Download Article
Everything you need to know about aftercare and recovery
Download Article
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.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Caring for Your Cat After They’re Fixed
Download Article
-
Check your cat’s incision twice a day for 10-14 days. 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] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source 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.
-
Put an e-collar on your cat to stop them from licking. Dr. Natalie Punt, veterinarian, stresses the importance of preventing your cat from licking their incision. [2] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022. 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] X Trustworthy Source The SPCA of Texas Nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals. Go to source- 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.
Advertisement -
Offer your cat their regular food and water, but nothing else. Your cat may not eat for up to 48 hours after the surgery, but make sure you offer them food all the same. [4] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source 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] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source 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.
-
Restrict your cat’s movement, and keep them away from other animals. 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] X Research source 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.
-
Let your cat rest, but not all day. 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] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source 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.
-
Avoid lifting your cat unless it’s absolutely necessary. You can easily tear your cat’s surgical incision if you lift or move your cat too much. [8] X Research source 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.
-
Provide a quiet, comfortable, space for your cat. Dr. Punt recommends giving your cat their own space to recover. [9] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022. 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.
-
Provide a clean litter box with dust-free litter. 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] X Trustworthy Source The SPCA of Texas Nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals. Go to source
-
Keep your cat indoors for 10-14 days. Dr. Punt recommends keeping your cat inside for at least 4 days following surgery. [11] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022. Ideally, they’ll be inside for their full recovery time. This will help the surgical site stay clean, dry, and free of infection. -
Give them pain medication only as directed by your veterinarian. 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] X Trustworthy Source The SPCA of Texas Nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals. Go to source
- 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.
-
Avoid bathing your cat for 14 days. 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] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- 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.
-
Keep any follow-up appointments. Many spay or neutering operations these days use dissolving sutures that don’t need to be removed. [14] X Trustworthy Source Animal Humane Society Leading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal owners Go to source 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.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow long after spaying does a cat get back to normal?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.It takes cats about 3-4 days to recover after being spayed, since the procedure is a little more invasive than neutering.
-
QuestionIs it okay to remove the collar one week after surgery?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.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.
-
QuestionShould my male cat stay overnight at vet's after being neutered?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.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.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
- Cats can be spayed or neutered as young as 8 weeks old. [23] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to sourceThanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
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.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
- ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://spayneuter.org/before-and-after-care/
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://spayneuter.org/before-and-after-care/
- ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
- ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
- ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
- ↑ https://spca.org/resources/clinic/spay-neuter/care-after-spay-neuter-surgery/
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/aspca-spay-neuter-alliance/after-surgery-instructions
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://westvalleyhumanesociety.org/spay-neuter-aftercare/
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/aspca-spay-neuter-alliance/after-surgery-instructions
- ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/spayneuter-post-surgical-care-and-recovery-instructions
- ↑ Natalie Punt, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
- ↑ https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/other-veterinary-advice/cat-neutering-a-guide-to-castration-and-spaying
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/why-you-should-spayneuter-your-pet
- ↑ 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!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 864,105 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Everything here helped, since our cat came from the shelter. He went to the vet to be neutered and the shelter picked him up. We pick him up just a few hours after surgery. The vet gave no instructions to the shelter, so the shelter gave us no instructions." ..." more
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Everything here helped, since our cat came from the shelter. He went to the vet to be neutered and the shelter picked him up. We pick him up just a few hours after surgery. The vet gave no instructions to the shelter, so the shelter gave us no instructions."
..."
more
"I recently adopted my male 3 year old cat and was told he was neutered, but found out by my vet he was not. The place I adopted agreed to neuter him at no cost to me. This article helped me learn what to expect after my neutered adult cat got home. Thanks."
..."
more
"This article helped out a lot! It explained things the vet never told us. This article helped relieve my worry, since Hunter is the first cat I ever had neutered and I was really worried about him. I'm still a little worried but I feel better now."
..."
more
"This article was great! I didn't receive much instruction at all after the neutered procedure. This article helped me feel a lot better by giving good tips on what to do and signs to look for post surgery."
..."
more
"Thanks for the clear and informative advice, Spooky has just arrived home in good form and not in any way distressed so far. I'll keep her warm and lightly fed for the moment and see how it goes tomorrow. "
..."
more
