I’m writing because I picked up my cat from the vet at 4pm after she was spayed this morning. They told me everything went really well.
When she got home, she was really struggling to get around; she was wobbling and stumbling. She wanted to get onto the bed, so I carefully lifted her up to help. Then later, she jumped down to the floor by herself (she managed okay).
She’s been a bit sick, so I called the vet. They told me not to give her any food tonight, and that by about 8pm, she should be walking without stumbling since the anaesthetic from this morning should have worn off by then.
The vet also explained that the vomiting is just the anaesthetic making her feel queasy, especially as she has a sensitive stomach anyway.
Right now she's sleeping in a sort of half-sitting position with her head down. Her ears feel cold, even though I've had her tucked up in several layers of blankets for a good 45 minutes.
When I call her or touch her, she doesn't react and won't open her eyes.
What do you all think? For those who've dealt with post-op recovery after a spay, does this seem normal?
Thanks in advance.
Translated from French
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Hi everyone, has anyone noticed any lethargy, loss of appetite, a lack of responsiveness, or a bit of vomiting even a week after a young female cat was under anaesthetic? They used an aluminium spray dressing on her without providing a cone, and she’s licked the whole lot off... I called the vet who says she’s never had any negative feedback about it... but I know for a fact that aluminium is neurotoxic and carcinogenic, among other things... I’m absolutely fuming that she told me I should have asked for a cone and that "not all cats lick themselves"... Honestly, what a load of rubbish!!
I’m going to try and make her a recovery suit out of a t-shirt; I’ve seen a few tutorials online.
However, I’m just wondering – she’ll probably end up licking the t-shirt right where the stitches are, and I can’t help thinking that a soggy, saliva-soaked t-shirt over the wound would be even worse than letting her lick it directly...
Does anyone have any tips for this?
Thanks again
I’m not sure about the stitches at all as the vet didn’t tell me; on the discharge notes it says the spay was performed via a midline incision.
But it doesn’t mention if the stitches are internal or external!
Hi @Blue Cat, I rang the vet because it was breaking my heart putting the cone on her, but she told me that any other alternative wouldn’t be suitable for the wound to heal properly... as I was also thinking about a recovery suit.
Especially as she has to keep the cone on for another 11 days!!!
Still, she’s eating and drinking without any trouble and she isn’t trying to get it off so much now, but she’s clearly uncomfortable. I think she’s been to the toilet because the fur around her backend is dirty and matted together.
Do you think I should give her a wipe with some damp cotton wool? It makes me so sad that she can’t groom herself...
The cone is absolute torture for a cat. Personally, I’ve always avoided using them with my girls. But if she’s really messing with her stitches, it would be better to put her in a recovery suit; they’re much better tolerated than the cone.
Mind you, she was really ripping at her bandage, so I’ve put her cone on.
She’s doing a lot of walking backwards and trying to get rid of it by jumping, climbing, bumping into things and so on—the poor thing! But I think she’s slowly getting used to it.
I find it a bit worrying leaving her alone with the cone on, but apparently it’s perfectly safe... it makes me nervous knowing she has the ribbon for the collar around her neck, especially as she pulls on it sometimes!
Okay, thanks! Her dressing is gaping a bit and I could see the stitches. She's licking around the bandage quite a lot and it's peeling off a bit, but I'm trying to keep an eye on her—whenever she starts licking the area, I stop her! No cone for now, I'm trying to manage without one.
She’s really perked up now, so I offered her some of her dry food and she ate a little bit.
However, something new: she keeps trying to settle in her litter tray? She curls up and stays there for ages, so I take her out because I don't want her getting litter stuck around the dressing, but she goes right back in. She's grooming herself in there too; I've got a feeling she's going in there just to lick her tummy in peace without me stopping her, but I'm not sure 😅
I’m so pleased she’s woken up and is already looking much brighter. She managed to get off the bed on her own; she’s still a bit wobbly on her feet, but much less than when we first got home! She’s had a little bit of water, too.
However, she’s starting to want to stretch against the sofa and jump up on the furniture etc. Do you think that’ll be a problem for her stitches?
Plus, she’s trying to lick her dressing a lot. I’ve got the cone, but she completely panics whenever I put it on her, so I’m not really sure what to do!
Thanks again.
