Spay Incision Question Warning pictures!

I sprayed bitter apple on the incision to get her to stop chewing, since the two e collars I bought were not a valid solution.

I know the bump is normal. Her spay was Thursday, I picked her up Friday. I kept her calm most of Friday through Saturday morning.

She is eating and drinking okay. She is also pretty active. Though she has been napping more than usual this afternoon, but she was active for a couple of hours.


My concern is the part that looks red. It is pretty stabbed over, no drainage, and she isn't worrying it, but should it be red at all?

I called the emergency vet and they said it was probably normal, but it can bring her in.



Should I take her, or am I overreacting? I am going to jump in the shower now. If I don't hear anything I am going to skip my BBQ and just take her in an hour.

Nope that looks perfectly normal to me :nod:

I agree, looks just like it should.

It is uncommon for spay surgery sites to become infected, the vast majority never do and heal up fine and quickly.

Signs of possible infection would be swelling/hot/red around the incision site, pus drainage, bleeding.

You would likely know right away if it were becoming infected

Not to worry.. 

There is a bump. It kind of looks like a male dog's parts. I know the lump is kind of normal, a reaction to the sutures.

If anything she probably over extended herself and needs the extra rest. I know humans are like that. They over exert themselves while the pain meds are still working and regret it later.

The lump is normal, it is swelling/scar tissue that with time goes away

It looks really good!  I wouldn't spray it with bitter apple spray again, though.  If you need to, you can put on a baby onesie to curb the licking. 

As it happens, my Grace was spayed on the exact same day as your kitty and I can confirm that her incision looks nearly identical to your pic.  She has the lump, she has the little red area.  At least your kitty doesn't look as ridiculous as Grace with the shaved tummy! ;-)   Since Grace is chocolate brown, the shaved tummy is quite shocking, especially since she has a pretty pronounced primordial pouch, LOL. 

I was thinking now that there is a scab the bitter apple might hurt.

Thanks beckbjj. That was very helpful.

She does look a little pathetic

Oh my!  She is adorable!  I love it when they have that little bare patch on the tummy.  Daisy had one when we adopted her and she was just over a year old.  Hannah has a white belly, so her skin was very pink.  So cute!

LOL!  So cute!!!!

My 6 month old kitten just had spay surgery on Friday. She's eating & drinking fine, using her litter box fine, playing like she normally did before surgery. However, she's been licking the site. This is what it looks like now... Is it infected?

I don't know if it's infected but if she has been licking the site she really should have a cone on.  I know it isn't pleasant for kitty, we call it the cone of shame here, but it will stop her from licking the incision..

It looks just fine, I see no problems at all.

You know people will often worry when the cat is licking the area, basically it's fine, all they are doing is removing the smells of all that comes with the surgery, and cleaning it isn't going to hurt it.

It's another thing if it didn't look healthy and she didn't stop chewing at it.

7sMommy said:

Is it infected?

Click to expand...

 If you are worried give your vet a call. Most vets will do a follow up after spaying  without needing to pay an additional consultation.

My cat would not leave the wound alone, so I used the cone for 4 days, to let it start the healing properly and the days after that I noticed that she left it alone, so the cone was not necessary anymore. It healed perfectly. 

The wound on your picture looks fine. I find it incredible that they are almost normal one ay after such a big surgery! (I know how I would fell if my uterus was removed..... not that alert one day after).

When my cat was spayed I tried a few different cones, the thrive comfy collar was the best, it didn't bother her at all. See photo attachedView media item 243710

Yeah, those comfy cones are great. Asha's being spayed tomorrow. My first choice for her is one of those post op jackets you can get, but if she hates it I'll be getting a comfy cone in her size.

Hope your little girl heals quickly 7 7smommy

Hi im new here and appreciate your question which is similar to mines, and grateful for answers. My kitten Domino 4mths old, got spayed this past Wednesday, she is eating ok sleeping a bit more than usual but she active in fact to hyper and aggressive.She has always been that way since I got her but more so now than before especially loves to jump, she has jumped and landed on her belley and I know incision is supposed to be a bit lumply/bumpy but I believe she hurt herself, here are photos any advice wuld be appreciated, I to keep her confined at nite in quiet small area, but when shes out she is off!

I remember the no chew having a rubbing alcohol scent to it, but I don't have any now. So I went to Chewy and to Amazon, but neither place offered a list of the ingredients, which stuck me as weird and not helpful. I did look at a couple of other sites that suggest making it yourself. Their base was white vinegar and cider vinegar. I will tell you from personal experience vinegar and alcohol sting significantly on cuts and scrapes.

I would not use no chew on her incision. However, since she didn't smack you, I'd say the pain meds were working and/or the incision already starting to heal well.