Fanta Bounced Back From Surgery Faster Than Me

Fanta had her surgery on a Monday, and by Wednesday she was already trying to get up on the kitchen counter, which the vet said was a very good sign. Our five-year-old domestic shorthair is a bit of a drama queen, so I expected a week of howling and sulking. Instead she mostly slept in the sunny spot by the window and let me check her stitches every evening. The cone was the hard part. She walked into the bathroom doorframe at least four times, and I laughed each time before I felt guilty.

What really helped was keeping her in one quiet room with a litter box, water, and her favourite blanket, so she wasn't jumping onto the balcony railing or the bed. I set phone reminders for her medication and kept a notebook of when she ate, which felt silly but made the vet visit much easier. By day ten she was chasing the ribbon toy around the living room like nothing had happened. Honestly, I was the one who needed the rest.