Cat acting lethargic and not eating a few days after spaying
Sudden low energy, poor appetite, and diarrhea a few days after surgery can indicate post-operative pain, distress from wearing a cone, or other complications. This sudden behavioral shift stops pets from eating and drinking normally, leaving owners worried and unsure if their cat is simply miserable or facing a serious issue.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 12.0× more often in r/cats than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1feeding treats like churu to encourage eatingDid this help you?
- 2removing the soft cone temporarily during meals to make eating easierDid this help you?
- 3giving her cucumbers and some wet food, which she will nibble onDid this help you?
- 4taking pain medication once a dayDid this help you?
- 5calling the vet if you are concerned if anything for reassuranceDid this help you?
- 6Making DIY sock suits for extra protectionDid this help you?
- 7Using a cone to prevent scratching at the surgical siteDid this help you?
- 8Search for factors like stress, medical issues, or environmental changes, and consult a veterinarian.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I fixed my cat when he was 1 years old to prevent him from having kittens and spraying the house. He still sprays! Why?”source ↗
“She had a great appetite, was drinking, using the bathroom no problem but today (day 4) she barely touched her breakfast and dinner”source ↗
“Yesterday she was interested in playing a little and had some energy and today she just seems sad/lethargic. She also had some diarrhea yesterday and today.”source ↗
“I'm wondering if she's in pain or if she's just miserable having to wear the cone?”source ↗
“My cat (Kirby) has been sterilised. She has to wear this little suit for 2 weeks but she is really really unhappy.”source ↗
“now she doesn't even want to play with her favorite toy because she feels like she can't hunt that well (feels less mobile) she just lays around, and meows at us that she is not happy.”source ↗
“I’m really nervous and worried about the female. The surgery spot where she got fixed seems to be super itchy for her and the cone is the only thing stopping it. Is the sock suit a danger to her health or is it okay?”source ↗
“Like, this is concerning for me because I don’t know if they’re trying to tell me Something at this point. They’re both super clingy, can’t be off of me, and will cry if I leave for the bathroom even, or go to the mailbox. Am I trippin or is this like a common thing that happens?”source ↗