How long does it take for a cat to crash after spay?

Otter got fixed today (finally!) and her surgery was normal, no complications. She's been home for 4 hours now, and she is not crashing! She is freaking high as a kite! Constantly looking for her food, pacing all over. I thought she might be in pain, but the vet gave her an extended release pain killer (like with kaylee). I gave her a little food and she gobbled that up right away and wants more. She is drinking. The ER vet obviously wants to see her, but I dont want to rack up an $500+ bill without your guy's opinions first. 

Considering she's been home for only 4 hours, she may be nervous or excited to be home. The medicine could also be causing her to feel hyper. I suggest putting her in a small quiet room, the bathroom so she has to slow down and relax.

Keep an eye on her. When in doubt, take her to the vet

When I got my last kitty spayed she never crashed and neither did the one before that lol.  I'd just try to limit your cats ability to jump high and keep her confined to a small room as suggested by Draco.  I think just like people some cats have higher pain tolerances.

When I took the sisters Rin and Sadie to get spayed Rin was bouncing off the walls and really concerned me since she wouldn't calm down.  I was worried she would pop her stitches! Her sister Sadie was a lump on a log, I had to give her pain meds way longer than her sister, she was so pitiful to watch.

I'd also just make sure to check the incision each day.

Unfortunately, I don't have a 'small room' so she stayed in my bedroom with me. She ended up crashing about 8 this morning. 

I hope she's doing better today, but I have to admit, I was giggling a bit as when I brought my boy home from his neuter, he acted just like your girl!

stephanietx said:

 
I hope she's doing better today, but I have to admit, I was giggling a bit as when I brought my boy home from his neuter, he acted just like your girl!

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It was quite hilarious, but I was so tired and needed sleep, so after midnight it just became annoying. And yeah, she's fine. Acting a bit weird, but I don't know if its because of the lack of hormones, or she is still high (she is usually a stoic kitty, rarely wanting affection, but now she is acting like her sister in the affection department.)

She could be very happy to be home with you.  The anesthesia effects can stay in their systems a few days, so give it some time.  Hope she continues to do well and there are no complications from her spay.

Anytime Angel has been on the pain meds. Buprenorphine for something, (last time was tooth extraction a couple of weeks ago) it makes him stay awake. I have seen him stay awake for around 24 hrs!  

He would just sit, or lay there, but with his head up, eyes wide open!  When I went back to the vets for something, I asked for something else for him because he had been awake for so long, he needed to sleep!

Thankfully, he didn't need any for more than a couple of days, because the other meds gave him a little bit of diarrhea, so I just gave him some probiotics.