Post-op Care for Female Cats/Cryptorchid Males
1. Keep your cat confined to a quiet area indoors and away from other animals until the incision is fully healed (typically 5-7 days).
2. If your cat went home the same day of surgery, he/she can get a small amount of food and water after 6 pm. The following day, you can resume your normal feeding schedule. Mild stomach upset and occasional constipation are some side effects we see from anesthesia. Your cat may also have poor balance and sleep more for 24 hours. If symptoms persist or are severe, please contact us for further instructions.
3. A small amount of redness and swelling is normal 3-5 days post-op. If the swelling is severe, is not resolving, or if there is any kind of discharge, please contact us and schedule a recheck. If your cat is acting well otherwise, incision complications are rarely a true emergency.
4. We do not routinely send cats home with e-collars. In general, they don’t tend to lick their incisions and the e-collar is not well tolerated by them. However, if you are concerned that your cat might lick the incision, you may purchase an e-collar from us for $10. You can also apply bitter apple spray (sold at any pet store) to the area around the incision as a deterrent.
5. Your cat has dissolving stitches which will take 8-12 weeks to dissolve completely.
6. Do not bathe for 2 weeks following surgery. If the incision gets soiled, you may gently wipe it clean with warm soapy water then pat dry.
7. Your cat will have a small tattoo on her abdomen. This was done while she was under anesthesia and is not causing her additional pain. Tattooing is an important part of a national effort to identify animals that have already been spayed or neutered should they get lost, change owners, or be relinquished to a shelter. Community cats are all eartipped.
8. Your cat had an oil based lubricant applied to his/her eyes during anesthesia. You may notice some discharge from the eyes for the next 48 hours and it should resolve on its own.
9. Your cat received a long acting pain medication by injection today. This should be all she needs to stay comfortable.
10. Recheck policy- A veterinarian or technician is available Monday through Friday from 9am to 2 pm. If the time is inconvenient for you, you may drop off your cat earlier and pick her up later after the vet has evaluated your pet. This service is built into the cost of your pet’s surgery. It is your responsibility to call and schedule a recheck if you have concerns. If you seek outside veterinary services, we will not be responsible for your expenses.
11. The Spay & Neuter Center of New Jersey will not be held responsible if you do not follow these instructions or if complications occur that are not directly related to your pet’s surgery.
Comments, concerns, or to schedule a recheck- please call 732-796-0900
** We are unavailable by phone during non-business hours- all evening and weekend concerns are addressed by email, which we check frequently: [email protected] (please be sure to use “Reply All” for any return correspondence).