Expert: Jessica - 10/27/2010

Question
I had my female domestic short hair spayed about two months ago from a vet that was not her primary and at first everything was alright. About a few days after I brought her home I thought the incision was looking a bit awkward. It wasn't red or swollen but did seem to have a bit of green discharge. I didnt think anything of it because my cat didnt seem to be in any kind of pain and her routine hadn't changed much. However now that the incision itself is healed I've noticed the area is a bit sunken in like it didn't heal correctly and she has gained a good bit of weight. She was 6 pounds and now she seems to be up to 12+ in under 2 months. She's constantly eating both her food as well as my other cat's food AND I've caught her eating our dog's food as well. The bag that used to take me a month to go through is lasting less then a week. And her energy levels are not even close to what they used to be. I cant even get her to chase a cat tease anymore. All she does is eat and sleep it seems.

Ive called the vet where she was spayed and am currently waiting for a call back on her condition but I'm just not sure what any of this could mean.
This isnt normal is it? Could it have something to do the incision maybe not healing correctly?  

Answer
Hi Ariel,

A scar at the spay site is normal, and this can range in appearance from a noticeable bump in the skin called a hypertrophic scar, to a depression in the skin, called an atrophic scar.  A lot of cats have a normal scar, which is just a slight thickening of the skin, and it only becomes noticeable because soft belly fat develops around it and hangs over it a bit.

As for her increased appetite, this could a result of the spay, especially if your kitty was sexually mature before she was spayed.  Before cats are spayed, the hormone estrogen is released by the ovaries in large amounts, especially in sexually mature cats.  Estrogen has been found to be an appetite suppressant, so unspayed cats are less likely to overeat.  When the ovaries are removed, estrogen production drops off dramatically, and some cats begin to overeat.  Additionally, there is some evidence that spaying can slow a cat’s metabolism, causing some weight gain, and also reduce energy levels.

Most of the time, as hormone levels begin to even out over the next few months, the appetite will regulate, and the cat’s weight will stabilize.  However, it is very important to limit your kitty’s food intake during this time, because getting her to shed excess pounds can be difficult.  You may need to resort to measured, scheduled feedings for both cats as well as for your dog for the time being, and feed the cats separately.

Her lack of energy has likely been compounded by her recent excessive weight gain.  Although spayed cats may be a little less active than unspayed ones, I can’t say that any of mine are lazy by any stretch of the imagination.  I would continue to try to find toys that might pique her interest.  My cats love laser pointers and Da Bird.  Also, rather than feeding her her food in a bowl, place her kibble in a treat ball and have her work for it.  This will make her use some calories to get to her food.  A little catnip a few times a week is also a good way to encourage some play.  It’s harmless, but if you use it every day, it will begin to lose its effectiveness.

If your cat develops any other symptoms like excessive thirst or urination, or her weight begins to drop suddenly, you should get her right to the vet.  These can be signs that she’s developed diabetes or thyroid disease, or even has tapeworms, which cause excessive hunger.  These conditions are all unrelated to the spay and would simply be a coincidence.

Remember that spaying provides many more benefits than risks, such as dramatically reducing the risk of mammary cancer, eliminating the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers, and making it nearly impossible to develop a life-threatening infection of the uterus called pyometra.  Despite a slightly increased risk of obesity, spayed cats can be kept in a healthy body condition with careful attention to their diet and some encouragement to exercise.  I recommend a high protein diet (such as most grain-free diets) for cats who have a hard time losing weight.  My pudgy cats easily lost a couple of pounds with no restrictions on the amount of food they could eat when I made the switch.

Good luck!

Jessica