Expert: Tina - 5/2/2007

Question
Hi, my cats were spayed just 2 days ago. I'm just wondering how long it will take before the shaved parts of their bellies will grow hair again.

Also, one of them sounds markedly different now. Before, she had a pretty loud mew that was almost baritone. Now, it's softer and higher-pitched. I can understand why it's softer since she's possibly just weak, but what about the change in pitch? Is this typical? I'm pretty clueless because I've never had cats before.

I'll be very, very grateful if you can help shed some light on my query. Sincere thanks in advance. :)  

Answer
Hi Jen,

You should start seeing fuzz (noticeably shorter than other hair but thick as usual) cover the area in about 2 weeks, but a full growth will take 1-2 months. Watch the incision for any pus, heat or excessive redness which could indicate infection and call your vet if you suspect a problem. Most spays heal very fast.

The hair growth will also depend on how healthy your cats' coats are overall, a thick healthy coat will grow back faster.

Your cat's voice may be temporarily affected by the oxygen tube that is placed in her trachea during the surgery. The tube stretches the trachea a bit which can change pitch of the voice and often causes a sore throat. Likely, her voice will go back to normal within a week or so.

Good luck with your new kitties! As a new cat owner you might find some of the following articles and website helpful:

http://catnet.stanford.edu/resources.html#care

http://www.catinfo.org