Aftercare Instructions After Spaying a Cat

Though the procedure to spay a cat takes only 20 to 45 minutes, your cat will be groggy and dizzy for several hours afterward due to the anesthesia. The vet will also usually give the animal painkillers to help the cat get over the worst of the procedure.

In most cases, spaying requires an overnight stay, though scheduling surgery for the early morning and taking your cat home late in the afternoon is also possible.
  1. Keep her Calm

    • During the first 24 hours of your cat coming home, she will need to remain calm. This is not the time to play laser tag with her. She has been through a huge ordeal and is likely to startle easily. You will want to limit visits with children and other animals and be sure not to let her go outdoors.

      Most incisions will not need to be cleaned, nor will the veterinarian prescribe pain medicine. If the veterinarian does make suggestions, be sure to follow them.

    Easy on the Food

    • About an hour after you bring your cat home from the veterinarian, you can offer her a little bit of food and fresh water. You do not want to feed her too much as she is still under the influence of the anesthesia and is likely to vomit if given too much. If she eats your original offering, you can provide more several hours later.

    Later in The Recovery Period

    • Most sutures are under the skin and will dissolve, so you will not required to go back to have them removed. Only in rare cases will there be sutures that will have to be removed by the vet. He will let you know during the post-operative consultation.

      You may notice some swelling at the incision site. If the swelling is firm and there is no fluid drainage, or bleeding, it is normal. This will usually resolve itself in three to four weeks.

      Any fluid drainage or large amount of bleeding from the incision is abnormal and the cat should be rechecked by the veterinarian who performed the spay. If the surgeon is not available, seek an alternative veterinarian.

      If your cat has trouble urinating or develops a fever, you will want to contact the vet as these could be post-operative complications.