Neutering Aftercare: Things You Should And Shouldn’t Do For Your Neutered Cat

Home / Cats / Neutering Aftercare: Things You Should And Shouldn’t Do For Your Neutered Cat

Most pet owners consider neutering their cats because it makes their pets healthier and more behaved creatures. While the procedure is both economical and beneficial to the pet, it’s highly important that you know how to effectively take care of your furry friend after undergoing the surgery. It’s prudent to know the dos and don’ts in properly caring for your newly neutered cat. Here are some of the things you should remember.

Care After Arriving Home

After bringing your cat home, he’ll most likely be feeling some anesthetic effects. Typically, vets apply some form of protective ointment on his eyes to ensure they don’t dry out. The ointment can cause the cat to have blurry vision.

Consequently, you need to place him in a dark, warm, and quiet indoor location to recover for twenty-four hours after the surgery. During this time, it’s important to keep other pets – even kids – away from the cat. Even the most affectionate and sweetest cat can become aggressive, biting or scratching anything when he feels frightened.

pexels-photo-209037The hangovers of anesthesia usually disappear within 24 hours. After this period, the personality of your cat usually goes back to normal. Vets recommend that you stay with your cat on the first night in order to observe his activity levels and carefully monitor your cat’s recovery.

What About Water And Food?

Once your cat gets home from the vet, you should give him water. The amount should be minimal to avoid vomiting. Only keep a small amount of water in a bowl and then top it off when necessary. When your cat is awake and alert, you should offer one-fourth to a half portion of his normal food intake. If he vomits, you need to take away the remainder of the food. Avoid offering food again until the following morning.

The day after surgery, give your cat regular amounts of water and food. Since the anesthetics can make your cat a bit nauseous, it’s normal if he does not eat right away. But if your feline friend isn’t drinking or eating normally 48 hours after surgery, you need to consult your vet immediately.

Medication

Twenty-four to 36 hours after surgery, it’s normal for your cat to experience some minor discomfort and soreness. As such, vets give pets a long-acting pain medicine in a form of an injection after surgery. Experts prohibit the use of most pain relievers, including those that contain acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen since they’re known to cause serious complications and in severe cases, death.

If you think that your cat needs pain-relieving medication, you need to contact your vet first. It’s highly important that you follow the instructions of your vet regarding the medicines he or she will prescribe.

Washroom Habits

As much as your cat chooses not to eat, he still needs to relieve himself. With that said, you should place a sparkling clean litter box close to your cat’s resting spot for his convenience. It’s not ideal to let your pet cat walk after the surgery.

Dirt or dust from kitty litter find their way into the incisions and may result in an infection. For this reason, you need to utilize a shredded paper litter for roughly seven days after the operation. The other thing you need to do is monitor his urine for blood. A tiny amount of blood may be evident within the first 24 hours post-surgery. But if you notice there is still blood the next day, it’s high time to call a vet.

The anesthetics given during surgery can cause diarrhea or constipation, which may last 24 to 48 hours after the operation. If you notice that your cat is unable to defecate or urinate normally within the first 72 hours post-surgery, you need to contact your vet immediately.

Levels of Activity

Within one or two days after the surgery, your cat may return to his normal self. However, you need to keep him indoors for seven days to make sure it has fully recovered. Letting the cat stay inside the house also gives you the opportunity to monitor your pet closely in terms of activity levels and healing process.

pexels-photo-65006-2You shouldn’t allow him to climb stairs, run, jump, or even play during the first-week post-operation. Letting the newly neutered/spayed cats move too much can slow down the cut’s healing process. To be on the safe side, it’s important to keep your cat inside a small room, in a crate or inside a carrier. Don’t rush his recovery. It is much better to let your cat rest throughout the week.

 

[For more on feline spaying and neutering, check out the story of Miss Meowly Cyrus in a two-part article]

To remember when you got your cat neutered and never forget his medication you need reminders from the PETABLE app: 

appstoreplaystore

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

10 Best Christmas gifts for your pet

Christmas is the most magical time of the year and finding the perfect gift for your four-legged family members will only make it even more special. Whether you’re shopping for

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

7 Myths and facts about cats – know the truth!

Cats are extraordinary animals whose abilities fascinate those who love them, but also cause mistrust and skepticism in those who fear them. Therefore, even today, they are still associated with

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

Top 10 Most Common Veterinary Emergencies in Pets

If you think your pet is sick, they probably are. Pets don't constantly play up to get attention, so if they're unwell, they show it. And despite getting help fast

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

Tips to take your pet to the vet

We all want our pets to grow up happy and healthy, and to be with us for as long as possible! But for this to happen, visits to the vet

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

Brachycephalic Dogs – a breathtaking love affair

Brachycephalic dogs, with short skulls and flat faces, have been gathering fans all over the world, mainly because of their gentle character and cute appearance. These breeds have risen in

dog drinking water

Keep Your Pet Safe From The Heat

Global warming has us collectively worrying about our planet's future. Additionally, the fact that temperatures are rising has many effects on our daily lives. Everyone enjoys a sunny day but too much

Dicas para viajar com o seu animal de estimação

Tips for traveling with your pet

Summer is here! And we all know what that means... Vacations! Long and sunny days of peace and rest, including endless fun and companionship, together with family and friends. So

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642

How to walk my dog on a leash?

There’s no feeling like taking our dog out to discover the world - new friends, different smells, some challenges, and lots of adventures. But there’s so much more to going

blog template

Vaccination in dogs – what do I need to know?

There is SO much information on canine vaccination out there. But some of it might be more confusing than informative. Do you think you know everything you need about vaccinating your dog?

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable Esterilização

What age to spay/neuter your cat and what you need to know

In a veterinary, there is probably no more common surgery than spaying a female cat or neutering a male. For many feline parents it is relatively easy to understand the

Imagem Destaque Blog Petable 1140x642 (1)

Processionary caterpillars: pests that really bug our pets!

Every year, between February and May, we are surrounded by warnings and alerts about the pine caterpillar, and the risk of its contact with humans and pets. However, for those

gato a ser escovado com queda de Pêlo

My pet is shedding fur like you wouldn’t believe

Hair loss is one of the most common complaints reported by families with pets. The "problem" of hair loss is very common, both in dogs as well as in cats.

Comments(138)

  • Livia
    August 2, 2018, 2:21 am  Reply

    If my kitten has ringworm, can she and/or may she get neutered?

    • August 10, 2018, 6:00 pm

      Hi Livia. Talk to your veterinarian about that. Ringworm is a fungal disease that may take some time to eliminate. Depending on the type of treatment you’re doing to treat the ringworm, she may or may not be subject to surgery. During the surgery she will be given anesthetic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs and that may be a lot to handle and metabolise if she’s doing and anti-fungal treatment on top of that. There may even be unwanted drug interactions due to it. Talk to your vet but our guess is he’ll want you to wait until you get the ringworm problem definitively solved before getting her neutered.

    • Leandra Miller
      November 28, 2020, 10:21 pm

      72 hours post to neutering my cat, she has gone to the bathroom twice sense being back? Now her eyes are globing up with clear fluids and is not barley eating or moving around to much. Should I be worried?

  • CatLOver44
    August 31, 2018, 12:07 pm  Reply

    Hey what if your cat is vomiting? Is it something to be worried bout?

    • September 12, 2018, 4:29 pm

      Hi Ramsey. Vomiting is never a good sign, but it can be self-limiting and only occur 1 or 2 times right after surgery, meaning it’s more likely due to some nausea from the anesthesia and hence nothing to worry about. But if it goes on for longer it may be worrying and imply a visit to the vet. Hope she feels better now. #BePetable

    • Michelle
      June 15, 2020, 7:20 pm

      Hi there, I realise this reply is long after yr initial question but I’ve only just come across this website.
      As far as I’m lead to believe it’s quite normal for cats to vomit (after eating grass from the garden) it’s their natural way of getting rid of any furballs.

  • Lexi
    September 13, 2018, 5:14 am  Reply

    It’s been 36 hrs post surgery of my cat’s spaying. She has urinated 3 times so far since surgery but has not eaten anything. She has her regular dry food with her and also wet food to try, but is still refusing to eat. We opted out of giving pain meds due to the risks, but she got the 24 hr pain management injection. Would it be safe to give her catnip to try to perk her up? She loves it. Thx

    • October 19, 2018, 12:17 pm

      Hi Lexi. We would recommend staying off the catnip on the first day post-surgery. Just let the anesthetic wear off and let her get back to her usual self. Normally she will just need time before regaining her normal appetite and bathroom habits.

  • Fran
    September 24, 2018, 10:58 pm  Reply

    Cat was neutered today. Acting very hyperactive now not calm at all. Cone irritating him and he is fighting it. Any suggestions?

    • October 19, 2018, 10:03 am

      Hi Fran. You can take the cone off as long as you are supervising him and keep him away from the surgical location. That normally helps to calm them down.

  • Regina
    October 10, 2018, 2:02 pm  Reply

    Hi,
    I recently had three feral cats spayed/neutered and we are keeping them in small kennels with bed/food/water/paper litter. All seem to be doing well except one male who refuses to eat. It has been 48 hours. The little guy has put himself to the back of the kennel. He seems alert and scared. Is it time to take him to the vet or is this normal with a feral?

    • October 19, 2018, 11:28 am

      It could just be behavioural and have nothing to do with the surgery. Were they confined before the surgery or did their environment change after? If that’s the case, then it could just be stress from the confinement and normally with some patience and a lot of calm (maybe some feromone sprays to calm them down) he’ll come around.

  • Aidan O’Connor
    October 16, 2018, 9:11 pm  Reply

    My cat just got home from the vet and he is restless. We have him in a dark room but he won’t stay still. What do you recommend doing?

    • October 19, 2018, 11:39 am

      Hi Aidan. A dark room is ok but your cat might either be on the effect of the anesthetic, still. Or he is stressing out because his routine changed and cats don’t like changes in their lives, for the most part. The best advice we can offer at this time is to use some calming feline feromones if you can find them at your local veterinarian or pet shop (it’s a spray or electrical diffuser to send chemical signals into the air that tell your cat “it’s ok”). Other than that you can go into the room with him and wait it out. Just talk in a calm, soothing voice and don’t make any attempts to catch or stop him, just let him come to you in his own time. Every cat is different.

  • Donna
    October 21, 2018, 2:59 pm  Reply

    Is there still viable sperm in a cat that’s just been castrated and could he still bred for for a time?

    • leonor
      October 23, 2018, 7:43 am

      Hello Donna,

      Yes! For up to 2 months it is still possible for the cat to have sperm and he could still breed.

      Thanks for your question,

      Petable

  • James Bowman
    October 22, 2018, 5:15 pm  Reply

    Its been 5 days since my 14 week old boy has been neutered. He rarely goes in his paper shred filled litter box, its most of the time on his blanket,but got out yesterday and went in my other cats box with litter (i use Worlds Best which is corn kernals) is that ok? And can i add a small scoop of it to the shredded paper?

    • October 24, 2018, 10:44 am

      Hi James. After 5 days the risk of infection is low and if he ends up using the other litter anyway, you might as well add some to a corner of his own litter with the shredded paper so he can feel more inclined to use it.

  • Kay
    October 31, 2018, 4:19 pm  Reply

    I am having two kittens neutered at the same time with only one room to put them in. Is it ok if they are both in there freely roaming or should they be kept in their carriers in the room?

    • Alex
      August 31, 2022, 3:07 am

      I had two of mine neutered yesterday and they are both in a confined room together and are doing fine. Due to them both smelling like vet, they have been behaving amazingly.

  • Krimm
    November 9, 2018, 1:13 am  Reply

    Our cat finally went pee after about 24 hours from the surgery but he also got pee all over himself. Is that normal?

    • luna
      February 5, 2021, 4:10 pm

      2 of my cats just got neutered. one is acting normal while the other one is not. he’s penis looks a lil bit swollen and he hasn’t peed yet. it has benlen 15hrs now. he also refused to be fed but we force feed him using syringe (wet food+water) bcs he needs to take his meds. we also give him meds using the syringe. crush it n mix it with the food+water. is that ok?

  • Sarah Fay
    November 12, 2018, 1:43 am  Reply

    My kitten is affectionate right after I got him from the vets when he was neutered. It’s been days and hes still purring and cuddling everything in sight, is this normal?

  • Adriana
    November 16, 2018, 3:12 am  Reply

    Hey I just got my cat neutered yesterday Wednesday and I picked him up at 2:30 PM in the afternoon it is now today Thursday 10:11 PM and he still hasn’t use the bathroom but is eating normally and drinking plenty of water he is peeing but not pooping is this something I should be worried about ?

  • Bhanu
    November 19, 2018, 5:41 pm  Reply

    My cat got neutered today… But she is very hyperactive and her behavior is not proper…. I have kept her in a pet carrier.. What should I do

  • Richell Fontana
    November 19, 2018, 10:04 pm  Reply

    I have to mail five month old kittens that were neutered last Wednesday and one of the two is barely eating his behavior is normal his gums are pink but I’m having a hard time getting him to eat it does that have anything to do with the neutering

    • Ashley Wilson
      September 25, 2019, 12:42 am

      If your cat ever has a hard time eating get formula and a Medicine dropper and give them some of that . Most cats love tuna try that

  • tejaswani
    November 21, 2018, 11:48 am  Reply

    8mont’s cat done with neutered after surgery she is ok roaming outside after 1 week not taking food properly vomting she poop on bed while sitting we take her to near by vet he gave some injection and all still again on the same day evening we took her to the same dr. again gave some injections he told us to keep some milk she slept that night.2day morning she died.surgery failed ???

  • Iris
    November 21, 2018, 1:43 pm  Reply

    My 7 month old kitten has just been neutered 48 hours ago and he keeps on going to the litter box peeing little amounts only. Is this normal?

    • Sabrina
      May 8, 2020, 11:22 am

      Hi, I’m having same problem with my cat, Can you tell me did he recovered and peeing normally and was ok afterwards?

  • Shannon
    November 28, 2018, 8:45 am  Reply

    We just had our cat spayed about 36 hours ago. Today she was much more alert but she hasn’t eaten much, still not drinking, is purring more than usual, one eye is squinty, and she was mouthing/nipping me tonight which was different. Thoughts?

  • November 29, 2018, 12:48 pm  Reply

    My husband and I took in a stray, uncared for male cat. Yesterday, we had him neutered. Today, he is sitting at the door and crying to get out. We know he can’t. What can help sooth him?

  • Hareem Naveed
    December 7, 2018, 4:59 am  Reply

    Hi. Got my 5yr old cat spayed 3days back. She has liquidy dirrea today. She did bite on the scar once but thr vet says it looks fine. Should i be worried?

  • Andrea DONITTA G
    December 10, 2018, 2:09 am  Reply

    I neutered my 2 male cats a week before n their diet completely changed aft tat.. they are not eating at all.. what can b done 4 it..

  • Geraldine miranda
    December 14, 2018, 4:07 pm  Reply

    Hi. My cat just had spayed six hours ago. When we got home, she vomitted two times, what should we do? Thank you.

  • Jeanna
    December 16, 2018, 1:45 am  Reply

    Hi! I had my cat fixed Tuesday and everything’s been good. Eating, potty all good but Thursday she started throwing up and she is still throwing up it’s Saturday now. She has dry heaves if she hasn’t eaten anything. What is going on?

    • madi
      January 25, 2021, 11:17 pm

      Hi, did you find out what was wrong with you cat? ours was spayed tuesday and Sunday (5th day after surgery) she started vomitting also?

  • SaraH
    December 18, 2018, 3:53 pm  Reply

    My cat has jumped a few times after 3/4 days of spaying. Will that effect her health? Or her stitches?

  • December 20, 2018, 2:03 am  Reply

    my female cat ate a lot of canned when she came back from her spay . and is restless is that normal and was it ok to let her eat what she wanted my male is passed out on my bed he got a little annoyed at her walking below him now hes sleeping

    • January 4, 2019, 6:28 pm

      Hi Lorre,
      Restlessness and hunger are normal signs. You shouldn’t let her eat ALL she wants because it’s not really hunger. Just keep to her regular quantities.
      It’s also normal for other cats to get annoyed at other pets once they come from surgery. Their smell changes at the vet due to medication and other cats may not recognize them. After a few days everything tends to go back to normal.
      If your cat was spayed recently you should try the Petable app (it’s free for iOS and Android) to keep all her records and life events, plus receive reminders for medication and appointments: http://bit.ly/2yX7aQm

  • Trang
    January 5, 2019, 8:52 pm  Reply

    My female cat had sterilization for more than 48 hours. But she has been always look very tired and sleepy. She just wants to sleep all day and does nothing else. When I call her name, normally she would always answer but now she doesn’t. I wonder if this is a sign for something and we should call a vet? Thank you

  • chesna
    January 14, 2019, 8:12 pm  Reply

    my cat is getting neutered tomorrow he is an outside cat and I was reading all the things you had listed on your page and it was a little overwhelming so what are the most important things to do ?

  • Michelle Alexander
    January 17, 2019, 5:22 am  Reply

    My boy cat came home and wanted to play. He wants to do his normal things, like jump in my son bed. I tried confining him but then he crys and fights his cage.

  • Holly
    January 24, 2019, 1:37 am  Reply

    Hi our tomcat is usually out and about and never uses a litter tray, as we have decided to have him castrated where do I put a litter box and would he use it? He seems so desperate to go out bless him

  • danish
    January 26, 2019, 10:54 am  Reply

    hlw sir my cat neut-rate today now tell me what food should i feed hm

  • January 29, 2019, 4:45 pm  Reply

    Got our cat Boo neutered and picked him up this morning. He was a stray when we found him months ago and he still spends most of his time outside. He has my room and a spare bedroom to recover in for the next 7 days. He is doing ok with the e-cone but is very anxious to get out of my room and go out. As far as play goes after surgery, what can i do to distract him?

  • Bev Richardson
    February 1, 2019, 3:16 pm  Reply

    IN in morrocco and just had a male cat neutered the vet has given me some tablets but reading up on them Ronaxan 20 mg it say it’s for dogs only an and for respiratory tract infections I would ring my vets but he is morrocan and a little problem explaining. Any advice would be great

    • May 7, 2019, 2:48 pm

      Doxycycline may be used in cats as well. It’s not the first line of antibiotics (normally a broad-spectrum one) a veterinarian would choose after neutering but in countries where a lot of flea-borne sicknesses are prevalent, it may be used. If your veterinarian did a Complete Blood Count before the surgery and saw slight anemia, for example – it would make sense to give him this type of antibiotic that would both prevent infection from surgery and treat some underlying hemoparasitic disease.

  • Gianna Pantaleon
    February 1, 2019, 11:29 pm  Reply

    I am having my two boy cats neutered soon, after surgery should they be separated??

    • May 7, 2019, 1:53 pm

      Until they’re both awake and fully in control of movement, yes. It’s probably more comfortable to let them wake up separately, at each own’s pace.

  • Carmen Rosa
    February 2, 2019, 6:08 pm  Reply

    I spayed our three cats on Monday and their doing well. When can we remove the cones this seems to irritate them. It’s been 6 days all together.

    • Dorothy leah
      June 14, 2020, 8:50 am

      Adopted my cat she was spayed28may how long before can she go outsise

  • C Murphy
    February 8, 2019, 11:18 am  Reply

    Thank you for the helpful information! I will be keeping a few notes on our little guys recovery today. I had purchased the Nature’s miracle calming spray. He responds well to it. I am familiar with the Feliway pheromone spray. Is it ok to use the Nature’s calming spray sparingly after surgery? I didn’t purchase the Feliway spray, diffuser to keep my cost down. Thanks : )

  • Clarissa Alvarado
    February 9, 2019, 11:04 pm  Reply

    Hello, thank you so much for this article! I got my boy spayed two days ago; (he is an outdoor cat, but I leave him indoors quite often). He has been inside since the neutering, but I noticed that he isn’t nearly as hyper as he usually is. He has been sleeping A LOT He has gone potty very regularly, and has been eating and drinking just as he always does. Should I be concerned?

  • Clarissa Alvarado
    February 9, 2019, 11:04 pm  Reply

    Oops, I meant neutered sorry!

  • Ilovecats45
    February 17, 2019, 4:49 am  Reply

    My got neutered 16 days ago and hes been inside with very little activity or no activity at all for all 16 days. Would it be ok to let him outisde now or no?

  • Sara
    February 17, 2019, 7:20 am  Reply

    Hi I just got my two boys neutered Today they seem to be eating and going to the litter box normally. I have one in a kennel and one out side I have been switching them back and forth because they told me they needed to be separated but they can still see each other and one is hissing at the other and acting aggressive is that normal what should I do

  • Crystal
    February 18, 2019, 9:43 pm  Reply

    Is it okay for my cat to not be sleeping at all so far? It’s been 7 hours since her surgery, and she seems to be struggling to sleep, although she wants to. Her eyes look very tired yet she seems restless. She is fighting with her cone a lot and has taken it off 2 times, even though the vet adjusted the size. We have put it back on but she hates it and we think it’s preventing her from sleeping.

  • Francis
    February 20, 2019, 1:18 am  Reply

    Hi,
    My male cat will be nurtured next week and will put him on the neck cone after surgery, I am very sure he would run/jump frantically to get it off , should we insist and if his struggle would tear or worse the wound ? If in case he has very soft/wet stool or diarrhea which may stain or dirty the rear hair near the wound,should we clean his ass and rear hair as afraid infection? Thx your advis

  • Sierra
    February 20, 2019, 8:47 pm  Reply

    Hey, its been 48 hours and my female cat has not once used the bathroom since surgery what do you recommend?

  • Jasmine
    February 21, 2019, 3:37 am  Reply

    My cat just got spayed and came home the same day.she is resless and rolls around in her carrier.Should I take her out and confine her to a room,leave her in or can I just put her in a crate with a blanket?

  • Caitlyn McLean
    February 21, 2019, 10:49 pm  Reply

    Hello. I just got a cat from the pound and she was neutered yesterday. Today she wants to explore the rest of the house, as I have been keeping her in the bathroom, and I’m scared she’ll hurt herself if I let her out. She hasn’t been aggressive at all, quite the opposite actually. I’m not sure what to do.

  • Christine
    February 22, 2019, 10:16 pm  Reply

    Hi

    Is it possible that just neutered cats will avoid soiling in the litter box?

  • Michael
    March 2, 2019, 8:34 am  Reply

    its been 2 weeks and 2 days and sparta had not pooped the first couple until i gave him vasiline in his wet food then he wouldnt eat or drink and finally he started that hes going to be 2 in april i know how he acts and he still isnt acting like himself. hes always been vocal but its consistant he has now started to limp and cant even go down the steps or want to leave the loft where my bedroom is

  • Stefanie
    March 4, 2019, 12:42 am  Reply

    Hi, my cat got spayed 5 days ago. She’s been to the litter box once. She seems to feel a bit awkward with the cone on and keeping to herself. What can I do? I even brought her to her litter box and didn’t need to go. She’s been eating.

  • March 5, 2019, 5:06 pm  Reply

    I got my cat to get spayed and Umm my cat only pooped once and that was the day after the surgery… should I be considered???

    • Eya
      December 24, 2020, 7:27 pm

      Hey I just got my cat sprayed so I want to know what happened to your cat ,was he okay or did he had to go back to the vet ?

  • March 6, 2019, 10:34 am  Reply

    My cat came home from getting neutered and was moving around alot and I couldn’t stop him (hates that cone thing) and also I gave him like a whole can of paté cat food.He went poop once and now he seems like not himself,I think he’s in pain and I don’t know what to give him for it and can’t stand watching him thinking he might be in pain.What should I do? &how 2 can itell f somethin wrong w/wound?

  • Arleth Armenta
    March 12, 2019, 4:56 am  Reply

    Cat was spayed today, not sure if she is able to sleep in bed with me? She is wearing an E collar and I don’t plan on taking it off. I’m just scared she’ll try to get of the bed (which is pretty high) while I’m sleep and open her stitches. Any help?

  • Isaias
    March 23, 2019, 1:08 pm  Reply

    My cat can barely see and he walks off the bed and falls on his face. He also looked like he was almost dead after getting the procedure done (neutering). It’s 2 days later now he is walking around the house but he isn’t his normal self and he walks into things/walls.

    • Diane kendrick
      July 19, 2020, 1:11 am

      help my boy does the same his eye sight is getting worse why what should I do he was neutered at about 6mo hes.1yr now I noticed this after he was fixed did this happen to him cuz of the vet it was strange when I picked him and his sister up from the vets I have my own 2 nice cages they took the cages to the back to get my babies but came back to me with my cages empty and brought them out in 2

  • Sam
    March 29, 2019, 1:43 am  Reply

    My cat was spayed 24hrs ago but I haven’t been able to get her to drink any water. She ate a little last night and she didnt throw up which was nice but I’m worried with her not drinking fluids. Is there anything I can do to help her?

  • Dina
    April 14, 2019, 11:03 am  Reply

    My cat was neutered two days ago. He is a feral. Won’t eat but does drink water. He just sleeps and other family ferals won’t go near him. He looks sick. He doesn’t feel like he has a fever

  • Jessica
    April 19, 2019, 1:05 am  Reply

    Hi,

    My cat was neutered yesterday morning and hasnt used the bathroom that i know of yet because his box has nothing in it. Is this normal? What should i do??

  • alexandra
    May 6, 2019, 8:16 pm  Reply

    Hi, My 8 month old male cat has been neutered, today would be day 6 since the surgery. i been keeping eye on him over the time, and i never used the E collar due to him freaking out the first day, but today i checked it and the “right testicle” is a little red and swollen, could it be that its healing and getting itchy? there is NO blood or pus….

  • Luna
    June 27, 2019, 12:22 am  Reply

    The humane society I took my boys to have me NO aftercare instructions now they both have infections and idk what to do

  • Damien Carter
    July 10, 2019, 11:38 pm  Reply

    Just had my cat fixed he has been eating and drinking properly. And have urinated but its day 3 and still has not popped. Should i be worried.

  • Ashley v
    July 14, 2019, 6:50 am  Reply

    I recently got my cat neutered and two days later she is showing signs of what seems to be hyperthesia and was wondering could it be because of the medication they gave her during the surgery ?

  • paisley
    July 17, 2019, 6:42 am  Reply

    hi, my cat has recently been spayed and hasn’t gone to the bathroom (not even peed) since she got home. well at least not that i know of. i was just wondering if that was a normal side effect of the operation and i should wait, or if there’s something i should do

  • August 7, 2019, 4:55 pm  Reply

    Hi..my cat get neutered last month ..but his wound is infection n what shouyi do now

  • Shavon Mcdonley
    August 10, 2019, 9:41 pm  Reply

    My cat got neutered 3 days ago he is healing great no red no blood no pus he was eating normal and drinking that same day now 3 days later he’s throwing up after eating but literly right after so not sure if its tummy ache or ate to fast its only with wet food he dies ok with tuna or hard food but someone told me I can’t feed a male cats nothing but hard food is this true

  • August 28, 2019, 8:23 am  Reply

    Hi Vanessa, thanks to you to make this helpful article

    Precil my cat is just get neutered a few days ago, he was a good domestic cat boy, when I finished reading your post, I have more confidence to treat Precil kindly.

    Sorry for my lousy grammar because English is not my mother language

  • Christy
    September 18, 2019, 2:06 pm  Reply

    Where fo you get paper liter

  • Niha
    October 7, 2019, 9:21 pm  Reply

    My cat is spayed today. He can’t sleep at all. He suffering from pain. Due to pain he is biting his self. He also bleed abit. Like spots on the floor .. he’s body was alao shaking before i think it’s also due to pain. Oh my little fluffy 😞 please tell me what to do I can’t see him like this

    • Celeste
      October 13, 2020, 3:29 pm

      How did it turn out? Same issue by side and i am trying to relax but i am so worried about him.

  • Joanne
    October 18, 2019, 7:36 pm  Reply

    Hey my cat has got spayed yesterday and I have a multi cat house all siblings apart from 1 cat and I don’t know how long to keep her away from the other cats all my cats are female apart from her son Rogers, how long should I keep them apart??

  • Marianne
    October 30, 2019, 12:13 am  Reply

    My cat just got neutered a few days ago and he lost his appetite and he is throwing up bile and also foamy liquid and i have no clue what to do

  • Nyomi
    November 7, 2019, 1:59 am  Reply

    I just got my kitten neutered, and brought him home, he is more lively than before. Should I be worried about his recovery?

  • Farah Nabila
    November 23, 2019, 4:48 pm  Reply

    Hello, my cat just got neuter, after arriving at home in the evening, she eat and drink after that sleep but 20 min after midnight she woke up and she have a forming and drooling on her mouth, what should i do basically i put her in cage and moniter her right now..i wanted to go to vet but they are closed..the doc said she fine and i dont have any medication with him since the doc didnt give

  • CarIna
    December 5, 2019, 2:38 am  Reply

    Hi, my cat just got spayed today and shes in a small room in her cone. Shes meowing excessively and wont leave the cone and door alone. I dont know what to do.

  • Victoria Serra
    January 8, 2020, 6:50 am  Reply

    I recently got my kitten neutered, when he came home he was fine the next day he was also fine but the third and fourth day he’s just been sleeping and barely eating and I also noticed him walking a little weird. Today he also went pee outside of his litter box for the first time ever (his litter box is in the basement). I guess I’m just looking on any suggestions on what I should do.

  • Alicia
    January 8, 2020, 11:17 pm  Reply

    Hi! I got my 5 mo. old girl fixed 3 days ago. She just vomited, but has been eating, drinking, using the bathroom and all around acting normal. Should I bring her to the vet? Normally I wouldn’t rush to bring her – simply watch her actions and see if she vomits anymore but it worries me with her surgery.

  • Maria
    January 29, 2020, 12:23 pm  Reply

    My cat was neutered Monday around 12 pm, I noticed Tuesday and Wednesday that he’s been sleeping alot and maybe acting lethargic? He’s eating and drinking fine and also uses the bathroom. But to be honest he was more energetic when he got home after the surgery then he is now. I check the area twice a day, everything looks fine.

  • Taitum Clark
    February 6, 2020, 2:10 pm  Reply

    How do neutered cats not get infections? They sit on the floor all day so I’m really confused.

  • Shree
    March 14, 2020, 5:12 am  Reply

    My male cat stays almost outdoor and fighting with other stray cats and getting wounds severely. My vet is recommended to neuter him so that he won’t fight with other cats.. is that really a solution to stop him going outside?

  • NARDA
    April 4, 2020, 10:43 am  Reply

    Hi. My cat already being spayed for almost 1 week but now she seem weak & keep growling when other cat near her. She also can’t jump high. She need to climb step by step to reach high place like my bed. Should I be concern about it that she might be in pain or get infected?

  • Rhonda Norman
    June 24, 2020, 3:43 am  Reply

    My 1 yr Old cat was Neutered 4 days Ago & Feels Like he has a Fever – Very , Very Warm ?

  • June 29, 2020, 8:13 pm  Reply

    Hi, My cat is having a surgery this thursday I dont have a place that’s quite and a place that he cant jump I have a pretty small house. Any suggestion on that?

  • Zyairea
    June 30, 2020, 9:14 pm  Reply

    My cat has pooped in the cage and I cleaned it out but the vet told me that I had to leave him in the cage and now I don’t know what to do

  • J
    July 1, 2020, 8:29 am  Reply

    my friend and i both got kittens and they were spayed/neutered the day before we got them. It’s been a little over a week now. Is it okay for them to meet and interact with each other?

  • WaaHan
    July 4, 2020, 12:00 pm  Reply

    Hey, your writing does help me ease my worriness. My cat (after surgery) vomit a lot after eating. I can tell that she is hungry but whenever she’s eating she’ll vomit. Do i have to stop giving food until the next morning to rest her tummy?

  • Karmen
    July 16, 2020, 1:02 am  Reply

    My cat leos been purring at his food and when i move it he just goes back to it and fall asleep with it and im not sure what to do at this point.

  • Haley
    August 6, 2020, 2:39 am  Reply

    Hello, my male 1 year old got neutered today at 2pm and it’s now 7:37pm and I was wondering when he would be able to go out and about with the other cats? He’s acting like his normal self and his meds have worn off. He’s alone right now but my vet won’t call me back.

  • Rose anne Zamora
    September 15, 2020, 10:27 pm  Reply

    Its ok to take medicine if not already eat

    • March 19, 2021, 1:48 pm

      Depends on the type of medicine. Most pain meds should be ingested with food and depending on the antibiotics, some will actual not go well on an empty stomach. You should always talk to your veterinarian if you have doubts about the prescription. They’ll know what’s best and might suggest an alternative (such as injectable meds) while your pet’s appetite doesn’t come back.

  • Jeson jesus Domingo IV
    October 11, 2020, 7:58 am  Reply

    Hi, my cat has an open wound in his right paw and I’m worried it may affect his healing process after getting neutered. He got his wound 5 days ago and he is scheduled to be neutered 2 weeks from now. Will he be alright? Or should I reschedule his surgery?

  • Mia
    October 11, 2020, 4:12 pm  Reply

    Hi. Mi cat has been having diarrhea and her surfy was on Monday. Should I be concerned. I don’t know if I should be beacause I did change her diet immediately after I got her then she had her surgery. Do I need to take her to the vet right away? She does have an appointment for tomorrow. Is it okay to wait that long?

  • MICHAELS
    November 9, 2020, 4:46 pm  Reply

    My kitty is 6 months old, I think he is having a few of the negative side effects. He has two casts on his right and left paw after the declawing process, so he can’t walk right. He is constantly trying to escape his designated location and won’t move unless he can run down the stairs and out of whatever room he is in. He also got fixed so he is crying and whining. Do you have any comfort tips?

  • pia_worried owner
    December 3, 2020, 11:01 pm  Reply

    My cat’s wounds got infected and swelled from a catfight, and I heard neutering helps, I am very worried.

    • March 19, 2021, 1:37 pm

      Neutering helps in avoiding future cat fights, as the hormones responsible for territorial behaviour are removed.

  • December 12, 2020, 12:08 pm  Reply

    My cat was neutered 2 days ago. He’s about 6 months old.
    Now he seems to be very lethargic, is this normal?

  • December 16, 2020, 5:04 am  Reply

    Is it okay for my cat to sleep with me because it’s the only way she will rest she hates being away or locked she keeps Crying and Spinning around in her kennel. She’s currently sleeping right next to me is this okay? She has a wrap around her Stiches.

    • March 19, 2021, 1:33 pm

      This is totally OK. As long as she is calm, that’s the most important thing

  • Taylor moon
    December 17, 2020, 11:13 am  Reply

    Hey my kitty got neutered 6 days ago. Hes acting like himself and sleeping a lot. He’s healing nicely but one of his balls has a scab on it, should I monitor him until the scab falls off?

  • Aditi Das
    January 22, 2021, 5:16 pm  Reply

    My cat got spayed 4days before. She is still very sleepy and having much lesser food. Is that normal. Please respond as i am very worried

  • Diana
    January 25, 2021, 10:51 am  Reply

    Hi, how long before my cat loses her period after the operation. It’s been a month already, thanks.

    • March 19, 2021, 1:02 pm

      In actual fact, cats don’t have periods. Not in the sense humans do. A human period means the fertile part of the cycle (when ovulation occurs) has finished and the uterus is getting ready for a new cycle. What cats DO have is what’s commonly called being “in heat”, which corresponds to estrus (the fertile part of the cycle). Cats also don’t usually bleed during this phase (unlike dogs). What you will notice (A LOT) during feline heat, is the behavioural changes, such as excessive vocalization. After spaying (ovariohysterectomy) both the uterus and the ovaries are removed, removing the source of the hormones that cause the behavior. Spaying a cat in heat is not ideal because of enlarged blood vessels surrounding the reproductive system and the surgery tends to take longer to perform. You might even be charged more for the procedure, due to the extra time and supplies necessary. However, there is no added risk to the cat’s health if it absolutely necessary to perform during this time. If it’s been a month after surgery and your cat is still displaying heat behaviour you should talk to your veterinarian.
      However, if what you’re seeing in your cat is vaginal bleeding, DEFINITELY talk to your veterinarian. That is not normal at all, especially a month after surgery.

  • Rayih
    January 29, 2021, 3:14 pm  Reply

    Hi, my cat just got home after getting neutered. She has managed to take out her band-aid that was guarding the incision. Am i supposed to take any serious actions? I’m worried about her getting infected, how will I know if she has?

  • Manal sheikh
    March 18, 2021, 7:44 pm  Reply

    My 5-month-old cat got neutered around 2 days ago. She was with the vet for a day but she is refusing to eat and drink anything the 2nd day. not drinking water not even eating her treat and looks very weak. My older cat is around 2 year old she got neutered at the same time but she’s doing a lot better and has started eating and drinking normally. What should I do about my younger cat?

    • March 19, 2021, 11:02 am

      Call your veterinarian as soon as possible and describe the situation. Some pets may have underlying diseases (like hematologic mycoplasms or other diseases) that are asymptomatic up until any event that causes the body to recover (like surgery). There are many other causes to her apparent weakness (including pain) but these must be ruled out by a professional. The worrisome part is that she’s refusing food and especially not having any water since the surgery. This is most detrimental to her health and is considered an emergency. You must seek professional assistance or you might lose your kitten.

  • Yo
    March 28, 2021, 1:46 pm  Reply

    The day i brought my kitty back home from being neutered he jumped out of the crate and went back to 100 i couldnt stop him from jumping around and being goofy hes a very playful cat but he seems to be healing very well and doesnt even lick at his wound its lime he never had surgery at all

  • Sweetzel Hope Gaguan
    April 19, 2021, 4:40 am  Reply

    It is okay to neuterd 1 and half month old cat? I feel worry for my pet.

    • May 13, 2021, 3:53 pm

      Studies show that neutering can be performed safely in kittens as young as 6–14 weeks of age. However, it is the responsibility of the veterinarian to decide when it is the best time to neuter each cat. Early spay/neutering in kittens has many benefits, as many male cats start spraying and females may go into heat (and become pregnant) as early as 5 to 6 months of age. Some veterinarians will have a minimum weight limit, below which they will not neuter a kitten even if it is within the safe age limit. Discuss your options with your veterinarian an express your concern, so that you may collect more information. But rest assured, international feline health guidelines point to the many health benefits your cat will have throughout his life if neutering occurs before sexual hormones have fully kicked in. It is easier to avoid unwanted behaviours like roaming and urine spraying in the house if they never become a habit before the source of testosterone is removed. Cats that are neutered later in life sometimes maintain behaviours associated with reproduction, out of habit. Here is a statement by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, hope it helps: https://catvets.com/public/PDFs/PositionStatements/EarlySpay&Neuter.pdf

  • Jackie
    June 25, 2021, 2:41 am  Reply

    Hi, my 4 month old kitten just got spayed on Sunday. She was literally back to her normal self and doing fine the first 2 days back. Now we are on day 4 after spay and she does not leave the bed. Yesterday and today she just sleeps and lays there. Is this normal? I’m a first time cat mom and very worried 🙁

    • bruno
      August 16, 2021, 11:22 pm

      By this time, we hope your kitten is more than recovered. After surgery, some cats may behave differently when faced with recovery situations. But whenever there is significant prostration, the animal should be evaluated by the attending veterinarian as soon as possible.

  • Ghalia .F
    August 17, 2021, 10:22 pm  Reply

    hello, my female cat just got nutured and she is very off she can barely walk, she isnt sleeping well so every time she moves she falls asleep on herslef. she is very slow and tends to tip over a little bit. should i be worried?

    • bruno
      August 17, 2021, 11:42 pm

      All the changes you describe appear to be the normal reaction for the first few hours after surgery. Once the anesthesia has completely worn off, she should gradually regain her functions and return to normal. If symptoms persist you should contact your attending veterinarian.

  • Oyen
    August 30, 2021, 9:29 am  Reply

    Can I ask?…Im still a beginner…so basically….when I brought my male cat home after he get neutered.i let him rest for a few hours to chill out and then put him inside his cage….after I did some research that, I can’t put him in a cage within 24 hours…and he’s really aggressive when I tried to touch him…also the veterian at my place forget to place his cone. Is it safe to put it myself?

  • Liz
    October 11, 2021, 5:00 am  Reply

    Hi may cat was spayed 3 days ago, she vomited once two days after surgery, I stopped giving pains meds, she was fine until tonight. Tonight she has been vomiting all food, now even water. Is there something I should give her or do?

    • November 22, 2021, 4:00 pm

      If symptoms like vomit or diarrhoea appear, particularly after surgery, the veterinary surgeons that spayed your pet should be contacted and their opinion is the one to follow!

  • AJ
    December 31, 2021, 10:45 pm  Reply

    Hi my cat is getting neuter next week but she’s currently on heat for the past 3 days. I know cat on heat cannot do neuter procedure but how do I calm her down and keep her calm until her surgery? I work half of the day, I already tried giving her more attention & played calm music for her. Rescheduling the surgery would not be easy as I already applied my day off work caring for her post surgery.

    • January 23, 2022, 4:34 pm

      Hi, cats in heat can be spayed. Typically, veterinarians try to avoid this time in the cat’s life to do the surgery, because the uterine structures and vessels are all a bit more engorged and thus surgeons need to be extra careful and watch for any internal bleeders during the procedure. The reproductive time in cats (heat) depends on many factors, one of which is hours of light in the day. When we bring them indoors, with our artificial lighting, we play havoc on their sensitivity to light periods and thus end up having more heats than they would normally have in the wild. Talk to your veterinarians, explain the situation and ask if they can do the surgery anyway. Hope all goes well.

  • Raeesah
    January 16, 2022, 6:31 pm  Reply

    Can I let my cat jump on my bed and windowsill after being spayed?

    • January 23, 2022, 4:20 pm

      Hi, this depends on the methodology of the surgery. Some pets, having been spayed by minimally-invasive surgery, may not have sutures (external or internal) and in that case they’re fine with jumping. If your cat had abdominal surgery (most common) the abdominal wound needs to heal properly before suffering unnecessary strain and tension that could result in suture dehiscence (basically, rupture or loosening of the stitches) that can lead to internal bleeding or, at best, require new sutures. It’s not so much the jumping UP on things that causes trouble. In our experience, it’s generally when they jump DOWN from high places that things can go wrong. If you can, in some way, avoid letting your cat up on high places and give the sutures time to heal, all will go well. Assuming the bed isn’t too high, you shouldn’t have a problem.

  • Willow Blackwell
    November 29, 2022, 2:53 am  Reply

    I have been raising cats for 2 years and in my experience, it is advisable to spay cats after a while. As far as I know, they live 3 to 5 years longer. It also helps them not to walk multiple and the risk of infectious diseases. Neutering prevents a possible danger to the mother cat. Keep them safe and healthy.
    I have 2 cute kittens and I also had them neutered when they were 5-6 months old. The c

    • December 9, 2022, 1:58 am

      The information you provide is really helpful for cat owners. I learned a lot from your experience reading your article. Thank you for these good things. I hope to see you more often in the future.

Leave a Comment