Neutering cats is a common practice that has many benefits, but it can also have some unintended consequences. In a recent case I worked on, a female cat’s behaviour changed dramatically after being spayed. Leading her guardians to seek out holistic animal treatments with me.
Imagine having a furry friend who is the epitome of cuddliness and friendliness, only to have them undergo a spaying procedure and emerge as a completely different cat! That’s exactly what happened to a 4-year-old female cat who was neutered at six months.
Before the surgery, she was a snuggly kitten who loved nothing more than curling up in her guardian’s lap. But after the surgery, her behaviour took a complete turn, leaving her family feeling like they were living with a stranger.
As a cat lover, you can probably relate
I mean how devastating would it be to lose the unique personality and quirks of your feline friend after a routine neutering? And while I agree these procedures have many benefits for the overall health of cats and the population of feral cats, they can also have significant effects on an individual’s well-being.
It’s important to recognise that cats are complex creatures with individual personalities and can have unique responses to medical procedures. Just like any animal can.
She almost had a split personality
It was like the cat had some Jekyll and Hyde traits post surgery. For example during the day she was a moody and unpredictable feline. But soon as the sun set she transformed into a cuddly and affectionate companion, but only for her main guardian.
The rest of the family had to keep their distance. She didn’t get on with any of the other cats either and would be aggressive towards them. She also developed a tendency to spray in the house.
From a TCM perspective
Neutering cats with surgery can cause stagnation of the circulation of blood. They become fatigued as a result and have zero interest in exercise. And all they want to do is eat! Symptoms such as these tell us there’s not enough blood flowing through the body.
Or they become difficult to manage, grumpy or aggressive. Possibly chewing up objects like toilet paper or whatever takes their fancy too. And of course this makes us angry and frustrated which only adds to the problem as cats pick up on that.
When an animal behaves in this way their liver is under stress due to a disruption in the liver blood stores which I identified as the key problem for this particular kitty. To break it down, in the body the liver acts like a storage tank for the blood, and sends it to whatever organ needs it. So this storage role of her liver was not functioning properly.
Once this was identified I then worked with the cat to determine the current state of her meridians and what botanicals she needed to bring herself back into balance.
Meridians are pathways of energy flow
In traditional Chinese medicine meridians are channels that connect different parts of the body and serve as a conduit for the flow of Qi, which essential for maintaining health and wellness.
There are 12 main meridians in the body, each associated with a particular organ or system. And each meridian is thought to have specific points along its pathway where acupuncture needles can be inserted to influence the flow of Qi for example.
In this particular cat I could see very clearly her liver meridian was in need of support amongst others. So she selected diluted Angelica Root and Lemon essential oils to begin to resolve these imbalances. Plus a healing herb garden of Yarrow, Comfrey, Valerian & Hops to self medicate with.
We did a live video call
I taught her guardians how to offer her essential oils safely and effectively over zoom. She is a naturally shy cat so this was perfect, I could ‘be in the room’ without actually being in the room.
Using essential oils with cats you need to have proper training or be under the guidance of a professional as they are very sensitive to them. And just as a footnote it’s never ever safe to use them undiluted with cats either. And tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils are particularly toxic to them and should always be avoided even in a diffuser in your home.
During our session she responded beautifully to her oils & dropped down into a deep healing trance. Once I saw that I knew she wanted to heal, that she was committed to this journey. Consequently it didn’t take long before she started to return back to her original cuddly personality much to the amazement of her humans!
To the point that she is not only interacting with the rest of the human family, but is sitting on their laps purring away too!
We also made dietary changes
For lasting effects she needs more botanicals & follow ups moving forward. For this is just the start as long term results when healing animals need time. And lucky for this kitty her family are fully committed to that.
I feel her story highlights to us humans the importance of looking at animal health and behaviour from an individualised holistic perspective. And the benefits of exploring alternative forms of treatment when things go awry.
So if you are struggling with a similar issue with your feline friend or any other problems after neutering an animal, I would love to help. I do this work through photos so can help any animal anywhere.
You are most welcome to book in a complimentary discovery call here. Or if you would like to study how to treat animals yourself check out our upcoming online professional trainings here.
The animals need people like you and me, to step up and heal their pains one way or the other.
Blessings,
Lisa