Getting kitten neutered tomorrow. Need advice!?

Question

Ok. I have several questions.

The first is that the vet said he can't have any food since 8pm today. My kitten usually eats at this time and then again in the morning at 6am (his appt is at 8am). He keeps meowing for dinner and looking at where his food bowl was. I feel horrible to starve him. Can I give him something? Just a little?

I have a big heart and hate to see him miserable. I'm anxious as to how he will behave tomorrow post-op. I'm going to pick him up from the vet at 1pm. Do they recover fast? What should I expect from my kitten tomorrow? How long does it take for the suturing to heal completely? Am I suppose to let him play afterwards?

Answer 1

no food or water at all...and also keep him inside because my cat ran away for three days when we were supossed to get him neutered...the vet said that the cat can sense your anxiety and they run away...he came back and we took him a little later..its ok to play as long as he isnt jumping around to much and try not to let him l**k at the sutures because he might pull them out...also keep him inside for a week if he is and indoor/outdoor cat...he will be just fine and remember to check the sutures at least once a day for infection...

Answer 2

dont give him anything. you could deny yourself from food as well so you are both united. i know it sounds nuts but that's what i did with my kitty and it made me feel better knowing we were both miserable. they will give you an E collar so he cant really play. oh and because of the pain and drugs he might not want to eat after surgery so get some canned food to entice him if you are currently only on dry.  

Answer 3

Your little kitten will do just fine!

As for feeding him, the others have covered that pretty well.  

What will happen tomorrow:  You will take him to the vet and the vet tech or vet assistant will greet you and have you sign the surgery consent forms.  They will have a cage with a litter box ready for your little kitten, but before they get him settled in, they will weight him and put the information on his cage card.  This information is vital to the vet to know how much anesthesia to give him.

When it is his near time for his surgery (about 30 minutes), the vet will administer a sedative with pain killers.  This will relax him.  When it is his turn, the vet will administer the anesthesia that will completely sedate him.  The vet tech or vet assistant will shave the fur from his genital area and gently scrub the area to sanitize it.  He will be moved to the surgery room.  

The vet will take over and perform the surgery.  The neuter surgery is very quick and uncomplicated.  It will take about 5 minutes to complete.  A tiny incision will be made in each side of the s*****m sac and the testicles removed, tied off and severed.  There will be no external sutures to be concerned with.  The vet will apply a wound dressing and give kitten a shot of penicillan as a precaution.  The vet will give him a reversal so he will start to awaken.

The vet tech or vet assistant will remain with him until he is almost awake, will wrap him in a warm towel and put him back in his cage to fully awaken.  They will continue to monitor him.  

When you arrive to pick him up, he will be awake and ready to go!  He will not have been sedated long, but he may still be a little groggy for you tomorrow afternoon.  He will probably sleep alot, after all he has had a stressful day.  He may or may not have an appetite, but have his water and food bowl close.

Since he will not have any external sutures, he will not need a e-collar to keep him from getting to the area.  

The second day after his surgery, he should be back to his playful self and be begging for his food in his dish.

He should be healed in week or so and the fur will grow back fully in less than a month.

Since neutering is a routine surgery, there should not be any complications and his vet will take all the precautions.  Problems you should watch for are extreme swelling of the s*****m sac (mild swelling is to be expected); redness, general fever; lethargy, lack of appetite or refusing to use the litter box.  If by the second day after his surgery, he is still groggy and sluggish, contact his vet for advice.

Purrs to you and kitten.

Answer 4

No, don't give him anything. It will be for the best. Your guy will be fine. I've had 7 cats spayed and neutered and have never had any trouble. Males do even better than the females. Your kitty will be a bit tired when he comes home so just let him rest awhile. Most of mine were playing as normal the day after surgery (they always stayed overnight at the vet) but if your guy takes a couple of days, don't worry. This is the best thing you will do for him health and safetywise so pat yourself on the back for being a responsible pet owner.

Answer 5

What a coincidence! My Little Nox girl goes through the same procedure tomorrow, too.It will be hard to refuse those big beautiful eyes when she meaws for food, but lets be firm, it is for the good and safety of our kittens.In the afternoon they will be sleepy and drowsy when they come back so lets just comfort and talk softly to them. I have had several cats to go through this and they heal amazingly quickly, specially the boys.

Be brave, both of you!

Answer 6

No, you should not give him anything to eat.  It's the same reason that humans must fast before going under, anesthesia can make you nauseous if there is food in the stomach you can throw up and aspirate (or breathe in) the vomit and it can lead to serious, some fatal, side effects.

Yes, he is hungry but is he going to starve?  No.  

As far as after the surgery he will be very lethargic for up to several days.  He will be sleeping a lot and may not be interested in food, this is normal.  The doctor will tell you how long until the stitches come out, or if they use the dissolving kind how long until they dissolve.  I believe it is about 4 weeks.