Sophie, one of the registered veterinary nurses at Pennard Vets, will walk you through your cat’s postoperative care following their recent procedure.
It is normal for a cat to be sleepy or drowsy after a general anaesthetic or sedation, so there’s no need to worry. Once the cat is home, it is important to provide them with a litter tray and keep them in a warm, quiet environment to sleep off the anaesthetic.
A slight cough following the anaesthetic can be normal due to the placement of the endotracheal tube, and it should resolve in a few days.
When you bring your cat home, they may be quite hungry. Provide them with small meals of easily digestible food such as Hill’s ID and always ensure they have water available.
Pain relief prescribed for the cat will usually be in tablet or liquid form. If it’s liquid, draw it up using the syringe at the indicated dose on the label. This can be administered either directly into the mouth or onto some food.
Monitoring your cat’s wound for signs of swelling, inflammation, or infection is crucial. A buster collar or medical pet shirt will be sent home with your cat to ensure the wound is protected when supervision isn’t possible.
A postoperative check via PetsApp will be scheduled in 3 days, with a follow-up in 10 to 14 days. If any concerns arise in the meantime, contact the clinic to arrange an earlier check.
Handling the cat gently after the surgical procedure and keeping them indoors is advised. Updates during postoperative checks will inform you when they can go outside again.
