Cat not eating or drinking after being neutered

I’ve taken over my brother’s account and my name.

Saying that it's normal for a cat not to eat for ten days after being neutered... erm, no, not really. My girl was spayed in mid-December; I gave her tiny bits of food that evening, but by the next day she was full of beans. Mind you, it might just be a coincidence. I’ve had this issue before, and sometimes it can be down to pain. My little one is usually a bit of a madcap, and once she almost stopped eating entirely—it was actually due to back pain. But if your cat has a temperature, it might be a virus.

Try to tempt him with something he’s usually fond of. Some wet food to entice him, maybe... You might need to see another vet. Even though it’s always a bit of a pain financially to see several people to get your cat sorted, yours doesn’t seem all that bothered... Or you could always try ringing a different one, even if it's just to get a second opinion over the phone first, telling them what your current vet has already done...

Vet bills can spiral out of control here too... :-( but my vet has practically become a mate and he's always mindful of my budget!

At the start of the appointment, make sure to let the vet know that you’d like to be kept informed of the estimated costs of any treatment. If the bills are going to be high, many vets are happy to discuss a payment plan with their clients. You shouldn't feel awkward at all about discussing finances with them; they know perfectly well that in some cases, the animal's care is the priority and the bill comes second...

When a cat is dehydrated, it’s quite easy to spot it yourself. You just need to take them by the scruff of the neck, just like a mother cat does with her kittens—lift the skin up slightly, and when you let go, it should snap back into place immediately. If it doesn’t go back, or if it does so slowly, it’s a sign of a real dehydration problem, and in some cases, I think the only solution is putting them on a drip to rehydrate them...

Use today's appointment to have a thorough check-in with the vet and look into all the possible tests!! Before you head off, if you’re able to, try taking his temperature (it’s much easier when he’s calm at home) and the vet can do it again there, which will give them a point of comparison.

A little tip regarding his diet: it’s not a good idea to change dry food brands too often, and if you have to, it should be done with a gradual transition so you don't upset his system or digestion. If you change too frequently, the cat might end up with deficiencies or become a bit of a fussy eater. If one of the brands you mentioned suits him (good appetite, a lovely coat, plenty of energy, and normal stools), then stick with that brand and don't change it again ;-)

I hope the appointment goes well :-)

Do come back and keep us posted, I'd love to hear how he's getting on ;-)

Yeah, the fact he’s stopped drinking is what’s worrying me the most... that’s partly why I’ve stopped convincing myself it’s normal!!

Nothing unusual in the litter tray, no...

I’m going to look into it more thoroughly, but first I’ll have a word with the vet to see what they reckon...

The practice has a good reputation and fits my budget... I live out in a rural area, and vet bills can get really pricey quite quickly around here.

Hi there,

My boy also had a bit of a slump after he was neutered, but not to the point of not eating or drinking at all...

Have you tried soaking his dry food with some room temperature water? It might make it a bit more tempting for him. Sometimes, to give them a bit of a boost, I give my cats an egg yolk when they don't seem very interested in their food bowl.

If I were you, what would worry me more is the fact that he isn't drinking...

Have you checked his litter tray? Anything "strange" going on there?

Could you consider getting some blood work done? Or maybe an abdominal X-ray?

I’m not a vet, just an owner of two cats, but it seems very strange to me that your vet isn’t investigating this further. I’d even think about switching vets if they don't seem to be doing enough!

Keep in mind that if he has a temperature, it usually means he has an infection...