We had a rough night after day 2. My husband got home and took her collar off to give her some freedom. At some point she panicked and barreled through the pillow barrier under the bed. I got home and she was not to be coaxed out, so we went to bed. Around 2:30AM or so, she hopped up onto the bed and I snapped the collar back on. We cuddled up and went to sleep for a few hours. She then woke up in a panic and was trying to get the collar off and stand up. She jumped off the bed and had several more panic attacks thru the night until she got the collar off completely. Sigh.
I got up at 6 and fed her as well as gave her the morning pain medicine dose. Good news is that her appetite is back! And today is a new day.
I put the suit back on her today with much more success. She reacted with the classic “freeze and flop” that happens with a Thundershirt on a cat. She was much calmer, but not very mobile, so it’s still a mixed bag. The suit is a little small, too, so I ordered a larger size.
Tia wearing her recovery suit (or her kitty yoga pants as my husband likes to say)
She curled up and slept, so we took the opportunity to run a few errands. Came home and she had moved to a different bed, but still wasn’t walking well in the suit. Probably something she will have to get used to over time. I decide to take it off her for the day and do more time later.
Now for a big step: introducing our alpha cat to her. Her sister, Sia, is the alpha cat of our three cat household. She is the one who must be obeyed, and the most likely to be aggressive to Tia after the surgery. We bring her in, and the expected hisses and growls ensue. No overt physical aggression though, which is good. I get some group treats out in one of our puzzle toys and everyone digs in. Tia head butts and rubs on Sia, much to Sia’s dismay and histrionics ensue. Sia gets kicked out, and everyone calms back down.
With the suit off, Tia is instantly more mobile and up and around. I get a toy out and we do some light play, which she really enjoys. Probably also good for her balance learning. She does very well playing and seems pretty chipper.
Tia playing with a fishing toy
Its time for dinner and I want to get Tia out into the main house, so I put Sia away and open the bedroom door to go make the cat food bowls. This is part of our old routine and sure enough I soon have Tia rubbing my ankles in the kitchen. Yay! She scarfs down dinner and decides to hang out in the living room for a while.
She seems to be not overly washing her stitches, so I am going to back off of being hyper about a cone or the suit for a while. She seems best without either, so I will just monitor it and make sure she isn’t getting too vigorous.
The day ended well with Tia in her favorite spot: on my lap in the recliner. She even hopped up herself.
