What should I do before my cat's neuter surgery and what to expect?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually neuter surgeries go without complications although like with any surgeries animals can have complications from being under anesthesia. It is recommended to avoid him getting to the incision to avoid delayed healing. You can do this by using an e-collar which you can obtain from your veterinarian or local pet store. Sometimes non-steroidal anti-inaflammarory drugs are used for a few days after surgery. Good luck!

Hello. Most cats do very well after surgery, so as long as Haiku does not get too active tearing through the house, he can pretty much do his usual routine. There are no special requirements to aid in his healing other than to check the area for anything that looks unusual. He can clean the surgical area & will not harm anything. I would continue his pain medications at least for a day or so to make sure he has a normal recovery. If anything does concern you, contact your veterinarian immediately. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There isn't a test to see if a cat is allergic to anesthesia, but blood work can be done to check his organ functioning to assess his anesthetic function. You typed that your cat is going to be neutered on Sunday morning, but I wonder if you mean Monday morning. He should not have food after midnight the night before surgery, but you can offer him half his normal meal at 6pm the night before surgery.

Hi there! It's really important that your kitten takes it easy for approximately a week after neutering. Keep his activity as low as possible. The incisions will heal very quickly, assuming we are talking about a male cat. When you take him home your vet will give you detailed instructions to help guide you !

Depends on the anesthetic used, it can take up to 72 hours for a pet to completely recover. Most pets will recover within 24 hours. The e-collar (cone) is necessary to prevent licking of the incision. Don't worry though, Chandler will acclimate. You may be able to remove it for short periods to allow him to eat or drink, but you must watch him carefully to prevent licking. The injection should cover the worst of the post operative discomfort. If not, you can request more from your veterinarian. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite, meowing excessively, drooling or panting. These may indicate discomfort.

Cat neuters are one of the few surgeries that do not require stitches and most vets do not place stitches. If your vet did not give any special instructions about stitches, then I wouldn't worry about it; it's expected that a cat will be a cat. If the vet did give some special instructions, then follow them as best as you can, but stitches are often placed assuming that there will be some tension due to running, jumping and licking; so I wouldn't be too worried about him causing major damage. It's good to have a look at his scrotum every day for the next 10 days. If you happen to notice excessive swelling (some swelling is expected in the first few days), pus, or any other abnormalities, then I'd recommend taking him in for an exam by your vet. The chances of a serious complication is very small, so I wouldn't worry about leaving him for the day. They usually recover quickly after this procedure and rarely have complications. I hope that helps and all is well with Lemur.

The only before care is to make sure Thor is fasted the night before and the morning of the surgery. After surgery, he needs to be kept as quiet as possible to ensure proper healing. No running, jumping, or playing. Keep an Ecollar on him at all times to keep him from licking at his stitches. Feed him his normal diet, and his appetite should be normal 24 hours after surgery. Monitor his incision daily, and if you see signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus), then take him into the vet for treatment. Give pain relief as prescribed by your vet, and monitor his demeanor to make sure he returns to normal. Any questions or concerns, contact your vet. Best of luck.