How to Feed After a Cat Neuter

Some special care should be taken when feeding a cat after it has been neutered. A cat should regain its appetite within 24 hours after a neutering. Observe your cat carefully during this period, keeping an eye out for any adverse reactions to the surgery.

Things You'll Need

  • Your regular cat food
  • Instructions from your vet
  • Canned cat food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Veterinary practices usually have written instructions about the care of your neutered cat. Read these instructions over carefully before you leave the office with your cat so that you can ask and write down any questions you have. Your cat may still be a little groggy from anesthesia, but it should be able to stand on its own. Do not try to feed the cat unless it can do this and it's been at least eight hours since the surgery.

    • 2

      Feed your cat about half as much of its regular food as you normally would at the time of its next meal. For example, if it had surgery in the morning, wait until you would normally feed it that night. If you feed your cat only once a day and it's in the morning, go ahead and feed it that night. Mix a little water in with the food before you give it to the cat.

    • 3

      If the cat is not interested in food, don't push it until it's been past the 24-hour mark. Then, try to tempt it with some canned food. If your cat continues to have a disinterest in food you need to contact your veterinarian. Contact your vet if the cat vomits after eating. It may only be a side effect of the anesthesia or pain medication the vet administered, but it's important to bring this to your vet's attention, anyway, in case it's something more serious, and so they can make note of this reaction in your cat's medical chart. If your cat does vomit, it's important to clean the vomit out of the cat's nose and mouth immediately so that it does not choke on it.