My female cat got sterilized today...

Italy
September 28, 2010 2:21pm CST
Hi myLotters! I know that I'm behaving like an anxious mum, but... oh well, I am one, to be honest. My female cat (she's one year and a half) got sterilized today at 1 pm more or less. I brought her home at 5 pm, she was already awake, but she couldn't still walk properly, she was constantly stumbling on her feet. I put her in her kettel and I'm keeping her warm and quiet, and now she's sleeping in a weird position (of course I think that's because her tummy still hurts). It's 9 pm here. How long it will take her to recover? The vet told me not to give her water until 11 pm and not to give her food until tomorrow morning or late in the night. Tell me about your experiences :) I need to calm down!
7 responses
@Ayla67 (35)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Cats are usually back to their old lives after a day or two. She was stumbling probably due to the pain medications they gave her, that should be pretty much over when she wakes up again. Just watch her and try to make her as comfortable as you can. Follow what the vet said.
1 person likes this
• Italy
28 Sep 10
That's what I thought, thank you. The anesthesia was really strong I think, and the surgery is a serious one, even if veterinarians all over the world are used to it. But she's still tiny, so it will take her some time to fully recover. :) I just wish my other male cat weren't so worried about her... :D
@Ayla67 (35)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Oh, I forgot to add; the food and water restrictions are mainly to reduce her chances of becoming nauseous and to let the stitches set in a little better.
1 person likes this
• Italy
28 Sep 10
I will follow the vet's instructions about water and food then. I hadn't the intention of forcing her to eat anyway! Thank you again!
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
28 Sep 10
I've had a lot of cats fixed, and she should be pretty much better tomorrow. I understand being an anxious mum, my vets normally want to keep the cats overnight and I wouldn't let them keep my Oliver (the black and white kitten in my avatar) because he had never spent a night away from us since he was a week old. He's going to be 5 later this week and STILL hasn't spent a night away from my house!
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
28 Sep 10
Sparky and Scamp - Sparky is the baby, Scamp is our next to the oldest...
is her brother fixed? all my cats are fixed, except for Sparky, but he's too young...
• Italy
28 Sep 10
I just left her near my dad because I wanted to take a shower, and when I got out of the bathroom I noticed that she walks much more better now, and that she was looking for me! And I understand, my vet told us that she could have kept her overnight if we wanted, but I refused. Her brother at home cried the whole day without her, and I don't think that being in an unfamiliar place would do her any good. ^^
1 person likes this
• Italy
28 Sep 10
Yes he was fixed in January, but for a weird case he succeeded in getting her pregnant the very same day he got fixed. The anesthesia didn't do much to him, an hour after he got home he was already jumping his sister and eating a lot. Oh well, all the cats have their own character. How old is Sparky? No matter what other people may say, I still think that getting cats fixed is the best way to assure them a long and happy life.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 10
I had my cat neutered this summer and the vet told us to keep him still for at least 10 days so he could heal. I would think this would be the same for a female cat too. By now she is probley running all around but try to keep her from running and jumping as much as possible.
• Italy
29 Sep 10
Actually, a female cat sterilization is much more though than a male cat's one (even though it depends on the type of surgery, of course). I got my male cat fixed in January and he recovered completely in less than two days, but he hadn't a cut on his tummy like my baby girl here. She's a lot better today, she ate and tried to run and play with her brother, but when I stopped her, she sat down and rested. She sleeps more than normal, but the vet told us it will take her more or less a week to recover fully. :)
• Mexico
29 Sep 10
a few months ago I did the same but with 2 cats females, a whole entire day without food and water, second day only a little water and little food, recovered to 100% in 10 days... (not give any food hard or heavy, in those days.)
@ShadoCat (92)
• United States
29 Sep 10
I've had several cats. What you described seems very normal to me. I think that she'll be much happier now. They say that cats live much longer as pets than they do in the wild because they have a lot less stress. They have "mommy" taking care of them. Not having to deal with going into heat will reduce her stress levels even more (not to mention the stress of giving birth). If your cats spend any time outdoors, getting your cats fixed is better for everyone. BTW, in English sterilizing a cat is referred to "fixing" a cat. To me, it seems more like "breaking" the cat (it no longer works as designed). :-)
• United States
28 Sep 10
She will be alright: I don't judge but I can't stand how we try and force everything to be the way we like, AKA making them physically genderless. However, to answer your question; if she does not stop walking funny or look as though she's in pain after a few days you should contact your vet. This should not happen. She might get sick but that's also rare. Just give her lots of love to show her that you still care about her and help her get around. I haven't had many experiences in the recent years because all of my cats have been 'sterilized' years ago. I have not had any complications because of it; but I'm sure the cats have.
• Italy
28 Sep 10
You're right, you shouldn't judge. Everything depends on the situation, right? In my country, stray cats are a serious matter. She had her five kittens and I found them a family, but I couldn't afford to even think about finding a family for ten or maybe more cats every single year. Not to mention that she could have had problems during the pregnancy and the birth as well, so I'm just trying to let her live longer and not to deprive stray kittens from finding a family. Adult cats give birth to almost 120 kittens during her lives, and half of them die. The other half spread illness and give birth to other kittens. I couldn't think of putting her into that pain.
28 Sep 10
Well at least your cat can't have any babies anymore, I didn't sterilise my cat and she had 5 babies lol. They were so cute though they loved me xD But it was a lot of hard work. Your cat should be fine by now.