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My cat's spay incision is bruised. Is it normal after surgery?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Munchkin Longhair | Female | spayed | 4 years and 9 months old | 3 lbs

Hi my cat was spayed 2 days ago and she has a lot of what looks like bruising around the area. Is this normal or should I take her back? They’re closed over the weekend so I can’t call until Monday.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Catherine Stecyk

Veterinarian

Published on March 2nd, 2019

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The purple areas look like bruising that likely occurred due to trauma/pinching of the area during surgery. Bruising can worsen during the first 2-3 days following a procedure, so this is not abnormal to see at this time for Molly. This bruising should start to improve after another 1-2 days. I definitely recommend keeping Molly's Elizabethan collar (E-collar) on AT ALL TIMES until her sutures are removed by your veterinarian to prevent her from licking at the area and causing trauma/increasing the risk of an incisional infection. If the bruising worsens after day 3-4 post-op, and/or you notice yellow/thick, foul-smelling discharge, and/or if any of the sutures seem to have fallen out, I recommend having Molly seen by your veterinarian right away. Otherwise, I recommend monitoring the area and keeping her E-collar on. Best of luck with Molly - and THANK YOU for spaying your pet!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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