8 month old kitten won't eat after neutering

Hello, my kitten Earl just went in 6 days ago to get neutered. I had a blood test done before the surgery and everything came back normal and the procedure I was told went smoothly. When he came home he was very hungry and ate a decent amount of food, I also had the cone and was told to leave it on for seven day but whenever he had it on he was very lethargic , (just sitting there staring at the wall) so I gave in. Since the day he got back from surgery he has barely eaten. He takes one bite then decides she's not interested, I've tried everything (tuna, chicken, dry food, wet food) he seems to be drinking water but isn't pooping because he hasn't had food. He also has pretty pale gums, and his third eyelids have been out since the day he got home. He looks SICK. I keep harassing the vet and they gave me enercal and some special cat food that he obviously is not interested in . I tried to feed him the enercal today and he threw it all up. I called the vet and all they keep saying is to keep trying to feed him. I don't know what's going on with him and I'm very worried. His surgical area looks ok , not red or an liquid but what does an infection look like? I'm so worried and I don't know what to do. I feel helpless.

I'm sorry typo , Earl is most definitely a male.

This is not right. You need to get him to the vet NOW.

I think he needs to go back to the vet. He probably needs an injection of fluids. It's very dangerous for him not to eat or drink. Is he using the litter box?

He's been drinking water and peeing but hasn't pooped in a couple days.

The vet won't help me though! He just sent me home with more stuff to feed him when he's not going to eat it ! The earliest appt I could get again is 9 am. Do you think I should go to an emergency vet sooner?

I would definitely go to a different vet for a second opinion. Can you call and speak to someone else before deciding if you need to bring him in tonight?

I found out today he has feline leukemia. I have no idea what to do. I'm devastated. Does anyone have experience with this?

I'm so sorry to hear that. What did the vet recommend?

Okay, FeLV is not the end of the world!  This is manageable!  I don't know much about it, but I do know it doesn't have to be a life sentence. 

One thing I would encourage you to do is find a different vet who will be more helpful and informative.  Then, in a few months, I'd have him retested as sometimes the tests can be incorrect the first time.  If you originally adopted him from a rescue group or shelter, he should've been tested for it before being put up for adoption. 

Here are some sites and articles I found that might be helpful for you in your journey. 

http://www.felineleukemia.org/

Here are some threads from TCS for FeLV.  I bet if you read through them, you'll be overwhelmed with information! 

http://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch?search=FeLV

Now, about the anorexia.  He's GOT TO EAT!  This is not an option, so you'll need to syringe feed him.  You can get a syringe from a feed store, pharmacy, or even use a large baby medicine dropper.  Get some plain meat baby food, turkey or chicken only, no onions, no garlic.  Also, pick up some baby pedialyte, the clear kind.  Pedialyte will help keep his electrolytes balanced and keep him hydrated.  Add a bit of pedialyte to the baby food and mix.  Warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave and then offer it to him. You don't want it to be too hot, but you don't want it cold.  Heating it enhances the aroma and entice him to eat.  Also, get some of the original Fancy Feast (classic is what I think they call it).  Warm some of that up and offer it to him.  If you have to syringe feed him, water it down enough so that it's runny, but on the thick side.  Suck it up into the syringe and then tuck the syringe between his teeth and cheek and then slowly squeeze it into his mouth.  He'll start licking.  Don't go too fast and don't try to get it all into his mouth in one try or it might end up going down the wrong way and cause it to go into his lungs.

The vet is putting him on fluids because he still wasn't eating much. He told me with the leukemia he only has 6 months to a year to live and that he will continue to get sick. He asked me if I wanted to put him down but I don't feel like that's right. He's just a baby. I am picking him up at 5:30 and the vet will be able to explain more to me. I'm not sure how bad it is but the vet said its terminal. I've never had my own pet before and I feel devastated. I have no idea how to even process this. I don't know what's best for him and I don't want to play God. I hope the fluids at least help him get back to eating but honestly I'm a college student who can barely afford my bills and if treatment is very expensive I don't know what I'm going to do. I want what's best for him and I don't know what that is. He's never been around other cats so most likely he got it from his mother , which makes me feel guilty because I didn't get it tested sooner. I got him from a private owner on Craigslist.

I will definitely get him retested just to be positive.

Thank you so much for the replies [emoji]128532[/emoji]

You couldn't have known and there's nothing you could have done differently. Try not to think of it as playing god. You're actually doing an amazing thing for him by allowing him to go peacefully when it's time. Talk to your vet about what to look for.

FeLV kitties can live very long and full lives.  Please find a vet who is more encouraging and up to date on treatments and open to different treatments.  Also, study up and be prepared to fight for treatments for your kitty.  You can do it!

atmosphere1122 said:

Thank you so much for the replies [emoji]128532[/emoji]

Click to expand...

How old is he and is he eating now?

He is 8 months, and yes! I was force feeding him with a syringe and also feeding enercal for a couple days and now he's finally eating like a pig again and looks a lot better, plus has some of his energy back! I have an appointment on Wednesday with a different vet that was recommended to me, and I have gotten a aloe Vera plant to mix some in his food. Which I was wondering thoughts on aloe Vera and feline leukemia? Thanks!

I am so sorry about your kitty's diagnoses. I adopted 2 four month old kittens that tested positive for Felv when I took them to their first vet appointment the next day. My vet said that I could keep them, but their short life would be plagued with illnesses and vet visits, before they eventually died. I did a ton of research to find out if a long life was a possibility. In the end, I chose to give the cats back to the rescue they initially adopted them from, where they found a Felv+ home for them to live out their days. That was 8 months ago, and last I checked up on them they weren't doing well, not expected to make in more than a couple more months. 

FeLV isn't necessarily a death sentence when found in an adult cat, but with my research I found that most kittens that contract it from their mother don't make it to a year and a half. I don't want to upset you, I just want you to be prepared for the possibility that this might be coming. The most humane thing that you can do is care for your kitty the best that you can, and if the time comes, to help it cross over the rainbow bridge. 

The most important thing to remember is to not have any other cats in the house with your kitten. FeLV is very contagious, and passed through saliva. 

I hope that your kitten is the exception and lives a long and happy life.