I’ve joined the forum because I’m looking for some advice. Two months ago, I adopted a cat who is usually a total velcro cat – really cuddly, follows me everywhere, hops onto my lap the moment I sit down, and sleeps with me. But for about a week now, his behaviour has completely changed for no apparent reason. He still plays, but he plays by himself, whereas he used to spend hours playing with me. At night, he doesn't come to bed with me anymore. It’s the same during the day; he always keeps his distance and doesn't ask for fusses anymore. I can’t really work out what’s caused this sudden change in personality. I’ve had a bit of a busy week and wasn't home as much, but I still gave him as much attention as he seemed to want. Is this his way of 'punishing' me for being out more?
I still try to play with him for 30 minutes every morning and evening, though.
Also, two weeks ago, I switched his dry food after he was neutered (I did the transition over more than a week). But it doesn't seem to agree with him: he’s doing a poo three times a day on average and has very frequent, smelly flatulence. He also tends to lie on his side a lot. Could it be related?
I’m planning to call the vet tomorrow, but in the meantime, do you have any thoughts or advice?
Have a lovely evening!
Translated from French
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Hi there,
It’s possible he can smell some entire males outside and it’s stressing him out. Even neutered males are territorial, and the scent of an unneutered male is quite worrying for them. Give him plenty of reassurance; over time, any remaining hormones in his system will clear, although a small amount does persist through the adrenal glands.
Hi again,
Just a quick update – he seems to be getting used to his dry food much better now, and there haven't been any more incidents.
Regarding the mood swings due to his age, do those carry on even though he’s been neutered? It’s been nearly a month now, and he’s definitely alternating between days where he’s stuck to me like glue and others where he just wants to be left alone to do his own thing. I always let him do what he wants and wait for him to come to me, but it really varies from day to day.
Also, he’d already learnt a few things, like not biting hands or feet – he’d completely stopped doing that, but now he’s started up again... is that down to his age? Is he just testing the boundaries again?
Hi there,
Regarding the dry food, stick with the kitten food for now and wait for things to get back to normal. There will be plenty of time to try other types later on, and they don't necessarily have to be for 'neutered cats'. Our little girl (an indoor cat) is on grain-free dry food, which has quite a high protein content compared to the 'neutered' varieties that contain grains, and she hasn't put on any weight. We just make sure to be strict with the portions and, most importantly, we give her some wet food – tins – every day, adjusting the amount of kibble accordingly.
As for his behaviour, putting aside any discomfort from the food which might explain it, do remember that he’s becoming a teenager. With some cats, the change in personality can be quite significant (and it fluctuates: one day they're all over you, the next they won't give you the time of day... just like human teens! ^^). So, keep an eye on his health and especially his stools (you could help him out with a course of Fortiflora) and don't try to fuss over him too much; he’ll most likely come to you in his own time.
Thanks for your reply! Could this still be related to him being neutered? It was a month ago, and he was in great spirits when he got home; he even wanted to play the very next day. I kept him on his old dry food for a week and then did a transition over about ten days?
The vet told me to switch to dry food for neutered young cats so he doesn't put on too much weight... so is it really okay to keep him on kitten food for now?
I’m struggling to find something that actually suits him. I started with Carnilove and it was a disaster, then the vet suggested switching to Virbac. That was better, but now with the neutered junior ones, everything has gone pear-shaped again. The vet also mentioned trying Royal Canin, but I’ve heard they’re best avoided.
Hi there,
Getting him neutered with the anaesthetic and then a change of dry food on top of that is a lot for his system to handle. A cat that's feeling poorly or has an upset tummy will tend to hide away and won't play as much.
I’d suggest switching back to his old dry food and trying a much slower transition later on with a different brand, as he’s clearly struggling to digest the ones you've just tried.
That being said, there’s no rule that says you have to change their food just because they've been neutered. If he liked his old food, it agreed with him, and the ingredients are decent, there's no reason to change.
