Kitten seems sick after neuter... Any advise ?

Hello, I am new to this group and wanted to ask the opinion of other members... Tuesday I took my 6 1/2 month old kitten Gilligan to be neutered (today is Friday). He came home around 3 that day and played with a few new toys I got for him (after walking around like a drunken sailor) he ate and slept like normal. Gilligan was being physically abused and starved at his previous home so I took him at around 3 1/2 months. I got him healthy, treated him for fleas and worms and give him lots of well deserved love. Since his first day home from surgery he does not want to eat (even canned food), throws up a lot of clear fluids and sometimes red/brown (don't think it's blood) and sleeps most of the day and has a bit of an odor to him. He allows me to cuddle him but this not his normal behavior and it's starting to worry me. I found a few fleas on him and when he went to the vet he had none. I know some vomiting is normal after surgery and sleepiness, but it's day 3 today. Any advise on how to help him be more comfortable ? When can I treat him for fleas again topically ? I know he was very scared when I took him and picked him up, considering his history it's very understandable and maybe he thought I was not coming back for him ? Is some of his symptoms from him being scared possibly ?

What does his incision site look like? Does he feel like he is running a fever? Usually by day 3 they should be back but he may have an infection due to surgery. Also I have never had any of my cats vomit after being spayed or neutered. I would call the vet first thing tomorrow morning.

Three days and this is still going on...The first thing is that he's probably dehydrated. The second thing is that cats who stop eating could be heading for a world of trouble. The best thing would be to get him seen by the veterinarian as soon as possible. If its too late to-day, confine him to a dog crate or a small room like a bathroom. Keep him warm (hot water bottles and heating pads can help). Make sure he has access to water and to food, and get him to the veterinarian first thing in the morning. It could be a reaction to the anesthetic, or something else, but he needs to be seen.

His incision site looks healthy, no discharge or swelling and just a tiny mark or each where he was cut into. He does not feel like he has a fever. I never had an issue with my other cat being neutered and he seemed just fine the same day. Thank you for your reply...

Cats are very individual, and can have very different reactions. Nine cats could be fine, tenth cat reacts. I hope the little guy is soon on the mend.

My vet takes afterhours calls and will call back to advise after surgery. None of my cats or ferals have vomited after spay/neuter either. Can you try the vets number and see if he has a answering service or machine that you can leave a message on to call back?

Gilligan is drinking water and I make sure it's fresh water multiple times a day to encourage him to drink. It is late in the evening so I will have to call the vet in the am... He has a play box he can nap in (the one in my icon photo) with his blankets and toys and teddy bear and the house it super warm, but I do have a Frisbee like disk that can be heated and I will offer it to him. Maybe I will give him some tuna and see if he is interested in eating that... He did eat good when he came home but was still under the anesthetic and loopy. I worried that he was so malnourished when I got him and finally is at a healthy weight... Thank you for your advise...

I love the box. I had a fleece blanket with a heating pad on low under it so they could get on it and cuddle up.  I would try to temp him with the tuna. The neuter/spay experience I have had is usually with multiple feral cats at one time. When I have it done I have a group to compare recovery from one cat to another.

He was not interested with the tuna, but did drink a bit of water... He loves his play box... Hey I figured Gilligan needed his own S.S. Minnow and he already destroyed the bat cave I made him... He is by no means feral and actually very sweet, but I wonder if there were feral cats at the vet and that's where the fleas came from... Any idea when would be a safe time to treat him with a topical flea treatment ? I know not until he is eating well, but also do not want fleas in the house. Luckily I was able to get rid of them in 4 days when I first brought him home by daily baths, washing his blankets daily and picking them off...

Kittymomma1122 ~ I called the vet and just got an answering machine :-(

Let us know what the vet says.  I would keep washing blankets for now until the vet says everything is okay and he is eating good.  I just think three days is a long time to not be feeling well after a neuter in a young cat. My older cat had a bleed internally after a neuter. The vet was still monitoring him and took him right back to surgery within three hours.  Did he have anything else done besides the neuter? Vaccines or more worming?

How is Gilligan today?

I called the vet 3 times today with no answer either time... Not happy about that and think it's irresponsible of them... He just had the neuter and nothing else... Still drinking water good, but still throwing up this A.M. and not so much this afternoon... His blankets are freshly washed, wound still looks good, still lets me cuddle him but sleeping a lot... No fever and does not want to play with me :-( ... Maybe he just sensitive to the medication ? It's killing me to see him like this... Thank you for asking about his wellbeing today, that is very kind of you...

Go to a vet. If yours isn't answering, call another that is nearby. Cats can get sick due to stress and not eat for a while and vomit over it, but not this long. It's not healthy for him, and even though he is still drinking good, he does need some help against the vomiting and probably a checkup to make sure everything is okay with him. Also, 3 days of not eating is not okay at all. And yes, it could indeed be a reaction to the medication, but there could also be something wrong with his wound or even a whole other reason.

Did you take his temperature? Try to have as many information ready for when you finally reach your vet, or when you call another vet so you can give them all the details as well as possible. Try not to leave anything out.

I hope he'll feel better soon. Please keep us updated on him

I have not taken his temperature because I know he is sore in the area, but his body temperature feels normal. My normal vet retired a few years ago and this is a new vet and I wont be going back to them after this... I'm going to try tuna, chicken or baby food now and see if he will be interested...

Grumpy150 said:

 
I have not taken his temperature because I know he is sore in the area, but his body temperature feels normal. My normal vet retired a few years ago and this is a new vet and I wont be going back to them after this... I'm going to try tuna, chicken or baby food now and see if he will be interested...

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Best way to check if you don't feel comfortable pushing something up there is feeling his ears. When cats have a fever, those really burn. If he's not having a fever, that's atleast a good sign.

It's always possible that, as you said about him, he has been really stressed and it's making him sick. But it can't take much longer, it's not good for him. I hope he'll take the tuna/chicken, even if it's just a little, it'd be a good start.

Taking his temperature under his armpit is better than nothing. They do that with my little guy when he goes to the vet. Nobody messes with Peepbean`s bum!

He was not interested in eating... This may be wrong but I wrapped him in his blanket and put tiny bites of tuna in his mouth so at least he has some food in his belly and maybe start to feel better...

I do not know where you live, but is there an emergency vet in your area?

There is a 911 vet where I live, but I have a badly broken leg and cant drive and it is very expensive and my medical bills are killing me right now...

I also take it the emergency vet does not take call for your current vet. I would be really concerned with him not eating. Maybe some of the people here experienced in rescue can help until the vet calls you back, @ShadowsRescue, @catwoman707, @StephenQ