Your cat will need to be confined indoors for at least seven days following surgery and kept quiet. Too much activity too soon will disrupt the healing process.
If your vet prescribes your cat with crate rest after their surgery, there are some measures you can take to make sure they are as comfortable as possible spending long periods of time confined. Ensure the size of your kitty's crate is large enough for them to stand up and turn around.
Make sure there are safe places for the cat to hide within the room. You can buy items such as wigwams or cat-tunnels, but a good hiding place can be as simple as a cardboard box, or having a bed to hide under, or a chair to hide behind. Some cats may even choose to hide in the cat carrier for a while.
If You Have Multiple Cats or Dogs
When bringing a new cat into a home with resident cats or dogs, you should confine your new kitty to one room for at least a few days. Keeping them separate allows them to get used to each other by scent and accept the other's presence in a non-threatening environment.
Cats prefer smaller, safer spaces to big, open areas. They love privacy, so keeping their food and litter box somewhere out of the way is a good idea. Cats also have a need to scratch. If you wish to avoid having scratched furniture, get your cat a scratching post - save your couch and please your cat.
This can cause the animals to fight, so be prepared to keep your pets in separate areas for a few days following surgery. Contact the postoperative care line if a cat is not regularly urinating or defecating, or is straining to urinate or defecate within 72 hours after spay/neuter surgery.
Your vet will likely recommend limiting your pet's movement for a specified period (usually a week) after surgery. Sudden jumping or stretching can disrupt the healing process and may even cause the incision to reopen.
If your furry companion is on the smaller side, a “onesie” may be a good choice. Made of soft, stretchy fabric, this bodysuit covers cats and dogs beginning at the neck, along the body and over the hindquarters. There are holes for the legs and tail to pass through.
Alternating the cage's position throughout the day could keep your cat happiest. Being in a cage with no option to move away is stressful for cats regardless, so help keep them calm and safe from things that they find fearful; such as the vacuum cleaner, dogs, loud noises, cigarette smoke and excessive attention.
In most cases you can expect your cat to be groggy and lethargic from anesthesia for the first 12 to 24 hours. She may also be a little cranky or aggressive—basically feeling extra sensitive. Furthemore, your cat may have a decreased appetite for a day or so following surgery.
Why is my cat sleeping in his litter box after surgery? Any abnormal behavior changes in your cat after surgery are cause for concern. Pain and discomfort are two main reasons that cats hide in their litter box after surgery.
After arriving home, you should keep your cat warm and comfortable by providing a soft, clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draft-free room at a comfortable room temperature (68-75°F or 20-24°C). Your cat should remain indoors. For most procedures, your cat's activity should be restricted for one week after surgery.
o Many cats will not have a bowel movement for the first 3-4 days after surgery. o Reasons that a cat will not have a regular bowel movement after surgery include: - Your cat has been fasted prior to surgery. - Your cat may not have eaten well during their hospital stay or the first few days home.
For the next week after surgery, make sure your cat doesn't jump around, play, or move too much. This can irritate or cause infection at the surgical site. Remove cat trees, perches, and other furniture that your cat may enjoy jumping on.
Don't let your cat run, jump, climb stairs, or go outside for the first seven days after their procedure because it could slow their healing, we recommend keeping them in a crate or secure room during this time.
Recovery Immediately After the Procedure
The impact of the anesthesia may cause your cat to act aggressive or agitated, so keep your distance and don't handle him unless necessary. Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure.
The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate. Spaying keeps your cat healthier.
Should I keep my cat in at night? Cats Protection recommends that you keep your cat in at night to keep them safe. Increased risks during night time include: Road traffic injuries and fatalities.
The room should be set up with a litter box on one end of the room, and the food, water, and bedding on the other side of the room, as far away from the litter box as possible. The cat should be given some safe toys to play with, and should be given visits while confined to this space.
The new cat should stay in its own room for at least a few days. This room will then smell like the newcomer, and the resident cats will be more likely to treat the room as the newcomer's territory. The new kitty will, thus, have a refuge when you finally open the door.
Your new cat should be kept in a single room during the initial stages of this introduction process. This is important for both the new cat (so they can begin to feel comfortable in their new territory) and for the resident cat (so they can adjust to the new cat's presence in the home).