Expert: Jessica - 9/13/2009

Question
I recently had my cat spay, and she is really not her self she wont eat properly or drink, sounds like she has a sore throat, her meow isn't the same, hasn't done a poop in 3 days i think, has been sick a few times, sits/sleeps in the litter box and wont climb/ jump onto or off anything!
What do you think? please help

Answer
Hi Asha.  This isn't normal behavior so long after a spay.  It sounds like she either has worse than normal pain or has suffered an infection.  Most cats receive an antibiotic injection before they leave the hospital, but she may need continued antibiotics.  Or, perhaps something has gone awry with the surgical site that is causing her a great deal of pain.  In either case, she really needs to see a vet right away.  If an infection enters the blood (called septicemia), it is usually fatal.  

Be sure to let the vet know she hasn't had a bowel movement, either.  It could be because she hasn't eaten much, but it may also be that she's caused herself to become constipated because she has pain when she strains to move her bowels.  If so, she will probably need an enema.  Stool can poison the body and cause a life-threatening condition if not evacuated in just a few days.

I hope she feels much better soon!

Jessica