Is your cat acting strange after vet visit?
Cats act strange after visiting the vet due to anxiety and helplessness. Spending time in a new environment such as the vet’s clinic and being examined can make the cat angry or depressed. Some cats will shake this feeling off after a few hours, while others are going to continue to remain anxious for days.
It’s essential to pay attention to your cat during this period and not overreact.
Anxiety is something the cat may encounter and it’s imperative to act responsibly. If not, you are going to end up with a situation where the cat’s aggression and/or anxiety continues for a long period!
If there is a change in behavior after visiting the vet, you are going to see certain signs pop up.
The signs may include:
- Showing Aggression
- Hiding in the Dark
- Refusing to Eat
With a cat acting strange after vet visit, it’s imperative to observe and come up with a plan to soothe your beloved pet.
It might not seem easy at first, but a few changes to the cat’s day will make a difference.
This guide is going to help showcase what you need to do with a cat acting strange after vet visit. This includes what to invest in for next time.
Table of Contents
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Last update on 2023-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tips On Helping a Cat Acting Strange After Vet Visit
Tip #1 – Use Catnip
What is one thing most cats enjoy?
Catnip!
This is a wonderful way to win over your cat and get it to relax a bit. The chemical reaction associated with 100% organic catnip is something that other solutions won’t be able to mimic!
By taking the time to use a bit of catnip on your cat, it’s possible to soothe it and make sure the problem doesn’t continue for too long.
The benefits include:
- Building Positive Association with Vet Visit
- Calms the Cat
- Easy to Use
When you are taking the time to work on a cat acting strange after vet visit, it’s essential to buy top-grade catnip. This is the only way you are going to see results.
If you use the wrong type of catnip, it might do more damage than good!
Take the time to find good-quality catnip and then set it out after the cat returns from the vet. It will enjoy the catnip and is going to develop a positive relationship with going to the vet as well.
Tip #2 – Don’t React in Aggression
Aggression is another reaction that you are going to see with a cat acting strange after vet visit.
This is normal and it’s just as common as the cat going into hiding or becoming anxious around you. These reactions are just something that cat will start displaying due to the sudden vet visit.
Your responsibility is to not react to this aggression and realize it’s coming from an anxious pet.
You will have to win your cat’s confidence over the coming hours and days.
If this is the first time your cat is doing this, you will have to be patient. You need to avoid showing aggression and remain as calm as possible.
You have to be a soother in this case.
Tip #3 – Give Cat Treats
Just like the catnip, you can also use cat treats.
Cat treats are a nice way to win your cat’s confidence because it’s something they crave. As long as you find the right type of cat treats based on your cat’s preferences, the results will be good.
It’s imperative to make sure you are keeping cat treats handy for moments such as these.
When using the cat treats, make sure to only put out a few.
You don’t want to overdo the cat treats because it may cause the cat to continue with this behavior. Instead, just a few treats will do as soon as you come back from the vet.
This is enough to build a positive connection between going to the vet and coming back home with you.
Tip #4 – Prepare a Nice Meal
A nice meal is another option that can work well.
Why not make something your cat likes instead of giving a regular meal? Of course, this is going to depend on what the vet had to say about your cat’s digestive health!
If the cat is 100% healthy then this might be a good way to go.
Final Thoughts
With a cat acting strange after vet visit, you are going to have to come up with a proper plan.
It’s not as simple as hoping the cat works its way out of it. Sure, your cat might do that, but it won’t be easy to work with when you have to go to the vet later on!
Be smart and think about the long-term.
Whether it’s catnip, cat treats, and/or a good meal, make sure to follow your plan right away.
Here are a few additional articles to think about – how to control a cat’s aggression towards garbage bags, how to help a depressed cat after spay, how to help a cat that’s hiding all the time, and how to stop a cat that’s walking in circles.