Well, both kids got their surgeries done today. They. Are. Not. Happy.

I just got home about an hour ago and have them in separate bedrooms. They've taken their first round of pain medications and I am in the room where Jarvis is.

I fed them both and it looks like there is going to take some time to settle down. Pepper got out of the room and hissed at Jarvis under the door. She's never done that. I'm concerned, to say the least. But the surgery went well, they finished the rabies vaccinations and they are microchipped.

I'm back to being a nervous cat mom. I come to one room and the other starts to meow. Then go to the other room and the first one starts to meow. I hope this is going to get better.

Hi there-

When I had Thor and Scarlett fixed they went through the same thing. Scarlett hissed and didn't want anything to do with Thor (or me for that matter). It took about a week for her to even let him come near her. I read somewhere about feline non remembrance syndrome and thats what they had! Things will get better...it just takes time. The female had a more complicated surgery so they are in more pain so give her time.

When Thor broke his hip I had to take him to the vet and the same thing happened, Scarlett didn't remember him or his scent and it took them time to get back to normal.

Good luck with your babies...I'm glad I'm over the spay/neuter phase. Tomorrow my babies will be 10 months old so it's been 4 months since their spay and neuter.

So, should I keep them totally separate for a week? Or just gradually let them get reacquainted?

I had to have one in the bedroom and the other in the living room and I gradually let them have interactions together. At night I had them completely separated because that's when the major hissing would happen. My female didn't react well to the anesthesia so she was groggy for 3-4 days. Once she started feeling better she started coming around.

I would make a gradual reintroduction - do scent swapping with blankets or towels too. They both have "vet smells" so they are not familiar to each other right now.

Our orange tabby (Diesel's best friend) had to have his teeth cleaned and when I brought him home that night Diesel wanted NOTHING to do with him. Hissing and hiding from him. Buddy's feelings were so hurt It took about a week for Diesel to readjust and for things to get back to normal.

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

Aww poor Jarvis and Pepper! They will heal and be back to normal in a couple of weeks. It's good to keep them separated for several days simply because they do not need to be playing and running around with each other, although they probably won't feel like it. The pain medication is fun to give, isn't it? Hang in there. You're doing the right thing and with each passing day, they will get better.

It may just take some time. I don't think it's that they don't remember each other, or have suddenly taken a dislike for one another. They've been through a traumatic experience, and the vet smell is a strong reminder of that. Recall how strong a sense of smell a cat has, and how much they rely on that. I definitely wouldn't do scent swapping for awhile That's the last thing I would do. If you are able to wipe down their fur or anything like that it might help. Otherwise they will tell you when they are ready. I'd use most of the other reintroduction principals though. Try to set up positive interactions with each other, try to end it on high notes, and try not to let hostility happen.

I've never personally had it last more than a few days, but a friend of mine had it last for a couple of months with one of her cats. I think that is very unusual though.

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The little monsters 3