PRE-OP INSTRUCTIONS

  • DO NOT FEED YOUR CAT AFTER 9:00PM THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY!

  • DO NOT FEED YOUR CAT ANYTHING THE MORNING OF SURGERY!

  • Your cat needs to arrive at the transport with a completely empty stomach. 

  • You may offer your cat water.

  • For kittens under 3 months old, you may offer a very small amount of food, ¼ of their normal feeding, up to 6:00am the morning of surgery, but then DO NOT FEED ANYTHING AFTER 6:00AM.

Do not allow your cat outside the night before surgery or the morning of surgery! They may eat something unknown to you which could compromise the safety of their surgery. 

We recommend preoperative blood work be completed and provided to us ahead of surgery by your regular vet for all pets who are 7 years of age or older or who have pre-existing medical conditions.

Tips to keep your cat comfortable at the clinic

  • Each cat must arrive in their own secured cat carrier or humane trap. Please make sure the carrier or trap is large enough for them to lay down in - they will spend most of their day in it recovering from surgery.

  • Line their carrier with a towel. If available, layer it with a doggy pee-pad on top. If your cat has a potty accident while recovering from surgery, (which is quite common,) we will be able to remove the pee-pad, keeping him cleaner and more comfortable. 

  • Cover their carrier with another towel. This will help keep them calm throughout the day.

  • For feral cats in humane traps, line the bottom of the trap with newspaper or cardboard. Remember, your cat will spend the majority of their day in the trap and the wire mesh bottom can become quite painful when laying/sitting on it for extended amounts of time.

POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS

When you get home, provide a quiet, comfortable space for your cat. They will probably feel nauseous and out of sorts for the first 18-24 hours after anesthesia. They may also be more likely to snap at people and other animals, so providing a quiet, isolated space where your cat can rest is very important.

  • Make sure that you can still see your cat from their resting place. Block off any dangerous hiding spots or spots that you can’t easily access.

  • Keep children and other pets away from them. Your cat needs to rest and recover, and this is harder to do if they’re constantly interrupted or bothered by others.

  • Keep the lights low. Cats who have had anesthesia are usually sensitive to light. Dim the lights in your cat’s resting area, or turn them off.

  • Don’t try to pet or play with your cat immediately after surgery. Let your cat rest.

You can offer your cat half of their normal meal. If in one hour they want more, offer them the second half of food. 

  • Do not overfeed!

  • Do not give special foods or treats as they may upset their stomach

  • DO NOT GIVE COWS MILK! Cats cannot digest it and it will lead to dehydration and diarrhea.

Human medication, and even medications meant for other animals such as dogs, can kill cats! 

  • Do not give your cat any medicines, even over-the-counter medicines, that your vet has not verified as being appropriate for your cat. 

  • Don’t apply any products to the surgical site, including antibiotics or disinfecting creams

Don’t allow your cat's surgical site to become wet for 10-14 days after surgery. This can cause infection.

  • If necessary, clean around the surgical incision with a slightly damp cloth (no soap), but don’t get the actual incision area wet. Do not scrub or pick at the surgical site and discourage your cat from licking the area. You can purchase them online or from us.

Do not take them on trips, walks, or allow them outside in any capacity for at least 48 hours (males) and 5 days (females). Understand that cats who are in distress, such as those who’ve just had surgery, may try to escape. Be very vigilant in supervising your cat, especially for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.

If your cat is indoor/outdoor, DO NOT let him outside tonight! He should return to his normal behavior by the morning following surgery, but some cats need a little extra time. Do not let your cat outdoors until they are acting normal. 

If you suspect your cat’s incision is infected, as indicated by swelling, redness, or drainage (yellow or white in color) please schedule an appointment as soon as possible with your regular vet or take your cat to the nearest emergency facility.

Salem’s Sanctuary and the vets we work with are NOT emergency facilities. In the event of a complication, you must take your cat to the nearest emergency facility.