Mary Allen
So that free cats do not multiply constantly, they should be castrated. It’s a harmless, minor intervention, but it does involve a certain amount of stress. How can you support the cat in the first few days afterward?
Neutering cats is now a routine procedure that virtually any small veterinarian can perform. But of course, the animals are very exhausted for a while after the operation and need rest and recovery.
Immediately after the operation, before the cat wakes up from the anesthesia, it is injected with a painkiller. “It’s easier to suppress the pain than to fight it afterward,” says Rico Hauser, veterinarian, and president of the Animal Welfare Association in Uster and the surrounding area. He also performs the procedure on feral cats that are caught during castration campaigns by Swiss animal protection. Like other veterinarians, he uses degradable and well-tolerated threads for suturing the wounds, which do not have to be removed later.
Most veterinarians provide a collar to prevent the cat from licking the wound and handling the sutures. This is a safety measure that may not seem absolutely necessary. Rico Hauser estimates that the wound “heals without a problem in 99 percent of cats, even without a collar”. So, with careful observation of their cat, owners might dare to forgo the collar. When feral cats are neutered, the collar is unnecessary as they are sufficiently distracted in nature not to constantly lick the wound.
Immediately After the Operation, the Cats Often Do Not Eat at All or Only Eat Wet Food
Neutering is recommended at 6 to 7 months of age before the cats come into heat for the first time. Of course, adult velvet paws can also be castrated without any problems. But the view that cats should come into heat at least once before the procedure is now considered outdated.
Naturally, the procedure is more serious for queens, as their abdominal cavity has to be opened to remove the ovaries. The removal of the testicles from cats does not require cutting open the body so that they also recover from the procedure much more quickly. Most hangovers start eating again the same day. On the other hand, it happens that queens do not eat for a day or two after the operation.
Immediately after the operation, the cats are usually even choosier than usual when it comes to eating. Soft food usually tastes better to them than dry food, especially as it is easier to ingest. Like any exertion, cats avoid chewing dry food when they are not feeling well. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
So if the cat doesn’t eat for a day, it doesn’t matter. She should not be pushed to eat but should be able to divide up the food herself. If she still doesn’t eat on the second day, you should start thinking about what to do in an emergency. It may be helpful to offer a delicious-smelling paste such as parfait or tartare to rekindle the cat’s appetite. It’s bad if a cat hasn’t eaten on the third day. In that case, the veterinarian must be informed.
The Nature of the Patient Usually Does Not Change, But Often the Weight Does
According to Hauser, there are no actual character changes caused by castration. Above all, “it’s not as if the cats don’t mouse anymore or mouse less than usual”. The hunting instinct remains independent of the mating instinct. However, the marking and territorial defense behavior usually decrease significantly. Some animals might calm down a little after being neutered, but this is by no means always the case.
After spaying, cats often gain weight due to an increased appetite. It is therefore important to ensure that the same amount and, above all, not too much is fed. There is a risk of weight gain, particularly in the case of house cats that do not have access to exercise and therefore hardly get enough exercise. Accordingly, the house tiger should be given plenty of work to do. Choosing good feed is also important in the long term.