If your vet is like mine, then the vet will give you a sheet with instructions to follow. You get the sheet when you pick her up. It will say to limit her activity for 3 to 5 days. That means she should not be running and jumping. Most folks try to keep the cat in a room alone for those few days. A bedroom, and ignore the fact that she WILL jump onto the bed. CATS DO insist on their comforts, as you probably know!

The sheet will also say to limit water intake for a couple of hours, and to limit food intake for a few hours. This is to avoid complications with the anesthesia. (sp?)

All 4 females I have had spayed - over the past 11 years - had stitches that dissolved, so the cat did not have to return to the vet unless there was a problem. No recheck. Just up to me to know if something looked "wrong." Such as swelling, redness. I think that sheet lists what to look for. Either that, or they tell you verbally. But even though you think you have no clue, you do know when a cut is not healing properly.

I usually go by how the wound looks AND how the cat is acting. And sometimes she comes out of "isolation" sooner. Like people, each cat is different. Vita slept for 4 days. Crystal was up and about and ready to charge with the rest of the herd after 24 hours. (No, I didn't let her, she had to wait a few more days.) Vita was about 2 years when she was spayed; Crystal was about 3 months. So age may also be a factor in the healing process.

I never really thought about how long until the cat was totally healed. I just focused on what the vet was focusing on - when the cat could become active again. And I didn't realize this until you asked the question with the focus on the healing.

I hope this helps!