… “There is no evidence spaying a cat will begin negative behaviors.”, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: March 1, 2018, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: February 26, 2015, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: January 13, 2018, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: September 18, 2017, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: April 8, 2015, By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: August 24, 2017. I don’t know how long after the vaccines that the signs start. “If your cat has been licking excessively at her incision, the chance of an infection developing is high. **Click here to see the full list of Ask Dr. Debra Questions and Answers! Personality is the overall emotional makeup of your pet. After Your Pet Gets Care. Every cat is unique, however unusual levels of grooming or hiding or changes in eating or toilet routines are causes for concern. Read More. ... Goodness, this sounds like a very complicated case. Cat Personality Changes After Vaccination. she wants to clean herself and tries to play like she used to. “If your cat has a reduced interest in eating for more than two days after getting spayed, it is time to contact your veterinarian,” Brömme says. Continue boostering every one to three years for the rest of the cat’s life. Playing Behavior Changes . She started to get more aggressive. All Rights Reserved. I didn’t feel that I had enough evidence of rabies and that it could also have been some other possible diseases but significant testing would have to be done which would end up costing us over 5,000.00. To read most recent questions Click here! Widely shared claims on social media link to a video alleging that a future vaccine against COVID-19 would “genetically modify” humans. When to give vaccines. Hi – thanks for your email. This vaccine is only given once every three years after the initial one-year booster. An adult cat vaccination schedule, which includes periodic booster immunizations, will be scheduled one year after the kitten vaccination schedule has been completed. Debunking Misconceptions of Spay / Neuter Surgeries. Behavior is a result of your pet’s personality in relation to his environment. All my cats were fixed as kittens, and the females definitely took a their time getting around and back to normal that first day. My spayed adult cat still hides out of reach under the bed for at least half the day after any trip to the vet, so I give her space and quiet, sometimes some gentle words and a treat, and wait patiently for her to readjust. The cat was lethargic and she was limping on her right rear leg. I just don’t think putting her down without knowing exactly what she has is a reasonable option, but it seems to be the “in” thing to do these days. This normally lasts for around 48 hours. If your cat or kitten has a sore looking or partially closed eye, seek immediate veterinary attention. Most cats change as they age, just as humans often do. If they have not done some basic tests, I’d recommend letting them do that. This is because the vaccine causes a chemical reaction in a cat’s brain. “The biggest behavior change is female cats not going into heat.”. Cats typically rebound in a day or two after this routine surgery. A vaccination is a preparation of microorganisms (pathogens), such as viruses or bacteria, that is administered to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease. Unfortunately, cat flu still persists, despite the availability of vaccines. Holiday Gift Guide. For adult cats, if you are not sure if your cat has had vaccinations previously, or if you know that they have not had a vaccination appointment within the last 12 months, your cat will need to restart their vaccinations with a primary course, just as if they were a kitten. The other night a cat came to my office at 2 am. A cat that doesn't feel well or is in pain may not want to jump around and chase toys. Fortunately, reactions to vaccines are very uncommon in cats. I’d encourage her to eat – hand feed her, give her some “smelling” food, whatever it takes to get her to eat. Until your kitten is fully vaccinated (and neutered), you should keep him or her inside. Adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last. Wrapping Up First Aid. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks. Some cat owners have expressed concerns about whether their pet’s general personality will change after being spayed. A booster 3-4 weeks later is never required nor recommended in cats over 14 weeks of age. Many pets feel tired for a day or so after receiving a vaccination. Mild vomiting due to nausea is not uncommon, but … Toxicities. Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are currently vaccinated with a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner’s control, and observed for 45 days. So, it was with a heavy heart I had to leave again without an answer. Feline Distemper Vaccine Side Effects “As a result, your cat might seem a bit calmer after getting spayed because she no longer will have these cycles.”. While there has been no major research on the subject of feline bereavement, a survey by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that cats ate less, slept more and became more vocal after the death of a companion cat. ©Copyright 1999 - 2020. Your cat may appear a little lazy because she won’t be performing those mate-seeking behaviors, but ultimately it’s up to you to make sure she gets enough exercise and stays in shape. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. Since then we noticed her behavior changed. It’s extremely rare, but it does happen. Personality change after surgery A 2017 study suggests it’s possible that changes to the brain may last after people are given general anesthesia for surgery. Most of us realize the importance of spaying our feline friends. The cats most severely affected include the very young, the very old and those with a damaged immune system or other serious underlying illnesses. In mild cases, which constitute the majority of allergic reactions to vaccines, cats may develop hives, itchiness, redness and swelling of the eyes, lips, and neck, and mild fever. Just out of surgery, expect to see a groggy and perhaps a little disoriented cat coming out of anesthesia. If he was an indoor-only cat, he may not need the vaccines. Her eyes have a hazy cloudy look and she is still stumbling around, however, her strength and will to keep her balance has greatly improved. This is because the animal's immune system is fighting a low dose of the disease in the vaccine, which can upset the gastrointestinal tract. The Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy for Dogs and Cats, Ways To Engage Your Cat’s Hunting Instinct, Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: What They Are and How They Can Help Your Cat, Roaming in search of a male cat to mate with, Irritability from the hormone fluctuations, Aggression when competing for male attention or protecting her, Frequent as well as inappropriate urination to attract males and the unwanted attention of unneutered males showing up. “Ensure easy access to a litter box, water and food — the amount will be recommended by your veterinarian, but it usually is half of her normal serving,” she says. What diseases can vaccinations protect against? I can’t see how that can be rabies. After this, kittens and cats usually need 'booster' vaccinations every twelve months. If the cat tests negative, you should discuss having him vaccinated against these diseases. He told us she had a screw loose and that she had a shot knot. What to do after your pet’s appointment depends on their health. Common Cat Vaccinations Vaccines protect pets by exposing them to 1) disease-causing microorganisms that have been modified so they can’t cause the illness in question, or 2) small parts of those organisms that induce an immune response. Some cat owners have expressed concerns about whether their pet’s general personality will change after being spayed. For many cats, a trip to the vet and subsequent surgery might be a frightening and stressful experience. Find out what cold laser therapy treatments are about and if your pet could benefit from them. Some cats are temporarily different or never quite the same after vaccination. Was her glucose normal? “Your cat likely will be sore around her incision, so be gentle when handling her for the first few days.”. The distemper vaccine causes many animals to feel sick to their stomach. Actually, in addition to preventing unplanned litters and decreasing the chances of hormone-related diseases, one of the reasons people spay their cats is to reduce or stop unwanted behaviors, such as: “In the wild, healthy animals function to hunt and reproduce, and that doesn’t really work for us as pet keepers or guardians,” Delgado explains. Or will they become fat and lazy? “Of course, getting spayed means no more mate-seeking behaviors or energy expended into rearing kittens,” Brömme explains. Aggressive or unsociable behaviour is also a sign of an unhappy or unwell cat. “Overall, your cat’s personality should not change,” Brömme says. Could it be infectious? Visit the Internal Medicine Service website Introduction The UC Davis veterinary hospital vaccination guidelines below have been based on published studies and recommendations made by task forces. “Statistically there is no evidence that cats get lazy or less active after being spayed,” she says. It sounds like your cat is having some neurologic symptoms that are very abnormal. Then they must be boostered a year latyer.. Vaccination Guidelines for Dogs and Cats How we can help Call 530-752-1393 to schedule an appointment with the Internal Medicine Service. Also, Behavior change in a kitten after vaccination. We took her to our vet. “Behavior changes immediately after a spay are more due to the surgery itself,” says trainer and behaviorist Lisa Bach, owner of Boomerang Pet Care in Deerfield, Wisconsin. Recently, my kitten (2 months old) had her first installment of vaccinations. There are so many possibilities of what it could be. In addition to addressing the cat’s lifestyle, she suggests looking at other things happening around the same time as the spay surgery that might impact the cat’s behavior. Some cats show more aggression when in pain and feeling vulnerable, so Maria Brömme, DVM, a veterinarian at Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, California, recommends providing her with a quiet and warm location in which to recover. “There is no statistical evidence of behavior change due to surgery,” she adds. This is why the dreaded ‘cone of shame’ is so important in our post-operative patients. To start with, Mikel Delgado, a certified cat behavior consultant and co-owner of Feline Minds in Berkley, California, confirms that no research shows any negative effects on a cat’s personality after spay. Wounds: First Aid. Cats can have vaccine reactions but they are relatively uncommon and do not present like this. An article that might be helpful to you is Dealing with Cats that Won’t Eat. I have noticed she is not seeing very well but can hear us call her and will follow our calls. Is she running a fever? She stayed there and then was released. Her owner was very worried. It’s the same for our frisky felines. “But if your cat has a very sedentary lifestyle and unlimited access to food, she likely will gain weight.”. Cats are commonly vaccinated against: Cat flu (feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus) Feline infectious enteritis The occasional diarrhea may not be a big deal for a dog or cat, and many reptiles can go as long as a month without pooping, but any change in a bird’s droppings should prompt a call to the vet right away. Electronic Cigarettes are Toxic to Pets. Then the next day I called him back because she started hanging her head and falling to the right and could not keep her balance. Another benefit is that vaccinated cats can shed attenuated vaccine virus particles in the feces. He told me to bring her in and he would get to her when he could. By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: September 5, 2016, BeWell / Wellness / Cat Behavior After Spaying. After the puppy or kitten booster series is complete, the immune system has a “memory” of these virus or bacteria parts and thus will mount a swift response when the animal is challenged with the disease later on. The vaccine contains viruses that replicate in the cat’s body but do not cause disease. “Don’t expect sudden changes in your spayed cat, but subtle changes might take place,” Bach says. After receiving a vaccine, if your dog comes in contact with the pathogen in the future, their immune system can respond quickly and effectively, which reduces the chance that serious illness will result. Also keep in mind that the hormonal changes do not happen overnight, Delgado says. Behavior change in a kitten after vaccination. Much will depend on the known history of the cat. “Overall, your cat’s personality should not change,” Brömme says. “A lot of the unaltered behaviors are undesirable for owners.”. I had then decided to take her to our local emergency vet clinic. Or will they become fat and lazy? It is largely influenced by genetics and socialization (nature and nurture). You can expect your cat to act differently for a few days while recovering from the operation; however, experts reassure that her personality will remain unchanged. There can be no disputing that vaccines save lives but they also have the potential to cause serious side effects which will be discussed on this webpage.Before we get started on this discussion, it is important to understand that there is no single vaccine protocol t… Will altered cats be less affectionate? Experts say not to worry. Also contact your veterinarian if you think your cat still is groggy or lethargic the day following surgery.”. Did they do routine blood work including a complete blood count, diagnostic profile, feline leukemia and feline aids tests? Common Household Items can Poison Pets. Some cats suffer from cognitive decline in their later years, and forget things like proper use of the litter tray, or even forget where they are. This can upset them, so that a previously well adjusted and happy cat be… Maintaining a healthy body weight is vital to your cat’s long-term well being, so Brömme recommends feeding your cat a high-quality, balanced diet and keeping her active by playing with her, using puzzle feeders and providing environmental enrichment. What Are the Side Effects of Rabies Vaccines in Cats? Behaviors can be both positive and negative. He gave her a shot of cortizone. So your cat might act timid or jumpy for a few days after. Previously active cats probably tend to slow down, which means a cat who always wanted to be outside hunting in his youth may turn into a friendly lap cat when he is older. This claim is scientifically untrue. Check for Other Communicable Diseases A larger percentage of cats in shelters carry the baggage of URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections). Your cat may seem more reserved after getting the surgery, but that’s because her hormones aren’t fluctuating like they used to when she had heat cycles. But when a regularly playful cat doesn't want to play like it used to, it may be cause for concern. Experts say not to worry. Severe allergic reactions may cause breathing difficulties, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, pale gums, and collapse. Now, I am here on the internet trying to get answers. They told me she acted as if she had rabies and informed me I should have her put down. Prompting the immune system to respond is the whole point of vaccination. 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