Kitten very lively, just neutered, supposed to stay quiet

[AnnieBrooke]

Our kitten is 4 months old, and would happily (and regularly) swing by one foot from the chandelier if he could reach it.  He attacks the dog several times a day and wrestles her with his front legs around her neck.  He goes nuts for feathers-on-a-stick and toy-mouse-on-fishing-line.

The vet sent him home from being neutered today accompanied by the following instructions:

"Limit exercise as the pet recovers from surgery.  Block stairs and avoid situations that risk injury.  Your pet may resume normal exercise and activity in 10-14 days."

He nearly turned himself into a pretzel attempting to dig his way out of his carrier on the way home while meowing loudly enough to cause a rupture.  Since being home (about three hours), he has run up and down the staircase (it has bannisters, so can't be blocked unless I perhaps go buy a couple of refrigerators and cut up their crates into strips to line the sides), he has jumped onto a tabletop begging for food, leaped onto the counter in the laundry room and knocked down a stack of laundry, run around the garage with me chasing him trying to put him in a small, quiet place, pounced on paper coming out of my computer printer and torn it up, stood tall on his hind legs and waved his front legs when I got out the cat food.  It would have been worse, but we put the dog into her hutch for the night.

This is also a very social cat.  His claws would be worn to nubbins with corresponding scars on the doorframe if we tried to shut him away from us, and I haven't heard any volunteers in the family say they are ready to sit for hours in the bathroom reading a book with him.

Are the vets kidding?  Ten days?  He didn't last ten minutes.  Or we didn't.

Has anyone had luck keeping a lively cat in a resting position when he's getting well from neutering?  I thought of caging him, but he just goes cuckoo.

[Patsypoos]

Annie I totally know where you are coming from! My 4 month old kitty had his opp today at 11 am! When we arrived to pick him up we were told to stop him from jumping onto surfaces, keeping him calm! Calm! ..... The little guy who is normaly quite lively at the best of times is like a kitty on crack ! He had been bouncing off the walks now for 5 hours, not allowing himself even the tiniest nap! My partner and I are worn out, apparently they give them something to wake them up! I'm off to vets to get a bottle for myself, as I shall need it tomorrow to keep myself awake !

[AnnieBrooke]

:)

[Jade59]

Good to hear all is well.  You've got a fun household.  Maybe the neutering will calm your kitty down in...a few years??  :)

[AnnieBrooke]

Update, about 48 hours after the surgery:  kitten is sleeping on the dog's pillow.  Dog is sleeping on the hard floor nearby.  I would say all is as usual in their universe.

[AnnieBrooke]

One can only hope.  We have a formerly feral male who strayed in a couple of years ago and won't leave.  Though he lives outside, and our other cats are inside / outside, due to either his presence or his example, they ALL spray now.  (All of them including the former stray are neutered, and even our spayed female does it.)  I think he keeps the others feeling territorial.  There is a certain tree in the front yard that simply reeks, in the summer...they all mark it.  Once the new kitten has recovered and gotten past his rabies shot, I know my husband will want to let him out in the day.  The little guy wouldn't have to be too bright to notice the spraying, especially if he walks past that tree.  I'm tempted to keep him in all the time, but don't think my husband will go for it, or the kitten either for that matter, as already he is begging to go out.  (We'll see on that one.  I keep hoping the other cats will turn over a new leaf and we'll be past this territorial stuff by the time the kitten is big enough to go out.)  

[cr2009]

Usually they will only fake spray if they were spraying before they were fixed. Usually when they are fixed when older that can happen. When fixed when a kitten and they have not sprayed they do not "know" about it.

[AnnieBrooke]

I don't think getting him fixed is going to slow him down, either.  I do have some hope it will reduce the future spraying.  lol

Jade, the leopard-looking item behind the kitten is a toy, a long strip of round fake fur (like a tiger's tail) on a stick.  He is working on the stick with his front feet.  And yes, the ghosting I was talking about is that although you'd glance at him and say he is a solid grey cat, it's easy to see some latent tabby behind the grey because there's darker and lighter grey in tabby stylings on his side, tail and legs.  I think that's an interesting phenomenon, but don't care if it still appears by the time he is full grown.  I'd feel worse if he lost the little white star between his eyes, which I like a lot.

[cr2009]

yeah my parents had a crazy male cat that was like that as well. He turned out fine and getting him fixed did not slow him down.

[Jade59]

Ok, I can be a real dumb bunny sometimes.  You're talking about the tabby ghost markings on Dark's side facing the camera and that IS another cat next to him...right? LOL

[Jade59]

Wot??? LOL.  I saw that picture before you explained here and I thought you had another tabby or calico kitty that was right next to him.  I nearly asked about your *other* cat.  That is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen!  

We have a neighbor cat that showed up right after Jade did nearly 6yrs ago.  She was a gangly, thin, lithe young tabby.  It took a couple yrs for her to mature, but she is now a beautiful, healthy looking cat.  I think your kitty will surprise you and if not, his darling personality will more than make up for it like you said.  

[AnnieBrooke]

I just posted a shot that shows the ghost tabby markings on his side.  When he was that young, they showed pretty clearly.  They are blending in a bit more now, with the whole body taking on a smoother grey cast, but I don't think they will ever totally go away.  Also, as he matures he doesn't look quite so gawky as he does in these shots (I'm glad of that).  I entertain hopes that he will be a relatively pretty cat, though I have certainly seen many cats who were more beautiful.  What he gets or doesn't get in looks, he more than makes up for in panache.  We're delighted with him.

[AnnieBrooke]

Thanks, guys.

[Jade59]

Thanks for sharing your photos.  I love gray kitties.  He sounds perfect in every way.  

[AnnieBrooke]

Just posted two photos.

Opus, we got lucky -- this kitty is friendly, lively, funny, sleeps peacefully in your lap at naptime and on the bed at night, comes when called, and has never in four months missed his litterbox, even when just a baby.  

Right now, the dog is outside looking in, and the kitten is inside, digging on the glass to get to the dog.  I'll keep an eye on the incision, thanks for that point, and also keep an eye on whether he's giving himself a fever.  One hopes that if he tires himself out he will rest.  

[AnnieBrooke]

I'll see if I have anything that shows his face.  He moves fast.  lol

[Jade59]

Annie, your post was Hilarious!  I got tears running down my face.  Do we get to see a picture of your energetic, acrobatic boy?  I don't have any ideas for you either, but that was sure a good laugh!  Best of luck the next 10days!!!

[opus88]

oh Annie you do have one over active kitty.....sounds like a ball of fun.
I think you are doing about all you are physically able to....just by keeping him and the dog separated for a few days...otherwise it doesn't sound possible to limit him any further.....
With males its a much simpler non invasive surgery, with very few stitches.
I would just keep a check on the area to be sure nothing is irritated or opened up and if all is well just sit back and let the little guy be himself.....doesn't sound as if its bothering him..lol ♥