After-Care Tips to Help Your Cat Heal Following Surgery

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As one of only around 12% of veterinary clinics accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, Bloomfield Animal Hospital adheres to strict protocols in supporting successful treatment and rapid healing on the front end. On the back end, we provide clear after-care instructions and are accessible and always available to answer questions and address concerns. So, we assure you that your kitty’s recovery following surgery is fast and uneventful. Your feline can get back to its frisky self in no time!

Veterinary Surgery Clinic in Lakewood CA Area

What to Watch For

You play a vital role in your pet’s healing following surgery. After all, who knows their cat better than you do? With that being said, it is not unusual for your pet to display some out-of-the-ordinary behaviors as the anesthesia/pain medications wear off. Some of these medications can affect cats for up to 24 hours after administering the anesthetic.

In turn, your cat may be:

  • Groggy or sleepy
  • Confused or disoriented
  • Wobbly on their feet
  • Disinterested in food
  • Very vocal or “whiny”
Also, many pets may not have bowel movements for up to 48 hours, especially if they could not eat for a certain period before their procedure. If your pet continues to not show interest in eating, we can discuss introducing appetite stimulants, special foods, or other enticing products to their diets as they recover.

Dos and Don’ts

Be sure to contact us before giving your pet any medications or products we have not listed in your after-care instructions, including stool softeners. We must be aware of any drugs or products your cat is taking that could affect its health and healing. The same principle applies to food–refrain from feeding your feline any human food if you have not already discussed this and gotten the stamp of approval from Dr. Arambulo.


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To prevent injuries, it is crucial to monitor your cat. You may want to put it in a quiet place, away from other cats, pets, and people. Make sure they can’t or don’t jump on furniture or try to climb stairs. Again, it might be easiest to confine your pet to a small, enclosed, and relaxing space that promotes healing.

If your pet continues to cry for more than 30 to 60 minutes at a time or has persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation (at least 48 hours or longer), we encourage you to contact Bloomfield Animal Hospital at 562 383-7788. As needed, we can refer you to other emergency or specialty veterinary care providers in our area, also listed on this website. Depending on the nature of your concerns, we may need to adjust your cat’s pain medication or sedation. Just be aware that your pet is in good hands with Dr. Arambulo and our team. We are here to help and get your kitty back to feeling better!
Bloomfield Animal Hospital is a trusted name in pets’ preventive, medical, surgical, and emergency care in Lakewood, CA. With a 30-year history as a family-owned pet clinic, it provides modern services in a warm, friendly environment. It’s one of the few veterinary hospitals to be AAHA-accredited.

Image of Dr Josh Arambulo
Dr. Jose Arambulo, owner and chief veterinarian, is experienced in treating eye, ear, and skin disorders and is especially interested in internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. He earned his BS in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of the Philippines. He completed clinical evaluation for veterinary medicine at Purdue University in Indiana and was a veterinarian at Banfield and California before acquiring Bloomfield Animal Hospital.

Dr. Arambulo is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary Information Network, Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, Southern California Filipino Veterinary Medical Association, and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

Image of Dr Josh Arambulo
Our Traveling Surgeon, Dr. Zachery Smith, is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He specializes in complex orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. While training, he worked with some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country. He has lectured both locally and internationally. Dr. Smith plays a leading role at Veterinary Orthopedics of California, which is dedicated to providing high-level surgical services to pets.



Image of Dr. Fred Brewer,
Our visiting physician, Dr. Fred Brewer, is a veterinary cardiologist board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology at UCLA and earned his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2009. Later, he completed a one-year general rotating internship at the California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group in West Los Angeles and a three-year cardiology residency at Cornell University.