You can expect your cat's appetite to return within about 24 hours post-surgery. At that point, your pet can gradually start to eat their regular food again. If you find that your pet's appetite hasn't returned within 48 hours, contact your veterinarian or veterinary surgeon.
Approximately half your pet's normal serving of food and water should be offered about two hours after returning home from surgery. If your pet is under 16 weeks of age, feed him/her approximately half the normal amount of food and water as soon as you return home.
Diet & Feeding Your Cat After Surgery
While feeding them after surgery, try something small and light, such as fish or chicken. While they can also eat their regular food, ensure they only receive about a quarter of their usual portion.
If your cat, for no apparent reason, fails to eat for 24-36 hours, even in the face of normal water consumption, an examination by a veterinarian is recommended. Significant, and even life- threatening problems can occur if a cat is completely anorectic for a few days, or partially anorectic for a few weeks.
In most cases you can expect your cat to be groggy and lethargic from anesthesia for the first 12 to 24 hours. She may also be a little cranky or aggressive—basically feeling extra sensitive. Furthemore, your cat may have a decreased appetite for a day or so following surgery.
After their operation, offer them something small and light – most cats love things like chicken and fish, and since they're also nutritious these are good post-operation meals. If these aren't options for you, just use their normal food but only give them a quarter of what they would normally have.
To best help your cat after surgery, provide them with a quiet and comfortable place to sleep, away from anything that might cause stress like other pets or children. Make sure to have a warm, comfortable bed ready for your cat that allows them to stretch and alleviate any discomfort from surgical areas.
Cats can survive for about two weeks without eating but only three days without drinking. The longer your cat goes without proper nutrition, however, the weaker they become, so it's important to contact your vet if you suspect they haven't eaten in a day or more.
This may include a change in food type or consistency; some cats may be enticed to eat by offering canned foods when they are unwell. In more extreme cases, veterinarians may prescribe medicines that act as appetite stimulants or recommend syringe-feeding your cat a liquid diet.
What happens if a cat doesn't eat? Cats need nutrients to live, which they get from food and water. If cats stop eating, or if they can't find food with enough protein, this can cause hepatic lipidosis, a liver condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
If your cat is not eating after surgery, don't be alarmed. Expect your cat's appetite to return within about 24 hours following their procedure. At that point, your pet can gradually start to eat their regular food again.
Constipation after a surgical procedure is common for cats. It can be a very painful and uncomfortable experience for any cat, and it can lead to other issues such as decreased eating, drinking, and activity.
Many cats disappear to their favorite hiding spot when they are in pain, and others simply conceal their discomfort. Stay vigilant and look for excessive agitation, crying, hissing, or limping. Your feline may avoid playing, jumping, or being held if these activities cause pain.
Sudden jumping or stretching can disrupt the healing process and may even cause the incision to reopen. Thankfully, few procedures require a significant crate or cage rest to help your cat recover, and most outdoor cats will be able to cope well with staying indoors for a few days as they recover.
This may cause aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Other rare complications of anesthesia include organ system failure such as kidney, liver or heart failure, visual impairment, clotting disorders and seizures.
Never force food on a cat. Syringe feeding or pushing food into a cat's mouth is stressful and can risk severe medical complications. It can also put a cat off eating altogether (food aversion)
On the other end of the spectrum, if your cat is drinking more water than usual in combination with not eating, this could be a symptom of a health problem such as diabetes or kidney disease. It's important you talk to your vet if this is happening to your pet.
If a cat doesn't eat for 24-72 hours, we need to start force feeding. To do this, you'll need to get human baby food from the grocery store or blend cat food into gruel. You'll want to get a meat based kind (like chicken or turkey), and make sure it doesn't have garlic in the ingredient list.
There are many diseases that can cause poor appetite in cats: from just general malaise to the more serious. Gastrointestinal disease, cancers, infections and dental diseases are just a few to mention. This is why it is always important to get a cat with a poor appetite checked over by a veterinary surgeon.
Contact your veterinarian if your kitten has not eaten for one to two days or if your adult cat has not eaten in two days. Adult cats, especially those that are overweight, can develop a serious disease called hepatic lipidosis if they stop eating, so prompt action is important.
If your cat is not eating for a day, or barely eating for two days it is critical that you begin assisted feeding (Syringe feeding). This entails placing your cat's food into a syringe and syringing it gently into the cat's mouth.
o Many cats will not have a bowel movement for the first 3-4 days after surgery. o Reasons that a cat will not have a regular bowel movement after surgery include: - Your cat has been fasted prior to surgery. - Your cat may not have eaten well during their hospital stay or the first few days home.
Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.
Restricting Movement. Our vets will probably recommend that you limit the movements of your cat as much as possible for around a week following their surgery.
After a surgical procedure, your cat will likely feel slightly nauseated and lose some appetite due to the effects of the general anesthetic. Try to feed them something small and light after surgery, such as chicken or fish. You can also give them their regular food, but only a quarter of their normal portion.