Arriving Home
When you bring your kitty home, she'll likely be feeling some of the effects of the anesthetic. Vets typically apply a protective ointment on a cat's eyes to keep them from drying out, so she might not be able to see well. Because she might be startled easily, place her in a quiet, warm, dark indoor location to recover for at least 24 hours after surgery. Keep kids and other pets away from her during that time. Even the sweetest, most affectionate pet can become aggressive and scratch or bite in self-defense when frightened. Anesthesia hangovers typically go away within 24 hours and your cat's personality should go back to normal. Stay with your pet through the first night to monitor her recovery and activity levels.
Food and Water
Offer your kitty water immediately after you bring her home. Drinking too much might cause her to vomit; keep only a small amount of liquid in the bowl and top it off as needed. You can offer your kitty one-quarter to one-half of a portion of her regular food when she is awake and alert. If she vomits, take away the rest of the food and don't offer it again until the next morning. Give her the regular amount of food and water the day after surgery. The anesthetics make many cats nauseous, so don't panic if she doesn't eat right away. Call your vet if she isn't eating or drinking normally after being home 48 hours.
Pain Medication
Cats frequently experience some soreness and minor discomfort for 24 to 36 hours after surgery. Vets typically give cats an injection of long-acting pain medicine after surgery; most cats won't need any more medication. Never give your cat human pain medication. Many medicines, including those containing ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen, can cause serious complications or even death. Contact your vet if you think your kitty requires pain-relieving medication. Follow your vet's instructions exactly if he prescribes medication.
Incision Care
Inspect the incision site once you bring your cat home. The site normally looks a little red and slightly swollen. Check the incision site once or twice a day for seven days. Call your vet immediately if you spot any bleeding, drainage or discharge, excessive redness or large swelling at the site.
Chewing, licking or scratching the incision can cause the wound to open and become infected. Consider using an Elizabethan collar to keep her from reaching the site. Incisions need to stay dry, so gently pat the site with a soft, clean towel if it becomes wet. Don't try to clean the incision or apply topical lotions or ointments unless instructed by your veterinarian. Doing so can slow the healing process.
Activity Levels
Although your kitty will start acting like her old self within a day or two, she needs to be kept indoors for at least the first seven days after surgery so you can keep an eye on the healing process and her activity levels. Don't allow your cat to jump, run, climb stairs or even play for the first week, because those activities increase the risk that the incision site won't heal properly. Keep your cat in a carrier, crate or small room with no high furniture if she's a rebel who insists on racing around, jumping and rough-housing. Gradually increase the amount of activity you allow your kitty over the second week, but keep a close eye on the surgical site for any problems. By this time you may introducing her to some cat bird toys. A good product is the Bird Catcher Pro. It is a cat charmer that your cat will surely enjoy especially after behaving properly. Cats lose their mind stalking, doing flips, turns, twirls in the air until they run out of breath! You will be in shock if youve never seen your own cat in the hunt before!
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