Neutering a cat is good for the cat and for you. But as with any surgical procedure there are risks, side effects, and healing time that must be taken into consideration. The following is a list of the most common side effects associated with neutering your pet.
While people are quick to assume the benefits of spaying and neutering a cat, very few are aware of the potential side effects of the procedure. Unfortunately, there is insufficient data on this topic from which to draw comprehensive conclusions. However, there remains an emerging body of research that suggests ways in which these medical procedures can adversely affect cats’ lives. The purpose of this essay is to guide you to them and provide answers to your questions regarding cats as well as free information on how you can improve your pet’s life today.
Neutering a cat is a common procedure that alters the reproductive system of cats. It is typically performed by veterinarians, who will perform the surgery after your cat has been anesthetized.
There are several side effects of neutering a cat, but they are generally mild and short-lived. Some of these side effects may include:
- Swelling, bruising, or pain at the site where the surgery took place
- Loss of appetite or lethargy
- Retention of urine (where urine is unable to leave the bladder)
Neutering a cat is a common procedure that helps prevent unwanted litters, as well as other health problems. However, it does come with a couple of side effects.
First, there’s the fact that your cat may be more likely to roam around your house or neighborhood and get into trouble. You’ll want to keep him indoors as much as possible when he’s not on a leash or in his carrier.
Second, there’s an increased risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The best way to prevent UTIs is by providing plenty of fresh water and food at all times, plus taking him outside regularly—especially if you live in a hot climate. If he goes outside, make sure he doesn’t wander too far from home or any nearby humans who can help if he gets into trouble.
Third, there’s an increased chance of obesity. To prevent this from happening, make sure you’re feeding him high-quality cat food instead of cheap stuff from the grocery store because it won’t fill him up as well and will leave him hungry later on! Then watch his weight closely after neutering surgery so you know exactly how much he should be eating each day according to his age and activity level (you can find more information about this online).
Fourth
Side Effects Of Neutering A Cat
Spaying or neutering your cat soon? Congratulations! Be sure your plans include a delicate spay or neuter recovery period. It’s during the important neuter or spay recovery time when your attention to aftercare can make the difference between comfort and pain.
The good news is that the post-operative recovery period is typically boring in cats. That is to say, cats almost always recover brilliantly. Most appear never to miss a step after being spayed or neutered.
However, in rare instances, cats can experience serious complications after being spayed or neutered. To be sure, some may be related to surgeon error, but most happen because cats aren’t necessarily happy about having stitches in their bodies, or because they don’t know enough to keep themselves quiet while their insides are healing up.
During the Cat Spay Recovery Time
A day or two of quiet behavior and diminished appetite is the typical feline reaction to having her insides exposed and her crucial reproductive bits removed. In fact, most cats seem more affected by the sedative effects of the anesthetics and pain relievers than by pain. Research into modern cat pain relief techniques confirms this observation.
Common cat spay recovery signs include:
- Sleeping more often
- Walking more slowly
- Jumping less
- Eating less
- “Zoned-out” appearance if particularly affected by medications
Less common possibilities may require veterinary intervention. These include:
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Redness or odor at the suture line
- Walking with a hunch-back appearance more than a day after the procedure
- Lack of appetite after the first day
- Extreme lethargy at any point beyond the first twelve hours
During the Cat Neuter Recovery Time
Most often you’ll see absolutely nothing. Again, most after-effects are medication-related, not neuter-related. After all, feline testicles are tiny little things that tend not to have a lot of nerve endings associated with them – not at the age most kittens get neutered, anyway.
If there are any adverse, veterinary visit-worthy events to observe, they tend to be related to post-operative bleeding. Any bleeding or excessive licking should be cause to bring your recently-neutered cat to the vet for a follow-up visit.
Cat Neutering or Spaying Aftercare
- Keep Cats CalmThe first thing veterinarians will explain is that cats should be kept quiet during the spay or neuter recovery time. That means no excessive running, jumping, or playing. This can be hard to do if we’re talking about a kitten as most kittens are unlikely to respect doctors’ rules. And since they usually feel well enough to do so, they’re likely to return to business as usual once they’re back at home.
- Keep Cats IndoorsPart of keeping cats quiet means keeping them indoors after surgery, particularly after a major abdominal procedure like a spay. This ensures that cats won’t make huge leaps off walls or fences and risk their incisions with mad dashes across the backyard. Seeing them indoors also makes it possible for owners to observe their cats routinely during the healing process.
- Consider Keeping Cats IsolatedThe best approach to keeping cats quiet after surgery is to keep recently spayed or neutered cats in one cat-proofed room for a few days. This effectively isolates them from others who might play or harass them during their recovery. It also means you can limit the height of furniture (and of their jumps) by selecting rooms with low-lying furniture.
- Monitor the Surgery SiteOwners should observe the surgery site at least once a day. Make sure it’s not red, swollen, weeping, bleeding, or appears licked at. Any of these findings is cause for a vet visit!
- Use the Recovery CollarYour veterinarian may recommend a recovery collar to keep your cat from being able to get to the incision site. Use this for the period of time your veterinarian recommends.
- Follow All Aftercare Instructions, Including a Follow-up VisitSome veterinarians have recommendations regarding keeping the surgery site clean, keeping it coated with ointments (like Aquaphor) or administering antibiotics while other prefer that cats receive no medications or special attention to the wound (apart from simple observation). Be sure to follow all recommendations.
- Baby Your Baby During RecoveryAfter a neuter or spay, it should go without saying that a little extra attention is in order. Some cats need to be reassured that life will go back to normal after having to spend time at an alien place and that they are indeed adored.