Hi, my cat was spayed about 3-4 days ago. She spent the first three nights at the vet's. When I brought her back on Saturday evening she seemed a bit traumatised and weak, which I thought was normal. She was coming to sleep on my lap and was still eating a little bit.
But today she seems even weaker than yesterday. She's limping and her back left leg trembles when she walks. She won't eat anything at all now and spends the whole day sleeping :'( I'm getting quite worried. Please let me know what I can do to get her to eat.
Thanks
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Why? Get on the phone to your vet straight away. Some blood can be normal after an operation, but the fact she’s bleeding five days later is more concerning. Call them now!!!!
See how she is tomorrow and if there’s no improvement, give your vet a ring.
To get her to eat, try taking a little bit of wet food in your hand. She’ll probably be a bit hesitant, but if she’s at all hungry, she’ll have a little nibble. If she eats the first tiny bit, offer her another; if she's had enough even after just two mouthfuls, that’s fine. She’ll come to you for more when she feels like it. She needs some wet food that smells quite strong, something like Whiskas.
A good while back, there was a wet food I used to love opening because it smelled so good—I’m not sure if it’s still around. Kitekat, I’m sure some of you have used it before.
Get some rest and put her bed near you (on the floor, obviously). Goodnight to you, and don't hesitate to let us know how she’s doing and if she’s feeling any better. If you could tell us her name, that would be lovely. Thanks.
Kisses to the little kitty. gigi397
And do call the vet!!!!!
Normally, my vet keeps cats in for two days (he told me this before the op), but he ended up keeping her longer because I couldn't pick her up on the Friday – I don't live in the same town as the vet and I couldn't get a lift. He mentioned that she’d been feeling sick or had vomited during the surgery, but when I went to see her the next day she was just a bit tired but nothing more. She didn't look weak and she wasn't on a drip. I brought her home on Saturday evening and she was walking around and eating a bit, but now... she’s spent the whole day sleeping and doesn't want to eat. There isn't a dressing on the wound either... I’m going to wait a few more days and if she doesn't pick up, I’ll take her back to the vet.
Regarding her leg, is it possible the vet gave her a drip there? It’s easy enough to spot; they usually shave the area so they can see where to insert the needle. Have a look at that leg, as she might have had the drip in for the two or three days she was staying there—it’s much easier for them to administer the medication she needed that way. If that’s the case, it’s perfectly normal for her to be limping a bit. I’m afraid I can’t really say much more. There might be a bit of inflammation, or perhaps the drip was removed a bit too roughly.
Best of luck to you and your poor girl. Give her plenty of cuddles; that always makes them feel better.
Hi there,
Keeping a cat in for three or four days for a spay is completely unheard of. There must be a serious issue. Give your vet a call straight away and find out exactly what’s going on, because there clearly is a problem, and it didn’t just start since you brought her home.
How old is she? Maybe she's had a reaction to the anaesthetic—it happens to people too.
Does she still have the dressing on her incision? I hope so, otherwise, she might start nibbling or pulling at the stitches. Is there any staining or discharge on the dressing? There’s always a risk of a minor infection. Try giving her some smelly wet food; it might tempt her appetite, but just give her small bits at a time.
Personally, I’d have asked the vet why she had to stay in for three days. Did they mention anything about the op beforehand? Any minor heart or kidney issues, or anything like that?
Normally, this surgery shouldn't be making her leg hurt. Or perhaps they've given her a painkiller or some antibiotics that don't agree with her, or maybe the dose is too strong. I hope they did some pre-op blood tests to check if all her levels were normal?
Did she have any health issues before the surgery?
Anyway, give your vet a ring to ask if these reactions are normal and why she was kept in for those three days. Best of luck, and please let us know how she gets on.
Thanks, Filow, and give your cat a cuddle from me.
gigi397
Hi there,
After spending three nights at the vet's, she should really be feeling better by now. It’s major surgery, but cats are generally quite resilient and tend to bounce back fairly quickly. Try offering her some wet food, as it'll help keep her hydrated too. Give the vet a ring as soon as they open tomorrow and explain exactly how she’s behaving; they might ask you to bring her back in. When I picked up my kitten after she was spayed and had her pregnancy terminated, she was full of beans that very same evening, even after only spending half a day at the vet's.
