Cat refused to eat 3 days after being spayed

snowykun

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Hi, I just got my Milo spayed on Friday. She got home on Saturday, looking very thin since she had to fast before the surgery. Everything went well and when she got home she ate normally, her appetite was A-OK. For the first two days she didn’t poop, only peed.
Today, on her third day, I saw that she pooped when I was asleep. She finished her breakfast and groomed herself as she normally would. That was around 7am. However, when I was about to give her another meal on 11am, she refused to eat. Only sniffed a little and that was it. Then she peed, and pooped again - her stool was normal - but she looked so lethargic. Her suture site is okay, only a bit red that’s turning yellowish. I tried all of her favourite wet food and she refused. She only lapped up Churu sticks on her own and that was only a tiny bit. I administered her abx and painkiller and she went back to sleep until 6pm. I tried giving her food, but again, she refused to eat anything. Currently she looks like the day she got home after surgery, her belly is very shrinken down and she sleeps most of the time. It breaks my heart seeing her that way.
Any suggestions or insight? I will be force-feeding her since she needs nutrients to recover. If she’s still refusing to eat tomorrow I’ll bring her to the vet.
 

di and bob

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I had a little female that didn't eat at all for 3-4 days after spaying. The only thing I could get her to eat was a few laps of Delectables Lickables in the stew flavors. (Which is what I get now to give any medications.) It very well may be that your little girl was feeling pretty good because of the painkillers administered and is now hurting a little. Administering more painkillers may have decreased her appetite too, they are different from what she had. Antibiotics can decrease the appetite too. Her belly looks shrunken because of the shaved area. As long as she is drinking, using the litter box, and not hiding she should be ok. Give it another day and see how it goes. I have had MANY cats spayed and none have been given painkillers or antibiotics after, most were feral. They acme through fine. Look at her incision. A little redness is normal, if it is oozing a little clear fluid that is alright too. Anything white/yellow/gree/ should have her seen by the vet. a lump under the incision is normal too, swelling internally. You could send a picture of her incision to your vet to ease your mind. Start her out slowly and offer things she loves. Now is not the time to worry about nutrition, get some food in her, even if it is Arby's roast beef, tuna, or lickable treats. all the luck and keep us updated!
 
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snowykun

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I had a little female that didn't eat at all for 3-4 days after spaying. The only thing I could get her to eat was a few laps of Delectables Lickables in the stew flavors. (Which is what I get now to give any medications.) It very well may be that your little girl was feeling pretty good because of the painkillers administered and is now hurting a little. Administering more painkillers may have decreased her appetite too, they are different from what she had. Antibiotics can decrease the appetite too. Her belly looks shrunken because of the shaved area. As long as she is drinking, using the litter box, and not hiding she should be ok. Give it another day and see how it goes. I have had MANY cats spayed and none have been given painkillers or antibiotics after, most were feral. They acme through fine. Look at her incision. A little redness is normal, if it is oozing a little clear fluid that is alright too. Anything white/yellow/gree/ should have her seen by the vet. a lump under the incision is normal too, swelling internally. You could send a picture of her incision to your vet to ease your mind. Start her out slowly and offer things she loves. Now is not the time to worry about nutrition, get some food in her, even if it is Arby's roast beef, tuna, or lickable treats. all the luck and keep us updated!
Thank you so much! This the first female cat that I adopted and I’m very inexperienced. She is actually a mama cat and is still lactating. When she came home her two kittens did not recognise her smell and hissed at her. (I looked it up, apparently it’s normal?) I think it could be her emotions as well, she tried to groom one of her kittens today but her kitten hissed at her. It was heartbreaking because I could tell Milo missed her kittens so much and actively looking for them. I will give her anything that she wants to eat for now. Please pray that all is well for Milo. Again, thank you. I will keep you guys posted!
 

di and bob

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Yes, that is all normal, she's carrying vet smells and they don't recognize her. If you could rub them all down with the same towel it will transfer their scents to each other and help. They will come around in a few days. I have a feral female who has had two litters this year and is pregnant again. She is nursing 8 week pols kittens too, I plan on bringing her in to be spayed asap. She is thin and exhausted!
 
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snowykun

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Yes, that is all normal, she's carrying vet smells and they don't recognize her. If you could rub them all down with the same towel it will transfer their scents to each other and help. They will come around in a few days. I have a feral female who has had two litters this year and is pregnant again. She is nursing 8 week pols kittens too, I plan on bringing her in to be spayed asap. She is thin and exhausted!
That poor cat. Great thing you’re getting her spayed!
I tried the towel method when Milo first arrived. The kittens growled and hiss at the towel, but they grew accustomed to it. But when they get close to her they will hiss at her, sadly. Still doing that and hopefully some progress will come soon.
As for Milo, an hour ago I tried giving her all her favourite food. She refused them all. Even her treats, I had to force feed her. What worries me is she isn’t drinking as well. Last she ate and drank on her own was this morning. She is swallowing and licking when I force fed her, just refused to eat on her own. Still grooming after her “meal” (if you would call it that), and when I tried to force feed her after she’s done grooming she growled at me (and she never growls!). After I pet her and stroke her to calm her down, she goes to sleep. Hopefully her appetite will be back by tomorrow.
 
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snowykun

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Update!
Milo wouldn’t eat or drink anything the following morning. Even treats, I had to force feed her. She wasn’t grooming either, she was out of it. Her suture looks bruised, but it was worse yesterday. Today it looks reddish, yesterday it was purplish. So I went to the vet because I thought it could be in infection/internal bleeding.
The vet did physical examination on Milo. Her internal suture healed perfectly so there’s nothing to worry about, and she doesn’t need additional surgery. The bruising is normal, although hers was very large. So they gave her antibiotic shot, cleaned her wound with diluted chlorhexidine and iodine, and prescribed her with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. Her temperature was alright and she doesn’t have any fever or anything. I explained to the vet about her kittens hissing at Milo. She told me that that could be the cause, it could be a mild depression not being able to groom her kittens. Milo was active during the visit, looking curious at everything. Milo likes car rides and enjoy seeing the scenery. So she was very content when she finally can go outside.
And lo & behold. After the vet visit she finished 3 treats!!! Voluntarily ate all by herself. Grooming herself in her carrier, looking content. Slept a bit, then looked outside the window again. Begged for treats but she finished them all. Arrived home and drank water immediately all by herself. And ate too. I wanted to cry tears of happiness. Seeing her eat makes me so happy. Currently feeding her small frequent meals. She’s eating every hour and finishing them all!
Here’s a photo of her suture site. The bruising was wayyy darker a day before. First photo is the latest (today, 28/9) and second photo is yesterday.
 

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