My kitten is going to the vet today.

[GalaxyDefender]

GalaxyKitten is going to be spayed today.
Is it normal that I am totally freaked? DP left with her, her appointment is in about five minutes, and I've frightened myself because I remembered hearing that felines aren't good with anaesthetic, and on top of that I don't know how long they're keeping her in for.

I know I'm being silly because there must be thousands of cats who've had the operation, but she's my PFB in cat form!
Give me a slap and tell me I'm being ridiculous and she'll be perfectly fine

[deliasmithy]

I have two female cats. Both have been done.
Cat no 1 is pedigree with bad temper. Did her op at expensive vets. I got her home and she immediately ran around the house and made 6ft leaps as if nothing had even happened. She didn't notice her stitches. Recovery time =4 minutes.

Cat no 2 is a moggy. Got her done at cheapest vet in the area. Got her home. She slept for 3 days and walked about incredibly slowly for a couple of weeks. We didn't rush her, I put boxes near thevsofa and bed so she could climb up. She was then fine. She was clearly hurting a bit after the op, but conversely her behaviour was ridiculous when she was on heat. Much happier cat now.

So different post op experiences but equally all fine. Im sure your little one will be fine.

[peggotty]

Yes it depends on whether they use the 'cheaper' anaesthetic or the more expensive variety called propofol which animals generally recover more quickly from. Did the vet mention what sort they would use? Btw she will be fine whichever they use its just recovery time I'm talking about!

[GalaxyDefender]

I'm a wuss when it comes to anything to do with the vet, plus DP knows more about this sort of stuff than I do so he's the one who's actually gone and will be asking the vet these sorts of questions. I will be getting him to give me every detail when he gets back!

I've got lots of things ready for her, like making sure her bed is back on the floor (as if she uses it!) and making sure she has some treats. You'd think I hadn't fed her for weeks instead of just overnight the way she went on this morning
Thankyou both for your kind messages. It's reassuring to hear from people who know what it's like!

[Fluffycloudland77]

I sobbed all the way home after I dropped our cat off.

Totally normal to fret. When can you ring to pick her up?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Regardless of type of anaesthetic used there is huge variation in response. Now Propofol would be considered the cheapest kid on the block and Alfaxan the expensive one. Though there are several other anaesthetics and they all have advantages and disadvantages. The saying 'there are no safe anaesthetics only safe anaesthetist' is very true - the safest anaesthetic is one where the anaesthetist is using a drug combination that they are veru familiar with enabling them to identify abnormalities quickly.
Just like people different cats react differently. Last week one morning I anaesthetised four cats, three boys and 1 girl. The boys had short anaesthetics and the girl had a much longer anaesthetic, was done after the boys and had a much more involved procedure. They all Had the same pre-med anaesthetic combination.
One boy lay tucked up in his blanket until his own came to get him, one boy came round and paced his cage till he went home, one boy hide behind the blanket at the back of the cage and the girl woke up quick sat at the front of the kennel in the happy cat croissant position. All cats came from the same household and had had the same level of socialisation. Huge variation in individuals!

[peggotty]

oooh interesting, Lonecat! Admittedly I was basing my experience of propofol on when I last worked in a vets almost 9 years ago, so I'm not surprised to hear it's different now. And of course, you're right about animals being affected differently. In the four years I worked there, we only had 2 deaths under anesthetic however, so it's pretty rare.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Ah peggotty Propofol is now cheap as chips with multiple producers and multi dose vials that last 28 days so big changes.

[cozietoesie]

Out of interest, is there any way of identifying the potential for adverse reactions in advance?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Well cozie yes and no. In older cats a blood test to check out for liver or kidney problems and if they exist using intravenous fluids will reduce the problems. The kind of problems that occur in young cats have no predisposing indicators a bit like young people so no screening would pick them up.

[GalaxyDefender]

Wow Lonecat, you know your stuff

Had to go out yesterday before DP got back, but when I got home there was a kitten waiting for me! Apparently she was beautifully behaved and didn't even throw up anywhere after the anaesthetic. She's still a bit dopey this morning but almost back to her normal self, which is good. She's the chattiest cat I know, her being almost silent last night was so weird.

Thanks again guys, I was just so stressed out yesterday!

[cozietoesie]

Well done Galaxykitten.

[Fluffycloudland77]

That's lovely. All over with.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Ah that would be being a vet with considerable experience.

[cozietoesie]

Thanks for the earlier response, Lonecat.

I know that when Seniorboy had his big GA procedure 2 years ago they did a full blood work up beforehand and he had IV fluids throughout. (In fact the IV was the single biggest element of the final bill if I recall.) It all went well despite his age and the length of the procedure.