Caring for Your Cat after Surgery

Male Neuter Surgery

Your cat was neutered (male) today. Please follow these post-operative instructions:

Feeding

  • Please feed your cat 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of food and water that he normally eats about one hour after returning home from the mobile clinic. If he eats this, you can begin feeding his normal amounts tomorrow morning.
  • It is normal for your cat to have a decreased appetite after surgery; however, your cat should be eating and drinking within 24 hours of surgery.

Incision Care

  • Your cat has two incisions in the scrotum and no stitches. It is ok to see one or two small openings on his scrotum.
  • Ensure the incisions stay clean and dry for two weeks. Do not apply human products onto incisions.
  • Please check your cat’s incisions daily until they are healed. Contact us if you notice excessive redness, swelling, or any discharge.

Pain Medication

  • Your cat was given long-acting (three day) pain medication with his surgery. Do NOT give human medication to your cat. It is dangerous and can be fatal.

Activity

  • Please reduce your cat’s activity for seven days after surgery. Excessive running, jumping, and aggressive play should also not be allowed. Keep him strictly indoors during this time. If your cat is too active after surgery, this may complicate healing.
  • Keep males and females separated. They may try to breed for several weeks after surgery, and neutered males can be fertile for up to six weeks after surgery.

E-Collars

  • Your cat should wear an e-collar for 7-10 days after surgery. Make sure he is able to eat with e-collar.
  • Your cat will probably not like the e-collar at first, but e-collars are very important for preventing your pet from licking his incision and causing a painful infection — even a little licking can cause problems.

Behaviour

  • Spaying or neutering cats can reduce or eliminate certain undesirable behaviours, such as urine marking, mounting, aggression, or spraying, but these behaviours may have already been learned and might not go away completely. If these behaviours do go away, this may occur gradually.
  • It may take up to 30 days for male cats to stop spraying.
  • Older male cats may continue to spray, but their urine will not smell as bad.

If you believe your pet is experiencing an urgent post-operative complication, please immediately contact one of the following emergency veterinary clinics:

Ottawa Veterinary Hospital: 900 Boyd Ave, 613-729-6139

Ottawa Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital: 1155 Lola St #203, 613-745-0123

Please also notify us at 613-725-3166 ext. 201.

For all non-urgent questions, please contact 613-725-3166 ext. 201.