Hold cats until they recover. Cats usually need to be held for 24 to 72 hours after surgery, depending on their recovery speed. Male cats can be returned to the trapping site 24 hours following neutering, as long as they are fully awake and do not require further medical attention.
Don't try to pet or play with your cat immediately after surgery. While this may feel reassuring to you, it may just keep your cat from feeling safe and rested. Avoid lifting your cat unless it's absolutely necessary. You can easily tear your cat's surgical incision if you lift or move your cat too much.
I wouldn't recommend holding him tightly and avoid carrying him around if possible, but you could for sure let him out of the carrier and let him sit and cuddle on you. Just make sure to keep a close eye on him so he doesn't hurt himself in anyway.
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.
Your pet may be unsteady or groggy, tonight. This is normal after anesthesia. Please restrict activity and please do not leave your pet alone for the next 12-24 hours until the anesthesia wears off. If you must leave them for a short period, we recommend confining them to a small room or crate.
Keep your cat in a crate or small room to sleep, and make sure he is comfortable and secure. On the day of surgery, the incision site on your cat might look minorly red and swollen. Check it once per day if your cat allows, and be on the lookout for any excessive redness, swelling, and discharge.
We advise that you keep your cat indoors for 24 hours after the procedure to make sure that they have recovered before returning outdoors. However, if you have had a female cat spayed we recommend that they are kept indoors for the next 10 days or until their stitches are removed.
The most important things
Absolutely no licking of the incision area is allowed! If your pet is going to lick or begins to lick their incision, they need to wear an E-Collar (plastic cone) for 7-10 days after surgery. A pet can pull out stitches easily which can lead much more damage.
Can Cats Use the Litter Box After Being Neutered? Yes. Sometimes litter can get stuck to the incision, so veterinarians will often recommend using torn newspaper in the litter box for 24 hours after surgery to avoid this.
Male cats should be kept indoors overnight – they may go out and resume their normal lifestyle the following day. It's important to check the procedure site every day (for around 10 days) for any redness or swelling.
The best way to get your pet to stop is to get an Elizabethan (or “E”) collar, AKA “Lampshade”, or “Cone of Shame”. These stay on your pet during the healing cycle and prevent your pet from licking.
If the incision looks dirty you can gently clean the area with a cotton ball and warm water. Do not use Hydrogen Peroxide. You must not allow your dog or cat to get wet for at least 7 days after surgery. For this reason, bathing is also prohibited for at least one week after surgery.
Alternatives to the “cone of shame” are inflatable collars, soft E-collars and neck brace collars. Try covering the wound with soft fabric secured by medical tape to prevent licking. Keep pets busy with other fun things to distract them from licking wounds.
Some hospitals prefer to keep surgery cases overnight so that they can rest in a properly confined area; some veterinarians believe that this first night of confinement helps the incision in healing.
In most cases, your cat's activity will need to be restricted for at least one to two weeks or until the sutures are removed (if the sutures are to be removed). During this time, limiting your cat's activity is essential to prevent the incision from opening.
Your cat's behavior is usually caused by feeling disorientated after the anesthetic and being extra sensitive and vulnerable. It may also be a sign they're in pain. Your cat may also be more stressed and anxious than usual.
On average, cats will have a bowel movement between the first 24 to 48 hours after a procedure.
Extreme behavior may be a sign that your cat is in a lot of pain post-surgery: This includes anything from hyper-aggression and continuous meowing to hiding and withdrawal. Contact your veterinarian if your cat displays any of these behaviors.
Neutering for male pets is termed 'castration' and involves surgically removing the testes. This is a short procedure done under general anaesthetic by your vet. No stitches are used and he will heal quickly.
Dehiscence is when an incision ruptures and opens. If an internal layer of sutures ruptures, you may notice a new bump under healthy normal skin or tenderness in that area. If the external incision dehisces, the incision will be open.
It's not ideal to let your pet cat walk after the surgery. Dirt or dust from kitty litter find their way into the incisions and may result in an infection. For this reason, you need to utilize a shredded paper litter for roughly seven days after the operation.
Most male cats don't have stitches when they are castrated because the wounds are very small and tend to heal quicker without. If you have a female cat, she may or may not need stitches removing depending the type your vet used.
To prevent irritating the incision, we recommend you purchase an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) to keep your pet from being able to reach the area with their mouth. These cone collars are the most effective protection against your pet causing trauma to their incision, and should be worn for 10-14 days following surgery.