How To It's important to care for your cat after Neutering or Spaying.
Spay and neuter surgeries are not routine operations.If you're worried about how to care for your cat after it's been neutered, you have come to the right place.There are a number of things you can do to help your cat recover from an operation.
Step 1: Provide a place for your cat to sleep.
The first 24 hours after anesthesia are when your cat will most likely feel unwell.Providing a quiet, isolated space where your cat can rest is important because it may be more likely to snap at people and other animals.You should be able to see your cat from its resting place.There are dangerous hiding spots that you can't easily access.Children and pets should not be near the cat.If your cat is constantly interrupted or bothered by others, it is harder to rest and recover.
Step 2: Your cat needs to be comfortable.
Make sure your cat has a place to sleep.If your cat doesn't have a regular bed, try lining a box with a soft pillow or blanket.It is possible to put your cat's bed in an area with tile or wood floors.Cats like cooling off their abdomens by stretching out on cool, solid floors and this may help soothe the surgical site.Try to keep the bed low so they don't have to jump a lot.
Step 3: The lights need to be kept low.
Cats that have had anesthesia are more sensitive to light.Turn off the lights in your cat's resting area.If this isn't an option, provide a domed bed that will allow you to escape the light.
Step 4: Provide a clean litter box.
Cats shouldn't jump, climb stairs, or exert themselves to reach necessities in order to heal after surgery.Don't use regular cat litter for a week after surgery.It can get into the surgery and cause a problem.You can use shredded paper or newspaper, or uncooked long-grain rice in the litter box.
Step 5: The cat should be kept indoors.
Don't let your cat outside for at least two weeks after surgery.This will help keep the surgical site free of infections.
Step 6: Take a look at your cat's incision area.
If you look at your cat's incision, you can get an idea of what it looks like.Before you take your cat home, ask your doctor to show you the incision.You might want to take a picture of the site on the first day.Female and male cats with undescended testicles will have their bellies examined.The scrotum area of most male cats is under the tail.
Step 7: You can use anElizabethan collar.
You can purchase a collar at your local pet store.The collar extends past your cat's face so that it won't bother the incision area.The collars may be called protective, E-collars, orcones.Depending on the behavior, your cat may or may not need this.Don't go without it, but watch your cat.Put the wound on if they dig too much.
Step 8: Give the cat food and water.
As soon as you get home from the vet, you can give your cat a small amount of water in a shallow dish or ice cube.You should follow your vet's feeding instructions.If your cat seems alert and responsive, you can give it a quarter of its normal portion of food about 2 hours after you get home from surgery.The cat shouldn't be forced to eat or drink.Give your cat another small meal if it is able to eat.Continue this until the cat has eaten a full portion of food, and then resume its normal feeding schedule.If your cat is less than 16 weeks old, you should feed it a small meal as soon as you get it home after surgery.If your cat won't eat after you return, you can put a small amount of maple or corn syrup on a cotton ball or q-tip and rub it on his gums.Don't give your cat anything special after surgery.Keep your cat's diet regular so he doesn't feel upset.Cats can't digest milk.
Step 9: Allow your cat to rest.
Don't play with your cat after surgery.It may be reassuring to you, but it may keep your cat from feeling safe.
Step 10: Unless absolutely necessary, don't lift your cat.
If you lift or move your cat too much, it can tear the surgical incision.Put no pressure on the scrotum for male cats.Put no pressure on the abdomen for female cats and male cats that had surgery for undescended testicles.If you have to lift your cat, you can do it by cupping his hind end with one hand and using the other to support his chest.Lift the cat.
Step 11: Limit the movement of your cat.
Make sure your cat doesn't move or jump for a week after surgery.This can cause problems at the surgical site.Remove furniture that your cat likes to jump on.When you can't watch your cat, keep it in a small room, such as the laundry room or bathroom.Your cat should be carried up and down the stairs.The cat is unlikely to harm the operation site if it goes up and down.Cats who have just had surgery may try to escape.For the first few days after surgery, be very careful with your cat.
Step 12: Do not bathe the cat.
After surgery, don't bathe your cat.It can cause irritation at the surgical site.Don't get the actual incision area wet if you clean around it with a damp cloth.Don't scrub the surgical area.
Step 13: Only your doctor can give you pain medications.
You may be sent home with prescriptions for your cat.Even if you don't observe that your cat is in pain, make sure to give this medication as directed.Cats are good at hiding pain and may be suffering even if they don't show it.Do not give your cat any medication that is not prescribed by its vet.Human medication can kill cats.Do not give your cat over-the-counter medicines that your vet doesn't think are appropriate.Cats can be fatal to medications.Unless your vet has approved them for your cat, don't apply any products to the surgical site.
Step 14: You should watch for vomiting.
If your cat vomits after eating, you should remove the food.Feed a small amount of food the next morning.Call your vet if your cat vomits again.
Step 15: The incision site should be checked each morning and night.
Every morning and night, check your cat's incision site.If you want to know how your cat is healing after surgery, compare its appearance to the incision site on the first day.If you observe redness, call your doctor.Light red or pink may be the initial color of the incision.The redness should fade over time.This could be a sign of a developing infection if the incision appears dark red at any time.It was Bruising.It is normal for a small bruise to go from red to purple as it heals.You should seek follow-up care if the bruise becomes worse or if it becomes new.Swelling.If the swelling persists or gets worse, you should call your doctor.There was a discharge.When you bring your cat home, you may see a small amount of red discharge.If the discharge continues for more than a day, it can be bloody, green, yellow, white or foul smelling, so your cat needs veterinary attention.There is a separation of the wound edges.The scrotal incisions should be small and close quickly in a male cat.A female cat or a male that had abdominal surgery may or may not have visible stitches.The stitches should remain intact if the cat has them.The wound edges should remain closed if the cat does not have visible stitches.If they start to separate, you should take the cat to the vet immediately.
Step 16: Check your cat's teeth.
The color of your cat's gums should be pale pink to red.The color should return quickly if you press lightly on the gum and let go.Call your vet if your cat's gums are pale or don't return to their normal color when pressed.
Step 17: Look for signs of pain.
Cats don't always show pain like humans do.You should be on the lookout for signs of irritation in your cat.You should call your vet if you see any signs of pain in your cat.There are a number of signs of pain in cats.
Step 18: There are other warning signs.
Keeping an eye on your cat's behavior is important.Within 24 hours of surgery, anything that doesn't seem normal should go away.Call your vet if you notice unusual behavior in your cat.Lethargy for more than 24 hours after surgery is one of the signs to watch for.
Step 19: Call the emergency vet.
Contacting your normal vet when you are concerned will help your cat recover.In some cases, you should seek emergency care for your cat.If you see any of the following in your cat, call an emergency vet or animal hospital.
Step 20: Follow-up appointments should be kept.
There are visible stitches on your cat's skin.After surgery, your vet will need to remove the sutures from your cat.Follow-up appointments should be kept even if your cat doesn't have sutures.