How to Care for Your Cat After a Surgery
Unfortunately, cats need to undergo surgery from time to time, like the rest of us. This is extremely difficult for them, as cats like privacy and routine. But if your cat has had a recent surgical procedure - large or small - the way you care for him can make all the difference in his recovery time.
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Instructions
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Your Veterinarian should have given you a sheet with after-care instructions. Follow the information to the letter, especially if it involves changing dressing or administering medications.
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Make sure to provide your cat with a quiet, relaxing place to recuperate after surgery. The bedroom is ideal, but it should be wherever he can sleep uninterrupted. Sunlight and fresh air are additional benefits. Keep the door to the room closed so nobody (human or animal) barges in.
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If you have other animals, keep them separate from your recovering cat. After surgery, his stitches can pop open if there is too much activity. Other animals often feel hostile towards a cat after he's returned from the vet because he smells strange. This segregation should last 1 to 2 weeks.
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Check on your recuperating cat throughout the day. Give him a gentle pat and speak to him in a soothing voice. Encourage him to bathe himself but make sure he's not biting his stitches. If he's biting his incision, he'll need to wear an Elizabethan collar, which your vet can provide.
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Make sure your recuperating cat has access to his usual food, a bowl of water, and a very clean litter box. Make sure he's eating and using his litter box on a regular basis. Keep these items separate from any other cats' food dishes and litter boxes until your cat is fully recovered.
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Tips & Warnings
Call your Veterinarian if you have any concerns about your recuperating cat, such as discharge coming from the incision, vomiting, lack of appetite or other abnormal behavior.
Cats recover from surgery incredibly fast. If you provide enough TLC, you'll be amazed at how quickly your cat is back to normal.
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Comments
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This was somewhat helpful, although, I need to know if my female cat, Ginger, will return to her normal self. She had a growth removed and she was doing real well the first 4 or 5 days after the surgery. Then she started hiding, not eating or drinking, would not play and ignored her feeding area totally. She's Maine Coon and loves to be in the room with us at all times. Now she ignores us and her personality has changed so drastically.......we did go back to our Vet and she was given IV and a Vit B shot but she still wants nothing to do with us. Going back tomorrow to have stitches removed which is healing very well and she has no fever or infections........we are so worried she will never be the same. If anyone knows about this please let me know. Thanks to all.
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My kitten, Kisa just had surgery. Thanks e-How! ^^
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JimboJambo
Apr 18, 2009
My friend has a sick cat right now, and is stressing out over the care now he is home. Great article, I'm passing it on to him.
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M Laughlin
Apr 18, 2009
Thanks for the article on how to care for a cat after surgery, my cat broke his hip and I know how hard it is! 5*
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Dorothy Sander
Apr 18, 2009
Excellent article! Knowing how to care for your cat after a surgery is important information to share. There are many just going through this for the first time. 5*
