Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/behavior after spaying

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 3/3/2009


Question
I have a 10 month old female cat that was spayed yesturday.. she seemed groggy since then and now she is hiding under the bed and wont come out. I wanted to check the incision and i carefully moved her tail and she nipped at me. she never nips! i also saw puke under my bed. i feel like she wasnt treated the way she was supposed to be they didnt give me medications for her and i am worried.

Answer
Sarah,

It takes a while for the anesthetic to get out of their system. Remember, she just had a hysterectomy. As far as vomiting, she may have eaten some food or drank some water. She is not supposed to have anything until the next morning because it WILL make her sick.

Normally spayed cats are not given any medication. She probably hurts right now and is getting over the surgery and anesthetic. Plus she is upset at you for having it done. I would leave her alone for a couple days to recuperate.

She will be fine. If you are still concerned after 3-4 days, then I would give the vet a call and speak to him about it.

Thank you for being a responsible pet owner and getting her spayed.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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