My spayed cat is not eating, lethargic, and has strange stool.
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 7 months and 25 days old
I took 3 feral cats for spaying on Friday. 2 are fine; 1 isn't. Her incision looks good but "sleeping" a lot. Not eating or drinking, but is passing stool. Today her stool had " corn kernels" in it...I don't think she ate corn. She is laying on her belly but putting her head down. I called the location we took her to but they apparently aren't a full service office so I have to take her to my vet. Is she just having a slower recovery or something more serious. I have been giving her broth/water.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 26th, 2018
After 3 days, the recovery from anesthesia should be gone and she should be feeling like her old self and normal. For her to not have an appetite at this point is concerning something else is going on and it is not part of the surgery recovery. I would recommend taking her to a vet for a check up. They can take her temperature and make sure she is not dehydrated. They can see if there is an infection or a virus that is making her feel bad. Continue to do broth or you can try tuna or the juice to encourage her to keep fluids in until you get her seen. I would also try to keep the other cats away from her so she can rest.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 4th, 2017
How lovely of you to spay Mama! She needs to stay inside for 14 days because she has to be kept as quiet as possible so her spay incision can heal. If she is allowed outside and runs around, especially away from the stray males in the neighborhood, she can open up her incision or cause another complication. It will be a tough adjustment for her to be in the garage, but it's only for another 10 days. You can offer her special food, such as boiled white meat chicken (no bones) or soaking her dry food in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth or tuna juice. That will tempt her to eat and keep up her appetite. She will adjust to being inside, and she may end up liking it and not wanting to leave lol. Keep up the great work looking after this poor little stray :-)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on October 26th, 2018
It can take up to 12hours, depending on the anesthesia used and the length of the surgery. I would recommend to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. You can give her water. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice diarrhoea, more vomiting, lethargy or inappetence.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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