Kitten post-surgery

[Airdustmoon]

My adorable 5 month old kitten was spayed just over a week ago. It went fine and she seemed to be recovering well but then 5 days after the operation (and 2 days after a check up at which she was pronounced to be doing great) the incision site swelled up massively. We rushed her to the vet and she ended up needing a second surgery the following day, her internal stitches had broken down and become very infected. In the second surgery they removed all the infected tissue, cleaned it all thoroughly and stitched her up again but she now has a much bigger incision and a lot of stitches. And she’s on antibiotics to prevent further infection.

This morning I took her for another check up and the wound had re-opened slightly so they’ve now put a staple in. Another check up on Monday and probably every couple of days after that until the stitches are ready to come out in 10 days or so.

Anyway that is all the background, so poor kitten has been through an awful lot! She has a cone to prevent her from getting at the stitches and the vet advised she be kept very quiet and confined to a small room so we’ve got her shut in our box room with her food and tray and lots of comfy blankets and towels. We’re taking it in turns to spend as much time in there with her as possible, I feel awful for her being stuck in there on her own.

Does anyone have any tips to help her recovery? Or just to make her jail time more pleasant! She’s not keen on her cone but the vet has advised this over a pet suit (which she had on after the original op) because the suit might irritate the wound. We don’t want her doing any jumping around, playing etc in case of another infection. The vet doesn’t really know yet why the first one happened, they’re waiting for test results.

[Airdustmoon]

This is her before any of the surgery trauma! “Helping” me work!

[RumNotRun]

Sorry, no helpful suggestions but she is ridiculously gorgeous 🥰😻

[EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel]

Poor thing! Can you set up a screen of some kind in there & play one of the Cat TV channels on YouTube? It kept some of mine fascinated for ages.

[pavillion1]

following as getting the same done soon 😢

[EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel]

It’s horrible at the time, though it sounds extra horrible for the OP, but it’s so worth it!

I volunteer at a rescue & could tell you heartbreaking stories about litters of abandoned kittens / dumped pregnant mums. You’re doing a really good thing for your kittens.

[EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel]

Also maybe get a Feliway plug in diffuser.
https://www.feliway.co.uk/

[Airdustmoon]

@RumNotRun Thank you! She really is a sweetie, such an affectionate cat.

@EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel thanks for the suggestions, great idea about Cat TV, we do have a TV in the room she’s confined in! And I don’t know why I didn’t think of a feliway plugin either, we had one when she first came home. I’ll pop out and get one for her tomorrow.

@pavillion1 try not to worry, these kinds of complications are very rare. The vet was totally baffled by what’s happened to be honest as it came on so quickly, she was 100% fine when they checked her over 3 days after the op, she was fine that morning when I went to work, it was only after lunch that DH noticed the swelling. I’m sure your kitty will be absolutely fine 🙂

[EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel]

@pavillion1, I’ve fostered 5 girls & one boy so far who have been neutered while I’ve had them or just before, & they’ve all been fine. Good luck with your kitten x

[SOWK]

Poor kitten! If it’s any help, one of mine did similar and it was a stressful period. She then recovered fine and lived to the great age of 19 without any medical issues until her last few months.

[lifebeginsaftercoffee]

One of my cats had loads of issues with her spay and needed staples and a cone: We just spent as much time with her as possible and she recovered absolutely fine in the end!

[Airdustmoon]

Thank you @SOWK and @lifebeginsaftercoffee for the positive recovery stories! I’m sure she will be ok now but it’s been very worrying.

She is desperate to escape her jail now bless her. She’s trying to find things to play with in there (balled up tissue I left on the desk after cleaning her cone!) but the vet said any kind of jumping and stretching must be avoided for as long as possible. She’s also looking very grubby poor thing as she can’t groom herself with the cone on.

The highlight of her day is an afternoon Lick-e-Lix!

[ivowtotheemybiscuittin]

Have you tried one of the inflatable donut 'cones'? Much more comfortable for them.
She's a real cutie!

[VicSynix]

When our cat had to wear the cone of shame for two weeks, we took turns sitting with her and combing her. She was getting upset that she couldn't groom so the attention and the combing seemed to help.

[Pudmyboy]

@RumNotRun

Sorry, no helpful suggestions but she is ridiculously gorgeous 🥰😻

Agree, what a cutie!

[Airdustmoon]

I will give her a good brush/comb, maybe a wipe down with a damp cloth. She had another check up with the vet today who said the stitches are looking good. Another check on Wednesday and then, hopefully, stitches out next Monday 🤞🏻

[Twokittycats]

Aww she’s adorable 🥰 bless her she’s had an ordeal! Lots of extra treats and fuss is all I can think of. Our little girl hated her cone, it was a long 7 days but once it was off she was thrilled. Buy her some new toys ready for when she’s better (helps with the cat mom surgery guilt haha)

[homezookeeper]

Aww she's really little. I tried to book mine in when she was five months and the vets said no, not until she's older (though their website said from 5 months). She's now 11 months and still a very tiny girl, doesn't look much bigger than yours.
Her Mum had the op after she'd stopped feeding and it didn’t go well afterwards. She immediately disowned her kittens (we kept all 3) and still won't have anything to do with them. She was a perfect mum until the op. I've had many cats but she's the only one who's undergone a full personality change afterwards.

[Airdustmoon]

Just thought I would update this thread. Kitten is now free from her jail and had her stitches out earlier this week. And she has finally ditched her cone today! She’s doing super well and we’re so relieved that she’s all healed up now - just a bit of fur to grow back.

[EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel]

Fabulous news! So glad she’s ok.

[ivowtotheemybiscuittin]

Totally gorgeous still. It's the best thing about Mumsnet, the kitchen pictures!

[CatChant]

Oh what a beauty!