Conference misery::feline_v1

    I had my two year old Lilac Siamese spayed.  The first couple of
    days, she wasn't herself.  She didn't eat very much, slept a lot
    of the day, and kind of stayed to herself.  The best advice I
    can give you is-let her alone for awhile.  She probably still hurts
    very much inside, and although the outside is clean and not
    swollen, she is very sore inside because of the operation.
    Keep a watchful eye on the stitches and swelling.  She should be
    Ok in a few more days.  By all means, keep her friend away!  I'm
    sure she wants no part of him now!
    
    Good luck!
    

    Hmm.  My Alexander seemed changed after returning from being 
    neutered.  I think you may have been unlucky enough to have
    had something tramatic happen at the vet's office with an
    attendant or something like that.  Time heals most things -
    it's a matter of rebuilding trust between you and the cat.
    She may just be very angry at you for taken her to the
    vet's in the first place - talk quietly to her without
    touching her, and don't rush her - she will let you
    know when she is over her mad.  As long a the incision
    is healing and she is eating and drinking the problem
    should subside - if it doesn't - have maybe a different
    vet check her medically.  Good luck...

    I had my kitten, Sadie, spayed about 1-1/2 months ago.  She was
    flying around the house within two days and I thought I was home
    free.  When I took her in on the 11th day to get her stitches out
    the vet told me she had "herniated" and would have to be operated
    on again!  I was **horrified** that she would have to go thru this
    again just because I thought it was 'good' that she was up and 
    flying around.  (the stitches holding the muscle layer together
    had ruptured).
    
    Anyways, I got her back the next day after being operated on again
    and concocted a huge box to confine her to when my husband and myself
    were at work.  This second time around she didn't need to be confined
    and stayed very quite for about 5 days.  
    
    I don't know your cat's normal personality but by Sadie's 4th day
    of mellow-ness I had called the vet in a panic, since it just wasn't
    normal for her to be so quiet.  She reassured me and the follou-up
    checkup this time proved her to be fully healed.
    
    All I can say is: when in doubt, call the vet and/or take her in.
    There is nothing so painful as having a pet be sick or worse when
    you might have caught it. 
    
    Sign me 
    
    Learned the hard way twice
    (sue wright)
    

    You are better off if the cat is mellow.  Zildjian's whole personality
    changed after she was spayed.  It never came back (unfortunately).
     She will always be "crabby" now, but we give her alot of lovin
    and she is treated with respect.  She still has her moments, and
    I regret that day at the vets, but we have to learn to live with
    her - besides we love her very much.  I NEVER took her back to that
    vet - they treated her *awful*.  I know for a fact that was the
    problem.  Plus they boarded her with dogs, and she didn't even know
    what  a dog was at that early stage of her life.  
    
    So, good luck, and hang in there.  
    
    Anna/zildjian/spunky
    

    Isis' personality changed too.  I had awful guilt feelings
    (particularly when we left her at the vets - I cried all the way
    home).  She came back to us much quieter and more sober than her
    previous manic self.
    
    However, the life of an unspayed female who is allowed to roam is
    a miserable one, litters of kittens, maulings by toms, catfights
    etc.  For her sake it was better this way, not to mention all the
    homes which would have been occupied by her kittens being free for
    hard luck cases.
    
    As long as your female is OK, give it time - she'll cheer up.  Keep
    us updated on her progress and hang on in there.
    
    Kate

Hannah's personality didn't really change, she was just a little calmer...
at first I thought this was a major personality change, but then I saw
she was still just as curious, just as stubborn, and just as possessive
as ever, she just slowed down enough for me to notice she was also
somewhat standoffish (she had been before, but I'd had less chance to
try hugs, etc. because she was ALWAYS racing around the house) and
independent.  I thought about it and remembered that she was never one
to go for loves and hugs more than once or twice a day....but she
IS more available for me to try now, so I get "yelled" at more often.

    18 days sounds like plenty of time to have recovered her spirit
    to me.  Have you considered that maybe she's upset at being away
    from her companion?  After the stress of being in the vet this 
    might be the final straw.
    
    Just a thought,
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.