How to Take Care of Your Cat After They Get Spayed or Neutered

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Everything you need to know about aftercare and recovery
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Spay and neuter surgeries are routine operations, but they’re still surgeries. If you're worried about how to care for your cat after it’s been spayed (female cats) or neutered (male cats), you’ve come to the right place. We talked to veterinarian Dr. Natalie Punt to show you how to care for a newly fixed cat, give you warning signs that they’re not healing as intended, help you make them comfortable, and answer all your questions along the way.

Spaying & Neutering Aftercare

Keep your cat in a small, comfortable room for 10-14 days after the procedure. Check their incision twice a day for signs of infection or other complications. Offer them their usual food and clean water, and limit their movement by removing anything from their space that they could jump on or climb.

Section 1 of 4:

Caring for Your Cat After They’re Fixed

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  1. If possible, ask your veterinarian to show you the incision before you take your cat home, and take a photo or make a note of what it looks like, so you can detect any changes later. Then, each morning and evening, check the incision to make sure it’s healing properly. [1] Call your vet if you observe:
    • Redness: The incision may initially be pink or light red around the edges. This redness should fade with time. If it intensifies or the incision appears dark red at any time, this could be a sign of a developing infection.
    • Bruising: Some slight bruising that goes from red to purple as it heals is normal. If the bruising spreads, gets worse or is severe, or if new bruising occurs, seek follow-up care right away.
    • Swelling: Some swelling around the incision site is a normal part of healing, but if the swelling persists or worsens, call your veterinarian.
    • Discharge: You may see a very small amount of light red discharge around the incision when you bring your cat home. This can be normal, but if the discharge persists for more than a day, the amount of discharge increases, the discharge is bloody or the discharge is green, yellow, white or foul smelling, your cat needs veterinary attention.
    • Separation of the wound edges: In a male cat, the scrotal incisions will be open, but they should be small, and they should close rapidly. A female cat or a male that had abdominal surgery may or may have visible stitches, which should remain intact. If the cat does not have visible stitches, the wound edges should remain closed. If they start to separate or you notice anything, including suture material, protruding from the wound, take the cat to your veterinarian right away.
  2. Dr. Natalie Punt, veterinarian, stresses the importance of preventing your cat from licking their incision. [2] Fit your cat with an “Elizabethan” collar , or “e-collar” . Your veterinarian may provide this collar, or you can purchase one at your local pet store. [3]
    • Some cats may be able to reach their incision even with an e-collar. In this case, call your vet, who may prescribe specialty medication, or another licking prevention device.
    • Keep the collar on for about 10-14 days after the surgery, or until the wound is fully healed.
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  3. Your cat may not eat for up to 48 hours after the surgery, but make sure you offer them food all the same. [4] Offer your cat a little bit of water in a shallow dish (or an ice cube) as soon as you get home from the vet. Your vet will probably give you feeding instructions, so follow those as best you can. If you did not receive instructions, consider the following:
    • If your cat seems alert and responsive, offer your cat about a quarter of its normal portion of food about 2-4 hours after you get home from surgery. [5] Don’t force the cat to eat or drink, though.
    • If your cat is able to eat, give them another small meal in 3-6 hours. Repeat this until the cat has eaten a full portion of food, and then resume the cat’s normal feeding schedule.
    • Don’t give your cat any “special” foods, treats, or junk food after surgery. Your cat’s stomach may feel upset, so keep your cat’s diet as regular as possible. Don’t give your cat milk; cats can’t digest it.
  4. For the next 10 days after surgery, make sure your cat doesn’t jump around, play, or move too much. Keep your cat inside and confined in a small room, away from other animals (including other cats) or small children. [6] Remove cat trees, perches, and other furniture that your cat may enjoy jumping on.
    • Keep your cat in a kennel or crate when you are not able to supervise them, and prevent them from using the stairs, if possible.
    • Understand that cats who are in distress—such as those who’ve just had surgery—may try to escape. Be very vigilant in supervising your cat, especially for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.
  5. Rest is important for your cat’s recovery, but too much time with no movement can actually slow recovery. Let your cat sleep and laze around, and don’t encourage them to play or run about, but do gently disturb them 2-3 times a day to help them recover from the anesthesia. [7] If your cat refuses to move after 48 hours, call your vet.
    • Avoid lifting or forcibly moving your cat. Instead, speak to them quietly, and offer them food a little ways away from their resting spot.
  6. You can easily tear your cat’s surgical incision if you lift or move your cat too much. [8] For male cats, avoid putting pressure on the scrotum (under the tail). For female cats (and male cats that had surgery for undescended testicles), avoid putting pressure on the abdomen.
    • If you have to lift your cat, cup your cat’s hind end with one hand and use the other hand to support your cat’s chest just under the front legs. Lift the cat’s body gently.
  7. Dr. Punt recommends giving your cat their own space to recover. [9] They’ll likely feel nauseous, out-of-sorts, and irritable, so place their bed or kennel in a quiet, comfortable room away from other cats, animals, and small children. Keep food and water close by, and be sure to dim the lights in the room—they may be disoriented due to anesthesia.
    • Make sure that you can still see your cat from its resting place. Block off any dangerous hiding spots or spots that you can’t easily access.
    • If your cat doesn’t have a comfortable bed, make them a bed by lining a cardboard box with a soft blanket.
    • If you can, put your cat's bed in an area with tile or wood floors. Cats enjoy cooling off their abdomens by stretching out on cool, solid floors, and this may help soothe the surgical site.
    • If possible try to keep the bed low, and prevent them from having to jump a whole lot.
  8. In order to heal after surgery, cats should not jump, climb stairs, or exert themselves to reach necessities. Move their litter box near their bed. Also, dusty litter can enter your cat’s incision and cause irritation or infection, so use a dust-free litter until your cat recovers. [10]
  9. Dr. Punt recommends keeping your cat inside for at least 4 days following surgery. [11] Ideally, they’ll be inside for their full recovery time. This will help the surgical site stay clean, dry, and free of infection.
  10. Your vet may send you home with prescription medications to give to your cat . If so, make sure to give this medication as directed, even if you don’t observe that your cat is in pain. Cats are very good at hiding pain and may be suffering even if they don’t show it. Never give your cat any medication that has not been specifically prescribed by its veterinarian. [12]
    • Human medication, and even medications meant for other animals such as dogs, can kill cats. Do not give your cat any medicines, even over-the-counter medicines, that your vet has not verified as being appropriate for your cat. Even medications such as Tylenol can be fatal to cats.
    • Don’t apply any products to the surgical site, including antibiotics or disinfecting creams, unless your veterinarian has approved them for your cat.
  11. Your cat is most likely treated with dissolving sutures or suture glue, and bathing them can cause these to dissolve too soon, leading to injury or infection. [13]
    • If necessary, clean around the surgical incision with a slightly damp cloth (and no soap), but don’t get the actual incision area wet. Do not scrub the surgical area.
  12. Many spay or neutering operations these days use dissolving sutures that don’t need to be removed. [14] This isn’t true of all operations, though, and your vet may need to remove them in 10-14 days after surgery, so make sure to attend any follow-up vet visits.
    • Even if your cat doesn’t have sutures, keep any follow-up appointments that your veterinarian recommended.
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Section 2 of 4:

Signs It’s Time to See the Vet

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  1. If your cat vomits after eating the night you bring it home from surgery, remove the food. Try feeding a small amount of food again the next morning. If your cat vomits again, or if it has diarrhea, call your vet. [15]
  2. Your cat’s gums should be light pink to red in color. When you press lightly on the gum and then let go, the color should return quickly to the area. If your cat’s gums are pale or don’t return to their normal color when pressed, call your vet. [16]
  3. Cats don’t always display pain the way humans (or even dogs) do, so it can be hard to tell if they’re hurting . Be on the lookout for signs of discomfort in your cat. If you see any signs of pain, call your vet and describe the symptoms as best you can. Common signs of postoperative pain in cats include: [17]
    • Persistent hiding or attempts to escape
    • Depression or lethargy
    • Loss of appetite
    • Hunched posture
    • Tense abdominal muscles
    • Growling
    • Hissing
    • Anxiety or skittishness
  4. Make sure that your cat is recovering by keeping an eye on its behavior. Anything that doesn’t seem “normal” should go away within 24-48 hours of surgery. If you notice unusual behavior or symptoms in your cat, after that period, call your vet immediately. The following are signs to watch for: [18]
    • Lethargy for more than 24 hours after surgery
    • Diarrhea
    • Vomiting after the first night
    • Fever or chills
    • Decreased appetite for more than 24-48 hours after surgery
    • Failure to eat anything after 24 hours (for adult cats) or 12 hours (for kittens)
    • Difficult or painful urination
    • Not defecating for more than 24-48 hours after surgery
  5. In most cases, contacting your normal veterinarian when you’re concerned will be enough to help your cat recover. However, in certain cases, you should seek emergency care for your cat. Call an emergency vet or animal hospital if you observe any of the following in your cat: [19]
    • Unconsciousness
    • Unresponsiveness
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Signs of extreme pain
    • Altered mental state (the cat does not seem to recognize you or its surroundings, or is behaving very unusually)
    • Distended abdomen
    • Bleeding
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Section 3 of 4:

How long does it take a cat to recover from getting fixed?

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  1. Dr. Punt reminds us that spaying is more invasive than neutering, so female cats may need more time and care. [20] That said, most cats will fully recover 10-14 days after their procedure, or 10-14 days after their stitches are removed. [21]
    • Also, neutering a cat whose testes haven’t dropped is more invasive than neutering a cat with dropped testes.
Section 4 of 4:

Can fixing my cat solve unwanted behaviors?

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  1. Fixed cats often have a reduced urge to roam, so they may stay closer to home. It can also reduce aggression or restless behaviors. Fixed cats also have a lower risk of cancer and other diseases and of course, can’t reproduce. [22]
    • Fixing your cat can alter their metabolism, so speak with your vet if they seem more or less hungry in the weeks after the recovery period.
    • Fixed cats also tend to have stronger-smelling urine, and male cats may still spray if neutered after they’re 5-6 months old.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How long after spaying does a cat get back to normal?
    Natalie Punt, DVM
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.
    Natalie Punt, DVM
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    It takes cats about 3-4 days to recover after being spayed, since the procedure is a little more invasive than neutering.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 38
  • Question
    Is it okay to remove the collar one week after surgery?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    The recommended time to keep the collar on is 7-10 days. If the incision site looks neat, clean, and free of discharge, then taking the collar off should be fine. If the wound is swollen, looks irritated, or is weeping, keep the collar on and contact the vet.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 91
  • Question
    Should my male cat stay overnight at vet's after being neutered?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Not usually. Neutering the male is a quick and relatively minor procedure which is considered day surgery. However, in the rare event that the vet felt he needed extra pain relief or monitoring after the anesthetic, then they may suggest the cat boards overnight.
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      Warnings

      • Contact your vet as soon as possible if you encounter any worrisome signs, or aren’t sure how to handle your cat’s recovery.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      2. ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
      3. ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
      4. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      5. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      6. ↑ https://spayneuter.org/before-and-after-care/
      7. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      8. ↑ https://spayneuter.org/before-and-after-care/
      9. ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
      1. ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
      2. ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
      3. ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
      4. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/aspca-spay-neuter-alliance/after-surgery-instructions
      5. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      6. ↑ https://westvalleyhumanesociety.org/spay-neuter-aftercare/
      7. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      8. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      9. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/aspca-spay-neuter-alliance/after-surgery-instructions
      10. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
      11. ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
      12. ↑ https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/other-veterinary-advice/cat-neutering-a-guide-to-castration-and-spaying
      13. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/why-you-should-spayneuter-your-pet
      14. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To care for your cat after neutering or spaying, keep it in a quiet, comfortable place indoors for the first 18-24 hours so it can rest without being interrupted. Also, make sure your cat has access to food, water, and a litter box, following any feeding instructions your vet gave you. If you notice your cat excessively digging or licking at its wound, you may need to put an Elizabethan collar on it so it can't access the wound. You should also avoid lifting or playing with your cat immediately after its surgery, and don't bathe it for 10-14 days so the wound can heal. To learn how to monitor your cat for complications, scroll down!

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