[smithsonian]

HI

To all the cat lovers out there ( and there seems to be many ), can you help? Our recently(8 weeks ago) adopted 9 month old male kitty has been a delight from the first day, very smoochy. Yesterday he had his 3rd vaccination. Today he is cranky and tries to bite you if you touch the base of his tummy ( hes never bitten before except playful kitten bites) , Could it be the needle? He had a clean bill of health yesterday. The vet was commenting on how healthy and gorgeous he was! What to do? Thanks in advance

[smithsonian]

Any kitty cat lovers know what this might be?

[vbn]

Any kitty cat lovers know what this might be?

He might not be feeling well - just like when people get a vaccine and can feel a bit tired and sick afterwards. If a cat's not feeling well it can act grumpy or 'aggressive' just like some sick people don't like being bothered and just want to lie comfortably somewhere until their sick feeling goes away.

If it persists or it seems to be a very big change in personality, take your kitty back to the vet or give them a ring and just check the symptoms are normal. (Also, keep an eye on the litterbox- that he's using it normally/regularly)

[strawberry blond...]

I would say he was feeling unwell due to the vaccination, I would give him his space for a day or 2 and he should be fine. He may also not like his stomach being tickled, My male cat freaks out if we try to touch his belly always has done.

[smithsonian]

Thank you very much for getting back to me. I will give it a few days. It was a shock as he was so sooky until now.

[la di dah]

Base of the tummy is a vulnerable area. Many cats do not like it touched at all, ever. It wouldn't be that weird for him to be all for head-scritchies at the moment without wanting a tummy rub.

Even my very lovely sooky I'm-a-baby-hold-me cat, that always wants to be touching a person, sometimes does NOT want her tummy scratched and skitters away like you bit her.

Also the vet does invade their space in a way that even clingy cats aren't used to (unless you are big on taking your cat's temperature...? I know I'm not, lol) so I would just give him a few days to settle down. Assuming he still likes more delicate "polite" - to a cat - pats, and is eating and bathrooming, I wouldn't stress.

[~*Twilight~Zone*...]

How are they doing today?

One of my cats likes tummy rubs - she rolls over so you can rub her tummy, the other doesn't - she'll rip your arm off if you even look like you might touch her tummy.