As your cat will need rest, put their bed somewhere warm, safe and cosy, preferably where there isn’t a lot of noise or people coming in and out – ask the family to resist the temptation to all go and say ‘hello’ to your cat all the time!
Try to keep children and other animals away from your cat to help make sure they get the best rest possible. If your brave cat isn’t back to normal after 12 hours, it’s a good idea to call the vet to see if anything’s wrong.
Feeding after cat surgery
When your cat wakes up from their anaesthetic they might feel a bit nauseous, and they might not be up to a bowl of their usual food. After their operation, offer them something small and light – most cats love things like chicken and fish, and since they’re also nutritious these are good post-operation meals.
If these aren’t options for you, just use their normal food but only give them a quarter of what they would normally have. Your vet might even give you a specific type of food to feed your cat. Whatever meal you provide, make sure they have lots of clean water to go with it.
Exercise
Even if your cat usually loves the great outdoors, it’s not a good idea to let them roam free until they’re fully recovered. If they have a bandage, this could get caught or become soiled, and your pet won’t be as good at running away from danger as they’re used to.
Keep your cat indoors until either their stitches have been removed or your vet tells you it’s okay. Even when they’re indoors there’s plenty of mischief they can get up to that might not be good for them! Try to prevent your cat from running up and down the stairs, climbing up interesting-looking things, and playing too hard with other pets.
To make things easier, your cat might be better off staying in one room. Your vet might give you extra instructions, such as keeping your cat in a cage after orthopaedic surgery, so in all cases just do as they advise.
Cat wounds and stitches
Normally your cat’s stiches will be removed after about ten days, but as every cat and every procedure is unique, this might be different for you. Luckily some stitches are hidden under the skin and dissolve by themselves, so there’s even less to worry about. Your vet will let you know exactly what kind of stitch your cat has, and tell you whether they need to be removed.
Depending on the procedure your cat has had, they might have wounds closed with stitches, staples, or even internal sutures. Have a look at the area every day, and if there’s anything unusual like redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding, ask your vet for advice.
Cat bandages
Luckily cats tend to be less fond of splashing around than their canine friends, but if your cat has bandages make sure they stay dry. Damp bandages can cause more damage to the wound beneath and delay your cat’s recovery, so don’t let them outside until they’re fully recovered.