Ms Liew took Xiao Ji to the clinic that did her spaying for a check-up this afternoon.
The vet has now cut the thread and says it is most likely that Xiao Ji was allergic to the suture material. She also said to keep monitoring Xiao Ji for a few days.
Meanwhile, Ms Liew says Xiao Ji was already eating quite well today. She has regained her appetite.
An update from the clinic which did the spaying: We contacted the clinic yesterday to seek their professional opinion on the possible cause of the wound. The clinic replied just now saying that it is most likely due to an allergy that Xiao Ji had to the suture material. If the infection had been caused by the spaying surgery, it would have shown in 2-3 days after. But this only happened after 2 weeks, so most likely, an allergy is the cause of it.
An allergy to the suture material is very rare, but it can happen, and also after 2 weeks. So we learnt something new today.
From the internet:
Yes, cats can develop an allergic reaction to suture material, although it’s not common. The immune system can react to certain suture materials, leading to inflammation and tissue reactions around the incision. If you notice signs of swelling, redness, drainage, or a pimple-like bump on the incision line, especially if it persists or worsens, it’s important to contact your veterinarian.
In some cases, the body’s immune system may perceive the suture material as a foreign substance, triggering an inflammatory response. This can manifest as a localized reaction around the suture, often where the knots are placed.
Different types of sutures are used in veterinary surgery, and some materials are more likely to cause reactions than others. Absorbable sutures, which dissolve over time, can sometimes trigger a more pronounced reaction than non-absorbable sutures.
Symptoms of a suture reaction can include swelling, redness, pain, drainage, or the formation of a bump (granuloma) around the incision. If the incision looks infected (pus, foul odor), this is also a cause for concern.
Backstory: Xiao Ji was spayed under our full sponsorship on 13th May 2025. She was kept indoors, her wound was healing well and closely monitored, then she was released back to her colony on 18th May 2025. On 30th May 2025, 17 days after the spaying surgery, Ms Liew noticed an infected wound at the spay site. Xiao Ji was taken immediately to the vet’s and pus was cleaned out from the wound, medication prescribed.