Why is my spayed cat backing into corners? Could she be in pain?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lily. She may still be feeling the effects of the anesthesia from her surgery yesterday. I recommend keeping her quiet today and allowing her to rest. Monitor her so that you can ensure that she continues to eat and drink. If she is not acting normal by tomorrow, then I would contact her veterinarian. She may be painful. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications though as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

I'm glad Jay's incision looks good! A spay is an abdominal surgery, and cats can be quieter for a bit after the surgery. This is normal, and it's actually better that she is quiet because you want her to rest as much as possible. Now if you are afraid she is in pain, give your vet a call. They can prescribe some more pain medications for her if needed. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Make sure she is eating and drinking water, and continue to keep an eye on her and her incision. If she becomes very lethargic and/or stops eating and drinking, this is not normal and you will need to take her into a vet right way. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Cats do not usually run away when spayed, however if in pain they may attempt to hide so that they can rest and relax. If your cat escaped outdoors it is best to find her as quickly as possible to make sure she does not harm the surgical site and if you find her, examine the site carefluly. If you notice bleeding/torn sutures she needs to return to the vet immediately. She needs to be kept indoors until the surgical site is completely healed up. If she is hiding in the house or under a bed, quietly looking for her is best. Once found, placing litter and food/water near her is a good idea so she can access them as needed. If she appears in a lot of pain, bringing her back to the vet for care or pain meds is needed.

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

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she just came back home I would just give her some time to readjust. Sometimes with time they go back to their typical behavior. If no improvement, I would check with your veterinarian if she is on any medications as this could be due to her reacting to a medication. If she is not on any medications and she does not improve, I would also check in with your veterinarian to make sure that she is not acting like this due to discomfort. Good luck and have a great day!

This not being able to walk on her back legs isn't normal, and it's a medical emergency. Kitty has to see a vet now. This lump could be a post-op complication like a seroma. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

I would be concerned that Poppy has a serious ear infection. This could cause her to cry in pain, pace due to being uncomfortable, and potentially roll around trying to rub her ear on the ground due to it being itchy. Please keep in mind that without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain, but it does sound like she is very uncomfortable. The best thing to do for her is get her into a vet a soon as possible for an exam and treatment. Good luck, I hope this helps!