Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure. On the day of surgery, the incision site on your cat might look minorly red and swollen. Check it once per day if your cat allows, and be on the lookout for any excessive redness, swelling, and discharge.
She should be kept indoors for at least 2 days after the operation (longer if possible) to allow the wound to begin the healing process.
To best help your cat after surgery, provide them with a quiet and comfortable place to sleep, away from anything that might cause stress like other pets or children. Make sure to have a warm, comfortable bed ready for your cat that allows them to stretch and alleviate any discomfort from surgical areas.
Should I leave her alone or bring her to my bed? Leave her alone. She can move around as she feels like it. They don't want to jostle their insides when they are sore by having to jump from the bed to go to the bathroom.
Sudden jumping or stretching can disrupt the healing process and may even cause the incision to reopen. Thankfully, few procedures require a significant crate or cage rest to help your cat recover, and most outdoor cats will be able to cope well with staying indoors for a few days as they recover.
Spaying: What to Expect
Recovery usually takes between 10-14 days, which will go by swiftly. Within a few days, your cat should begin to act like itself again.
Post-surgery you should use a dust-free litter, so no litter ends up stuck to the surgical site. Corn-based litters, such as World's Best Cat Litter™, are always a good idea.
Keep pet indoors after surgery.
Stray or feral cats should be kept in their carrier overnight; check that the cat is fully recovered before releasing it.
Pain and discomfort are two main reasons that cats hide in their litter box after surgery. Call your veterinarian to discuss the pain medications and any changes needed to the pain-management plan to ensure that your cat is not in pain. Make sure you are following all instructions to restrict your cat's activity.
Don't try to pet or play with your cat immediately after surgery. While this may feel reassuring to you, it may just keep your cat from feeling safe and rested. Avoid lifting your cat unless it's absolutely necessary. You can easily tear your cat's surgical incision if you lift or move your cat too much.
Restricting Movement. Our vets will probably recommend that you limit the movements of your cat as much as possible for around a week following their surgery.
You cannot leave your cat alone for the first 12-24 hours after she is spayed, since this is a critical time to monitor for postoperative bleeding and normal urination. After this, as long as your cat seems comfortable and is urinating, you may leave her in a confined area with her E-collar in place.
Some hospitals prefer to keep surgery cases overnight so that they can rest in a properly confined area; some veterinarians believe that this first night of confinement helps the incision in healing.
It is also very important to keep your cat on cage rest after soft tissue procedures, as there can be a lot of sutures which, again if put under too much strain from overuse, can cause wound breakdown and swelling.
o Many cats will not have a bowel movement for the first 3-4 days after surgery. o Reasons that a cat will not have a regular bowel movement after surgery include: - Your cat has been fasted prior to surgery. - Your cat may not have eaten well during their hospital stay or the first few days home.
The most important things. 1. Absolutely no licking of the incision area is allowed! If your pet is going to lick or begins to lick their incision, they need to wear an E-Collar (plastic cone) for 7-10 days after surgery.
Do not allow your cat to lick or scratch at the incision, as there is a danger that the cat may pull out the stitches or may introduce an infection into the incision. As long as the incision is not bandaged, inspect it at least twice daily.
After Surgery. Keep your pet inside and restrict activity for 10 days. This allows tissue time to heal and avoids the incision from opening up.
Your cat may be drowsy when you pick him up after the surgery, and may be a bit lethargic for a few days afterward. That won't be because he hates you, it will just be because he's had surgery and needs time to recover. After a few days he will be back to his usual self.
Spaying makes for a calmer cat. Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with.
Exercise and movement
Rest is an essential part of healing, but cat behaviour after surgery is different for every cat and it's not uncommon for some to be unusually energetic after operations. They'll need your help to stay calm and comfortable to ensure they heal properly.
The cone should stay on until the site is fully healed, and/or the sutures are removed. Most sutures and staples are left in for 10-14 days. Other lesions may take less or more time than that to heal completely.