My cat had surgery, eating/drinking, but not using litter box. Is this normal?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Binx would have been fasted before surgery, so that may be why she hasn't used the litter box yet. It's very good she has eaten and is drinking, and I do expect she should use the litter box soon. If she hasn't in the next 24 hours, then I would be worried and have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

It is not uncommon when pets have not been eating or drinking well to have more extended time between visits to the box. It your kitty was a bit dehydrated from being sick this will also mean less urine in the box too. As it seems that your kitty is feeling better with the care your vet provided i would give it a little time. If he or she is eating then things should normalize. If he or she starts to feel sick again then dehydration may make things worse, and a recheck with your vet is then advised. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It depends on when your guy had surgery and if you mean urine/feces or both. If recent it could be anesthesia related as this can slow the gi tract down and/or he may be a little tired from the procedure/sedation. It could also be pain related. Do you notice anything abnormal about the neuter site (redness, swelling, discharge)? If he is eating and drinking normally then he will re establish normality soon. If he is not feeling well or you are worried about the surgery site it would be best to have him checked by your vet. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, thank you for your question about Jersey. I would not be too concerned about this right now. I suspect that Jersey was fasted prior to this procedure meaning that her GI tract is already a bit behind. In addition to that general anesthesia can slow the contractions of the GI tract temporarily. Now that Jersey is home and feeling better I suspect these things will normalize in the next 24 hours or so. However, if you notice Jersey straining to urinate or defecate or she seems lethargic or not like herself I would recommend having her rechecked by your veterinarian. Hope this helps and that Jersey's surgery went well!

It would be highly unusual for a kitten to have urinary complications after neutering. You are a good pet parent for monitoring him, but as long as he is interacting with you, interested in food, and is doing normal cat behaviors such as grooming I wouldn’t worry yet. If he’s repeatedly getting into and out of the litter box without producing anything, if he starts vocalizing in the box, or if there is bloody discharge from the surgical area take him right in.

It is common for dogs and cats not to pass stool for several days after these types of surgeries - probably due to the drugs used during anesthesia and the lack of food intake before and after the surgery. I usually don't get concerned until 5 days have passed as long as the cat is eating normally, is not vomiting, and is not straining or attempting to defecate. I bet Jones will go in the next couple of days!

Hi, some cats have to adjust to their new surroundings and will hold their urine and feces until they are comfortable. If his bladder is small, I would not worry. I would monitor him for straining to urinate or crying out in the litter box. if he is not doing this, he will probably be okay. I would give him some times in his new home to learn he is safe to eat and use the litter box. You can try to palpate his bladder by using one hand and squeezing gentle on his abdomen while he is standing up. The bladder should feel like a water balloon slipping through your fingers. If you feel something round, large and hard, take him to a vet. If it is soft and smaller than your hand, he should be fine. I would also check around his area to see if he has urinated outside the box. Good luck with your new kitty!