Post-Spay - Anxious Catmum, Carefree Kitten!

sarahandfreya

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Hello

Apologies if this topic has been dealt with previously.

My babygirl Freya (5 months old) was spayed late this morning, I brought her home at 3pm, and it's just gone 7pm now. She's doing very well - in fact my concern is that she's doing too well! She's pretty much acting her usual self now, unfortunately that means she's jumping everywhere and even eyeing-up the curtains(!!). I'm trying to keep up with her but - kittens!

I really don't have anywhere I can confine her in the way she needs to be except her cat carrier; I did put her back in earlier and after much kerfuffle she did eventually calm down, but she obviously can't access her food, water or litterbox that way, and I figured it's more important that she can access those things, and she's just so happy to be home.

My concern (this might be ridiculous but I'm a terrible combination of inexperienced and a chronic worrier) is that all this activity could damage/undo the work inside?? She has internal stitches and it's a very neat job, I know what to watch for etc, but I'm having horrid thoughts that she'll rupture something inside and I won't know until it's too late. 

My 'sensible' side is mortified that I'm posting this, but I'm hoping for some reassurance before my far-from-sensible side initiates a nervous breakdown!
 

Thank you!

(Of course she's settled for a snooze on the windowsill now...)
 

denice

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It is amazing how quickly they recover.  The main thing to watch for is constant licking and biting at the incision.  If your kitten starts doing that then she will need to wear a 'cone of shame'.  My cat left her incision alone and I think most cats do.
 

stephanietx

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Sometimes the anesthesia kind of makes them a little bit hyper and they run around like a little crazy thing.  Then, they crash and sleep it all off and are more sane when they wake up.  Most kitties are good about self-limiting their behavior when it hurts, so as long as the incision doesn't get flaming red or oozing any liquid, she should be fine.  Just keep an eye on her in the next few days.
 
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sarahandfreya

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Thank you both!

Yes - everything I had read and spoken to the vet about to prepare for her aftercare prepared me for the complete opposite of this, so I was aghast when she came out swinging!

She was going all night, but has finally settled down for a rest now, evidently I feel far worse than her haha.

She's been very good with the incision so far too, gave it a cursory lick in the process of grooming but nothing more. I'm at home with her anyway so I'll be able to keep a close-eye on it.

I feel so silly, but I'm just trying to do the best for her, so I can deal with embarassing myself in the process
 
 

stephanietx

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If you've never been through it, you really don't know what to expect.  Every kitty responds differently to anesthesia and after care is different for each one.  I've had 3 kitties spayed.  All of them were pretty sedate the first night, but were back to normal the next day.  None of them messed with their incisions and never had to wear the cone of shame. 
 

catlover73

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Thank you both!

Yes - everything I had read and spoken to the vet about to prepare for her aftercare prepared me for the complete opposite of this, so I was aghast when she came out swinging!

She was going all night, but has finally settled down for a rest now, evidently I feel far worse than her haha.

She's been very good with the incision so far too, gave it a cursory lick in the process of grooming but nothing more. I'm at home with her anyway so I'll be able to keep a close-eye on it.

I feel so silly, but I'm just trying to do the best for her, so I can deal with embarassing myself in the process
 
You have nothing to feel silly or embarrassed about.  Like stephanietx mentioned post spay and neuter behavior can be very different for each cat.  The important thing is to keep an eye on her and make sure she is not messing with the incision.  I have had three female cats fixed. Two of them were calm afterwards and left their incision alone. Starbuck my now nine year old female acted much like you describe after her spay.  She unfortunately would not leave her incision alone and had to wear the cone.  If you need one you can get them at most pet stores.  Starbuck actually got an infection in her incision after her stitches were removed and the vet told me she could stop wearing the cone.  If the incision does become infected for some reason it will become bright red and really swollen.  Their may or may not be drainage.  There was no drainage with Starbuck but it was really obvious to the naked eye something was wrong with the it.

There are no stupid or silly questions on here. If you have anymore questions about your baby please ask. We are all here to help and support each other.  There is no reason at all to make yourself a more nervous about issues when you can get information and advice from other people.
 
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