Spaying is a delicate procedure that changes a cats life forever, but it doesnt end with the surgery.
Aftercare is just as important and since it is done at home, its fundamental to be prepared to face potential complications.
It is not unusual for a cat to refuse to eat after surgery.
If your cat does not improve after a few days, call your veterinarian to have her checked. She may need additional medication.
Why Is Your Cat Not Eating After Being Spayed?
If your cat is not eating after spaying, it is probably due to the general discomfort they feel after the surgery.
Cats usually have to be without food for 12 hours before surgery. The veterinarian may recommend that cats are given food withheld for 12/24 hours.
So if your cat is not eating after the surgeryits completely normal.
Some cats may have difficulty regaining their appetite after surgery for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes the problem solves itself after a couple of days, but when the lack of appetite continues, its important to contact the veterinarian and find the cause of the issue.
Anesthesia
Cats often suffer from nausea due to general anesthesia. Although the general anesthesia is slowly worn off over the hours, every cat’s reaction to it will be different.
The anesthetic procedure usually begins with an injection that is intended to calm the cat and allow it to undergo the necessary surgery.
An anesthetic gas with oxygen is administered through a tube to ensure she remains conscious throughout the procedure.
The cats might feel nauseated by the anesthetic injection.
The anesthetic gas can be flushed out of the system through the oxygen supply. A delay in the recovery may be due to poor oxygenation.
Cats should completely get rid of the anesthetic within 36 hours after the surgery, which means they should start eating again the day after the surgery or a couple of days later.
Pain
In addition to nausea, your cat might feel the aftereffect of the surgery on her body.
Once the anesthetic starts to wear off if theres no follow-up treatment the cat will feel the pain which may take away her appetite.
Additionally, cats can experience a sore throat from the endotracheal tube. This makes it difficult to eat and drink.
In this case, your cat will probably show interest in food, but wont be able to eat it.
You should not waste time. Contact your veterinarian immediately to discuss a plan of post-surgery care.
Elizabeth Collar
The Elizabeth collar prevents animals from scratching or biting any part of their bodies, such as the wounds left after surgery.
Cats are less likely than dogs to scratch their spaying incision, so its not always necessary for them to wear a collar.
Cats are free spirits and do not react well to wearing collars or other accessories, because they can limit their sight and freedom of movement.
Cats can become depressed, irritable, or even lose their appetite if they feel trapped or bothered.
In this case, you should try removing the e-collar and see how your cat behaves and if their mood improves.
For the same reason, confining them in a cage when theyre not used to it could make them depressed and make them avoid food, water, and even their litter box.
Dehydration
Like bacterial infections, cats can become dehydrated if they are left without water or food for too long.
It is important to not underestimate the dangers of dehydration. Long-term damage to certain organs, or even death could result.
If your cat is not drinking after surgery, check if shes dehydrated by gently pulling upwards the loose skin behind her neck.
The skin should immediately fall when a cat is well hydrated. If the skin does not fall quickly or becomes thicker, your cat may be severely dehydrated.
Before you give your cat water, make sure the anesthesia is completely gone. Cats will lose control of their epiglottis (the cartilage flap that blocks food and water from reaching the lungs) if they are under anesthesia.
When your cat has completely recovered from anesthesia, you can give her water in small amounts through a dropper.
You can also give your dog wet food by dropping it into a dropper or by placing small amounts of food on her paws that she can lick.
Stomach Problems
Between the anesthetics and the fasting, your cats stomach might simply be too upset to accept any food.
It is not a good idea to force your cat’s eating habits after surgery. If possible, ask your veterinarian for a diet plan that you can use in the recovery phase.
It is normal for your cat to not eat after spay within 24 hours. However, if she refuses food for more than a few days, it’s time to call the vet.
How To Get A Cat To Eat After Spay
It is important to not force your cat to eat after spay and to ensure she does not fast for longer than 48 hours.
Many cats feel better the moment they return home. It is important that you leave food and water in the room where your cat is recovering from surgery.
After 24 hours, if your cat is still not eating spontaneously, there are different tricks you can try to stimulate her appetite:
Prescription diet: Your pet should follow a healthy diet year-round, but good nutrition is especially important when theyre recovering from surgery and are in need of more energy and nutrients. To keep your cat healthy, ask your veterinarian for a diet prescription or nutritional tips.
Small and frequent meals: Its important not to overwhelm your cat by forcing them to go back to their normal diet right away. To encourage your cat’s appetite, give her small meals multiple times per day if she is feeling hungry. You can slowly increase the amount of food and extend the time between meals once your cat feels better.
Hand feeding : Your cat might be a little anxious after the surgery. Feeding her from your hand can help her feel at ease and encourage her to eat. Place a small amount of food on your hands. To tempt them, you can rub the food gently on their lips. Otherwise, place the food on her paws, so she will be compelled to lick it off.
Keep your cat company. Sometimes, all a cat needs after a stressful experience is you. Especially after surgery, don’t leave your cat unattended during meals. Many cats enjoy some cuddles while they eat, so make sure to pet her as a way to show your support and make her feel secure.
Medications. If all else fails, it is still important to get your cat to eat in order to prevent dangerous medical conditions. If your cat refuses to eat after spay or if you have any other concerns, a veterinarian can prescribe medication.
Experiment with new foods: Many cats are very selective with their food and will only eat certain foods or brands. You can encourage them to try new foods after surgery.
What Happens When A Cat Is Not Eating Sfter A Spay?
Every cat’s reaction to spaying is different. However, their behavior in the first 24 hours can change dramatically and may be quite different from what they are used to. This can be distressing, but not cause for concern.
Your cat should gradually return to its old routine. This includes eating and drinking.
It might take several days before your cat starts to improve.
However, some cats do not seem to make any improvement and their appetite doesnt return.
This can turn into a very dangerous situation because cats cannot go without eating for a long time, or they risk developing Hepatic Lipidosis, also known as fatty liver syndrome.
Hepatic Lipidosis
Fatty liver syndrome is a disease unique to cats which is more common in those cats that are overweight.
Hepatic lipidosis, one of many liver diseases that cats can get, is the most serious and dangerous. It can lead to death if it is not treated promptly.
If a cat does not eat for several days or consumes very little food, the fats in its body begin to breakdown quickly to provide the body with the nutrients and energy it requires.
This process might overwhelm the liver that cant keep up with a large number of fats, resulting in the accumulation of fat around the liver cells, which quickly compromises the functionality of the organ.
When the liver is compromised, it becomes noticeable through the skin or the whites of the eyes, which turn yellow. This condition is called jaundice and is common in cases of animal poisoning.
If the disease progresses to this stage, it must be treated immediately or the cat could die.
A liver biopsy and blood tests are used to diagnose hepatic liposis.
This condition can be treated with aggressive nutritional support. It’s meant to increase the cat’s appetite and restore normal liver function over the course six to seven weeks.
What Should You Do If Your Cat Is Not Eating After Spaying?
Spaying is a medical procedure during which a cat is put under heavy medication that could compromise its appetite for long hours or even days after its over.
It is better to let your cat eat after surgery for the first 24 hours, rather than forcing them to. You can leave food and water next to them and see if they start eating on their own.
After the first day, your cat should start going back to her normal routine, but if she doesnt shes at risk of starvation and dehydration, which can be life-threatening.
There are many reasons your cat may not want to eat. Although it does not always need medical intervention, you should still call your vet and ask for advice.
Sometimes your cat just needs some encouragement to go back to her normal self, other times a check-up and medications may be needed.
