Cat Not Eating Or Drinking 3 Days After Spay

Hi, really need some advice.

I picked up a stray cat about 8 weeks ago and had her spayed 3 days ago. Since then she has refused to eat or drink anything, even when offered by hand. She had an E-collar on that I thought could be the cause, but taking it off didn't help. She also immediately tried to chew at her stitches so I was forced to put it back on.

I took her back to the vets the second day of not eating or drinking (to receive pain relief and a check up, which didn't help) Im taking her back to the vets again tomorrow but I'm worried this will worsen her behaviour. She is very bad with the vets (stray cat) and had to be sedated before I took her in for surgery. I have pain relief for her from the vet but it can't be given without food, so she is hiding hunched over behind the couch and miserable.

Im so stressed and upset, what should I do to help her?

Have you tried tuna? Or even treats, to get her started?

war&wisdom said:

Have you tried tuna? Or even treats, to get her started?

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Haven't tried Tuna, but I've tried different cat food types (wet and dry) and have offered cheese (usually a treat in small doses) which she

*usually likes. Im worried about dehydration but woukd rather avoid a vet visit again as it is so stressful on her and probably not helping her behaviour.

Rivvan said:

... I took her back to the vets the second day of not eating or drinking (to receive pain relief and a check up, which didn't help) Im taking her back to the vets again tomorrow but I'm worried this will worsen her behaviour. She is very bad with the vets (stray cat) and had to be sedated before I took her in for surgery. I have pain relief for her from the vet but it can't be given without food, ...

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I'm so sorry your kitty is going through this! A lot of times, some of the effects of the sedation can be nausea. If you are taking her back to the vet tomorrow, can you discuss with the vet the possibility of that -- and maybe she can be given an anti-nausea shot while at the vet's. Even also a pain med or muscle relaxant shot to ease her tension. I am not a vet, but I know these things helped with a previous cat of mine when she had trouble wanting to eat again after a hospitalization. She had a valium shot and it really helped her to want to eat again. Perhaps your vet could jumpstart your kitty's desire to eat again once you both get back home, if the nausea and possible tension are addressed in this way?

Thanks PushPurr, I've neglected to add that as well as the spay, she also had an infected tooth removed, so could be another reason she is refusing to eat or drink.

Her behaviour is completely depressed/lethargic/hunched over and I assume the pain level is quite high as she has not had pain relief since the extra vet visit yesterday.

I'm struggling to decide if I should give her another day before taking her into the vets and stressing her out again, or if I should take her in to receive more pain relief which could then encourage her to eat. She is just acting so withdrawn that I'm worried this is a behaviour/mental issue after vet trip stress. Instinctively she should want to eat and drink even if in a bit of pain, especially as she would be getting dehydrated by now.

Just not sure what the right thing to do is. How long can a cat go without food and water before being in danger?

Not long. Some say, 18-24 hours without food, some say 24-48 hours. It is really important she begins to eat! If it were me, I'd take her in asap and besides describing her behaviors to the vet, also talk about a quicker way of alleviating the pain and/or nausea (e.g. giving injections at the vet or at home, versus trying to pill a cat who is not eating and needs food to coincide with pills).

I know mine don’t want to eat when they are dehydrated. It can become a cycle. Perhaps the vet could give some sub-q fluids to help with that? It has helped mine when they have had URI and didn’t want to eat.

Thanks ladies for the good advice. I have her booked into the vets asap tomorrow morning. Will focus on getting fluids, pain relief and take home pain relief that can be taken without food. So long as I can get fluids into her and make it through the next few days, then I think we will be ok. I'll try boiling some chicken into a broth tomorrow that can be syringe fed if needed.

I also have had a cat that refused to eat after surgery, and it was very helpful to take her in for fluids, plus the anti-nausea shot.

Warming up cat food can make it more smelly and palatable. I would also suggest trying plain meat baby food, and/or bits of sliced deli meat chicken.

Many cats who were born into to nice homes and grew up in them are not nice at the vet. Your poor girl has had a hard life, but her reaction to the vet is completely normal even for a spoiled house cat who hasn't seen trouble.

*update

The vets think a combination of stress and pain has sent her into mental lock down as she is now dangerously dehydrated as well as not eating. They're going to keep her in over night to get fluids and food into her to stimulate her appetite. Hopefully I can pick her up in the morning and with the help of some opiate medication to keep her calm at home, she will start eating and drinking again until we can get the stitches out.

Thanks for all the replies and advice, it really helped. Hopefully once we get through the next few weeks she will return to her old self and trust me again. Even though I know the vet work and spay was necessary, I feel so bad that she has to go through this

When the doubts creep in, remind yourself that cats do die giving birth. I'm sorry it was so frightening for her and stressful for both of you. Once she starts to recover the lack of pain in her mouth should make her much happier than before. I've had an abscessed it is a lot of pain. I'm glad you rescued her before she died from the bad tooth or kittens.

positive energy to both of you.

Rivvan said:

*update

The vets think a combination of stress and pain has sent her into mental lock down as she is now dangerously dehydrated as well as not eating. They're going to keep her in over night to get fluids and food into her to stimulate her appetite. Hopefully I can pick her up in the morning and with the help of some opiate medication to keep her calm at home, she will start eating and drinking again until we can get the stitches out.

Thanks for all the replies and advice, it really helped. Hopefully once we get through the next few weeks she will return to her old self and trust me again. Even though I know the vet work and spay was necessary, I feel so bad that she has to go through this

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That sounds really good! I hope she is doing better today!