My cat just got spayed. What's her recovery timeline & aftercare?

The cat should be kept indoors in a small room the first night as she will probably be tired and wobbly on her feet after surgery. In a small room it is best so that way she won't injury herself. It is best to continue to keep her indoors for at least 10 days. Look at the incision daily to make it sure it is not red, swollen or having any discharge coming from it. If you notice any abnormalities call your vet. She should not be allowed to lick the incision. If she does, you will need to get her a cone collar to wear for 10 days or so. If your vet dispenses any medications for after the surgery you will also need to give her those. If you any further questions please feel free to post again. Best wishes!

She is probably a little sore from the surgery and falling off the bed. She needs to rest and sleep so she can recover more quickly. When you are with Kitty you can remove the cone so she can eat and drink. Just make sure she isn't licking the incision. I would do this four times a day so she can get her food and water. After a few days they usually figure out how to eat with the cone on. Often the incision will heal in a week so you can remove the cone when the incision is healed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitty.

I would recommend keeping her confined for at least the first 72 hours but it may need to be longer depending on how energetic she is. Making sure she stays quiet and is not allowed to jump up and down on furniture is paramount for at least the first week after surgery. Keeping a cone on her so she doesn't get at her stitches is important too. I'd recommend keeping a cone on her until she gets her stitches out.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, she can absolutely use her litter box. It is ok for her to be in the bathroom. However, it is important to consider using an e-collar if she is going to be left unattended to try to prevent her from licking at the incision and causing an infection or opening her incision. You can buy an e-collar from your veterinarian or at your local pet store. Good luck and have a great day!

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

As she recovers from surgery, the best things that you can do to help her recover as seamlessly as possible include giving her the pain medication prescribed by her vet, keeping an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking of the incisions, and restricting her activity for the next 10-14 days. Keep Tashi indoors exclusively during her recovery and try to prevent her from running, jumping, or playing until her sutures are removed - typically 10-14 days after surgery. Keep a close eye on her incisions for any redness, discharge or swelling, and call your vet if you notice any of these changes. If Tashi still seems painful (lethargic, eating less, vocalizing), call your vet to discuss additional pain medications, but do not give her any human medications as none are safe for cats. I hope this helps and that Tashi is feeling better soon!

I would not worry too much at this point. Zoii has just undergone major surgery and it can take up to 48 hours for her to fully recover. She is probably still processing some of the anesthesia that is in her system. She also was probably very stressed and did not get much rest while at the vet so she is making up for that now. Just keep an eye on her tonight and if you are still not comfortable with how she is acting in the morning you can take her in for a recheck. My guess is that she was just more sensitive to the drugs used and it is taking her a bit more time to recover than some cats. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.