Cats should be spayed for a number of reasons, especially because the number of cats that don’t have a home is on the rise and a lot of cats end up in shelters. The cat spay or neuter recovery care is not difficult, but you have to make sure that your pet is comfortable and has all the necessary things.
Taking the Cat Home
The spaying or neutering procedure can be performed in less than 1 hour at a vet clinic. You need to make arrangements to take your cat home immediately, as the surgery may be a stressful event for the pet. Get a blanket or a towel and make sure your cat is warm and comfortable. Make sure the ride home is a quick as possible, a car ride may also cause stress. A stressed cat is more likely to experience of slower healing.
Get all the pain medication prior to the surgery.
The cat should get a lot of rest on the day of the surgery. The pain medication will make sure that your cat will sleep, but you still have to keep your cat in an isolated room. The room’s temperature should be higher than the cat normally requires.
Until the anesthetic wears off, you may see that your cat is confused or lacks balance; this is normal. Your cat will also urinate more, as the surgery involves injecting some fluids. The cat may urinate in the bed, so you may choose not to use the cat’s normal bed, but a cardboard box that you can throw out. If the cat wets the bed, make sure to change the bedding.
What to Feed the Cat Post Surgery
On the day of the surgery, your cat may not eat, as he will be under sedatives most of the times and the anesthetic may also cause nausea. The vet will recommend a wet diet on the days after the surgery, so that the cat will have an easier digestion.
The anesthesia will make the cat thirsty, so provide all the necessary water and make sure it is fresh.
Monitor the Surgery Wound
The surgery wound will be bandaged and you may not have access to it. However, the wound should be covered, as otherwise the cat may lick the wound and the saliva may contain bacteria that can cause infections. The vet may ask you to change the bandages, so check the wound when you do that. The wound will be swollen and red for 2 to 3 days after the surgery and there may be some liquid coming out of the wound. If the wound is still swollen and red after 3 days, you should contact the vet, as it may be infected.
Your vet may also give you a few ointments to apply on the wound, as these may help the recovery.
Keep Your Cat Indoors
The cat should avoid activities for 1 to 2 weeks; running or jumping may cause complications and tear the stitches. Ideally, the cat should stay indoors until after the stitches are removed.