My cat is lethargic and not eating after spay. Is this normal?

All the behaviors you're describing sound normal and relaxed, even though they are a bit different than her. Going to the vet for an exam wouldn't be wrong, but since you're tight on funds anyways, and none of that sounds concerning to me, I think it's ok to wait and watch her. If she seems to be getting MORE subdued, or has a decreased appetite, a distended abdomen, or doesn't want you to touch her belly (if she'd normally allow this), then I would be concerned.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Boo. Poor girl! While you can see a decrease in appetite and potentially drinking after a spay, her appetite should have been back to normal or close to normal by now. It's very serious she hasn't eaten or drank in 48 hours, and that suggests something is quite wrong. I would take her into a vet immediately, as she may have a post-surgical complication. I hope this helps!

After 3 days, the recovery from anesthesia should be gone and she should be feeling like her old self and normal. For her to not have an appetite at this point is concerning something else is going on and it is not part of the surgery recovery. I would recommend taking her to a vet for a check up. They can take her temperature and make sure she is not dehydrated. They can see if there is an infection or a virus that is making her feel bad. Continue to do broth or you can try tuna or the juice to encourage her to keep fluids in until you get her seen. I would also try to keep the other cats away from her so she can rest.

Great to hear you are choosing to spay and neuter your kitties! Some cats definitely do recover more quickly than others. This could depend on the choice of anesthetic, recovery time, other health issues, and nutrition. 15 hours is definitely a pretty long time and I would have expected a almost full recovery from any anesthetic at that point. Extremely lethargy and unsteadiness could be an indication of a post-op complication, infection, or something different entirely. If Tortilla appears to be stable to you, this isn't necessarily an emergency. However, if you think she is deteriorating, you may want to go ahead and get the emergency hospital on alert to tell them you might be coming in at some point. I would go ahead and check her gums for good color (pinkish and moist) and try to obtain a rectal temperature (over 102.5-103.0 would be considered a fever). If any of these are troubling to you, get her checked out some time soon. Also, I would flip her over and take a good look at her incision to see if it looks inflammed, red, or painful. Hope this helps!

Occasionally they will act "off" for a day or 2 following anesthesia, and a lot of cats really hate wearing a cone. (though you should keep in on her!) The combination of everything you mention could lead to her being a bit cranky. And the walking backwards and falling over is probably from the cone. Take it off for a few minutes and watch her move around to ensure she walks normally without it. If she continues to be stumbling/clumsy/abnormal gait with the cone off, then take her to your vet for an exam. But If she is eating some (even if its less than normal), give her some space. Let her have her own isolated area... a small bathroom, laundry room, etc, with food, water, litter box, and some comfy beds and or boxes she might like. She should be acting more like herself over the next few days. If at any point she is becoming increasingly lethargic, she starts vomiting, she is completely anorexic (not eating anything at all for more than 24 hours), then take her to your vet right away. Thank you for asking PetCoach1

It may not be anything to worry about but I do recommend to call your veterinarian and them know. Pets are commonly very tired for about 24 hours and every pet responds differently. It is important to make sure Kipsico is eating and drinking. If she is not, she may need to go back in today for subcutaneous fluids. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Occasionally after spaying, dogs will have no appetite for the first 12-24 hours. This may be due to the lingering effects of [anesthesia](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pets-and-anesthesia-everything-you-need-to-know) and/or some post operative discomfort. If she still has no appetite two days after spaying, I would be concerned that she may be in [pain](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-measure-your-dogs-pain) or there may be another underlying concern affecting her[ recovery](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-ways-to-rest-your-pet-after-surgery-or-injury). Call your veterinarian to discuss your concerns. He or she may recommend a recheck, and some more [pain medication](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-pain-relief-solutions-for-dogs). In the meantime, take a look at her incision site. If it is red, swollen and hot to the touch, she needs to see your veterinarian right away as these symptoms may indicate infection. You can also try offering her a bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice or some treats to stimulate her appetite.