Anyone who has a cat or has ever had a cat knows exactly how picky cats can be sometimes when it comes to food. If you’ve noticed that your cat isn’t eating after surgery, don’t worry— this is a common problem during the healing process.
Cats often experience changes in behavior and appetite after surgery. Of course, this can be rather concerning for pet parents who want to make sure that their kitty fully recovers. So, the question is: Why will cats sometimes refuse to eat after surgery, and how can you make sure they’re getting adequate nutrition?
In this article, we’ll discuss why cats may lose their appetite after surgery. We’ll also review some of the best supplements that can help stimulate your kitty’s appetite and provide nutritional support after a major surgery.
Why Is My Cat Not Eating After Surgery?
It’s unfortunately quite common for cats to experience a temporary loss of appetite after having surgery. The main reasons for this are as follows:
Effects of Anesthesia
General anesthesia can cause nausea and grogginess in cats. This can lead to a lack of interest in regular food during the recovery period. Think about it: you probably don’t want to eat very much if you feel nauseous or tired. Cats feel the same way.
Pain After Surgery
Pain after surgery (from the surgical site) can make eating food dishes uncomfortable for cats. This can sometimes cause them to avoid eating altogether. This is certainly an issue, but there are a few things you can do to help besides administer pain medications (which we’ll talk about shortly).
Stress and Anxiety
The stress of abdominal surgery and orthopedic surgeries, combined with changes in routine, can cause a cat to lose their appetite. Usually, a cat’s appetite should return within 24 hours after surgery.
If your cat is still not eating after 48 hours, you should reach out to a veterinary professional, since it could potentially be a sign of infection or another health issue. They may prescribe your cat pain relievers, antibiotics, or anxiety medication.
What Are the Best Supplements for Cats That Won’t Eat After Surgery?
There are a lot of appetite stimulants and other supplements for cats on the market, so picking out the right supplement for your cat that won’t eat can be challenging. Let’s take a look at some of the best supplements for cats that won’t eat from Under the Weather below:
Colostrum Gel for Cats
Under the Weather’s Colostrum gel is an excellent supplement for cats who are recovering from surgery. It’s rich in antibodies that help strengthen the immune system, which means it provides protection against infections that might occur during the recovery phase.
This gel supports digestion and gut function, and helps to promote a balanced intestinal environment for cats. Cats with upset stomachs (a common issue after surgery) may benefit from the probiotics found in this colostrum gel.
For kittens, colostrum provides important nutrients that are necessary for growth and development. It’s beneficial for adult cats, too, though, and can help them recover faster. It’s super easy to use, and your kitty will love the salmon flavor.
Ingredients: Under the Weather’s Colostrum Gel for Cats includes soybean oil, bovine colostrum, salmon oil, and probiotics, along with preservatives (for safety reasons). It’s free from artificial flavors, which means it’s a great natural choice.
Calming Soft Chews for Cats
Under the Weather’s Calming Soft Chews for Cats is another great option, especially if your cat seems anxious after having surgery. Anxiety can cause a lack of appetite, so reducing your kitty’s stress by giving them these soft chews may encourage them to start eating again.
These chews contain natural ingredients like Thiamine, L-Tryptophan, and L-Theanine, all of which help to reduce symptoms of stress (like excessive grooming or aggression). This should help your fur baby feel more relaxed and comfortable after their surgical procedure.
Ingredients: Active ingredients like Vitamin B1 and amino acids help your cat relax without making them too drowsy. These chews are also made without artificial flavors or colors, which is always a plus.
Ready Cal High-Calorie Powder for Cats
If your cat is still not eating much 24 hours after surgery, you may want to consider giving them this high-calorie powder from Under the Weather. Under the Weather’s Ready Cal High-Calorie Powder for Cats is meant to provide immediate nutritional support. It contains essential vitamins and minerals, and acts as an appetite stimulant.
This powder contains chicken fat, which is not only nutritious but also has a strong aroma that might just convince your cat to chow down. Simply sprinkle this powder on your cat’s wet food or mix it with water to create a savory gravy that might encourage your cat to start eating.
Ready Cal High-Calorie Powder for Cats is designed to be easy to use — just one or two scoops per day can help ensure that your kitty gets the calories they need to maintain their strength during recovery from surgery.
Ingredients: This supplement contains important vitamins and minerals, as well as chicken fat. It does not contain any artificial dyes and flavors.
How to Choose a Supplement for Cats
When it comes to picking out the right high-calorie, calming, or appetite-stimulating supplement for a cat, pet owners will want to consider the following:
Flavor
Most cats are really picky eaters, so it’s a good idea to pick out a supplement that comes in a flavor you know your cat will love, like chicken or salmon. You can easy mix powder supplements into your cat's wet food.
Ease of Use
Supplements for cats usually come in gel, chew, or powder form. Make sure that the supplement you decide to give your cat is easy to administer and doesn’t require force-feeding.
Nutritional Content
You should also look for supplements/products that contain essential vitamins and minerals. If you can find a supplement that contains probiotics, that’s also a plus. Probiotics can help a lot with the recovery process after surgery.
Vet Recommendations
Always ask your vet for advice before introducing any new supplement to your cat. They’ll be able to tell you whether or not said supplement is actually safe and appropriate for your furry companion.
The Benefits of Supplements for Cats After Surgery
Clearly, there are plenty of benefits to giving your kitty supplements after they’ve gone through surgery. Let’s break it down below:
Prevent Malnutrition
Surgery can cause temporary loss of appetite in cats. This could potentially lead to weight loss and malnutrition. Thankfully, by giving your cat high-calorie supplements (for example), you can help provide your cat with the nutrients they need.
Improve Energy Levels
Cats that are recovering from surgery may feel lethargic. Supplements can help replenish their energy levels. This will encourage them to resume their normal activities (like playing and eating normally).
Improve Immune Function
A lot of supplements for cats contain added probiotics and vitamins. The ingredients are something to look for in cat supplements — especially if your cat recently had surgery — because they can help strengthen the immune system, therefore reducing the risk of post-surgical infections.
Ingredients in High-Calorie Supplements for Cats
High-calorie supplements in particular are specially formulated to provide a balanced diet for cats who refuse to eat, or aren’t eating adequately. The Most common ingredients in high-calorie supplements for cats include:
Chicken or Salmon Fat
Chicken fat/salmon fat adds flavor to the supplement. Both types of fat are quite calorie-dense, too, so it’ll give your cat the energy he or she needs to eat and play.
Vitamins (A, B, C, E)
These vitamins are super important, and will help your kitty maintain healthy skin, a soft coat, and a well-functioning immune system.
Minerals (Calcium, Phosphorus)
These minerals are very important (if not essential) for bone health and recovery, especially if your cat has had surgery.
Probiotics
Probiotics are also important because they support gut health and digestion. This can be especially beneficial for cats who are recovering from anesthesia or antibiotics after having surgery.
Conclusion
It goes without saying that surgery can be very stressful for both cats and cat owners. Loss of appetite is an especially common issue after surgery, but there are some things you can do to help (such as giving your cat appetite stimulants or high-calorie supplements).
The supplements we mentioned in this article (colostrum gels, calming chews, and high-calorie powders) are all great choices, and will make a big difference in helping your cat recover faster. Just make sure to monitor your cat while they’re eating, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet if your kitty still refuses to eat after a couple of days.
It’s never easy, as a pet parent, to watch your pet struggle with things like pain and food aversion after surgery. Don’t worry, though, because with the right care (and the right supplements), your cat will be back to their happy, playful self in no time! If you want to learn more, feel free to check out our blog.
