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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Has he really been neutered??!

20 replies

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 16:18

Just picked up our 4 month old kitten from the vets after being vaccinnated (3rd one), microchipped, and more to the point - neutered.

He seems remarkably...recovered. No signs of grogginess and his balls look just the same. No smelly medical ointment, no sign of any operation. And he is his usual, crazy self.

Can you put my mind at rest that he's actually had the op?!

The time my previous cat was neutered (both boys) he was groggy and feeling sorry for himself for ages. And he reeked of some horrible ointment, and spent ages licking himself clean of it. Mind you, I'm not sure if that was because he shit himself on the way to the vets.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/09/2013 16:23

You're not in tune with your vet, eh? That's what would concern me most.

These days, neutering can seem to hardly affect them. Once the effect of the GA has passed that is.

cozietoesie · 10/09/2013 16:23

You're not in tune with your vet, eh? That's what would concern me most.

These days, neutering can seem to hardly affect them. Once the effect of the GA has passed that is.

Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 16:26

But my last cat was neutered at the same place only a few years ago. I guess all cats recover differently. The vet did comment on how lively he was.

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Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 16:26

So there are no signs I can look for? No scarring etc.?

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Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 16:27

Shouldn't his balls be a bit tender at least??

OP posts:

EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 10/09/2013 16:29

Mine was the same, whethergirl. My little 5mo was neutered 3 weeks ago. He has been absolutely fine since then. You wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with him.

I didn't even know where his balls were to start with, so not noticed any difference there.

The only thing that happened was my girl cat hissing and fizzing at him for three days afterwards because he smelled different having been at the vets.

hiddenhome · 10/09/2013 16:30

I don't think they remove all the scrotum now, just the testicle inside. Both my previous boys also still had little, fluffy balls, but with nothing inside after they were done.

Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 16:37

I've always been a cat owner and I've never noticed my cat's balls before either, but with this cat, you seriously can't miss them. They are HUGE.

I thought they'd at least be a bit smaller after the op or something? For some reason I had it in my head that they shrivelled them. However, they are still frighteningly massive.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/09/2013 16:40

That's because he's only 4 months old. It's a proportion thing - and also swelling from the op.

BubbleBathFoam · 10/09/2013 17:49

Boy cat was absolutely fine after being done. I was so worried that he'd be in pain but he was his usual self. The only difference I did notice is that he seemed very thirsty when he came home.

xfilefan · 10/09/2013 18:03

Boys often do recover very quickly, its a super quick op and even within the same practice different vets may choose to use different drugs for the GA, and if your last cat was done a few years ago it may well be a different GA protocol so dont worry about that. Or a quicker surgeon etc. Normally the fur round the balls will be removed (plucked or clipped) can you see that? (may only be a tiny amount removed). If he was done first thing this morning (as castrates often are) he could well have licked himself clean of the hibiscrub or whatever they used to clean there. Does he have a little shaved patch on his arm? If so thats for the GA. Dont worry if not though as not all GAs will be done that way. You can always take him in for a post op check up and discuss it more if your worried that he was forgotten about (and can check his chip too as they would be unlikely to chip him but forget to neuter him I would think).

xfilefan · 10/09/2013 18:06

But definitely a 4.pm collection after a morning op I would expect a male cat to be A ok so dont worry that hes too fine. :)

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/09/2013 18:22

My. Cat didn't have a shaved leg.

But they did look smaller and now he has little furry balls. See how he looks at the weekend.

Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 21:05

How very dare you cozietoesie - belittling my cat's balls like that! It's not in proportion, I have had kittens before and never noticed their balls. And there was no swelling, they were just the same big balls as before!

xfilefan he is under the bed now, but didn't notice any shaved patches...wil check again when he resurfaces. He did go a bit hyper (more than usual) this afternoon, I'm not sure if that's anything to do with the GA? Although I had also put a collar on him for the first time which he didn't like.

I've got to pop back at the vets tomorrow anyway, so I might mention something...to put my mind at ease. I do treat my cats like my PFB and I think they're aware of that so hopefully they'll understand..

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/09/2013 21:55

Yes - speak to the vet. You paid for the op after all!

xfilefan · 10/09/2013 22:18

yes they can be abit spaced out after some of the drugs used (maybe not the one that gets a shaved leg so dont worry if he doesnt have one at all, thats only if he had drugs IV). But also yes collar could also be the cause! Thats good that your seeing the vets tomorrow, Im sure they will put your mind at rest -did they give you microchip paperwork etc? The chipping will have been done while he was having the castrate probably so a good indicator too. They only slit into the balls and take out the teeny important bits rather than chop off the whole lot so dont worry.And did they give you a breakdown of charges? You could certainly ask to see the clinical notes on the computer while your there for your own interest & then youll see everything done such as pain relief given etc - and its really really really unlikely that they would have written up clinical notes without actually doing the op so that will also put your mind at rest.

Original poster

whethergirl · 10/09/2013 23:09

Thanks xfilefan, your post was very reassuring.

However I've just had a good look and noticed 3 tiny little red slits - so I feel much better now.

Yes xfilefan, I did get the microchip paperwork. I totally forgot to ask for a big receipt with a breakdown, which I normally do. I'm only popping in to pick up the vaccination certificate which the vet forgot to sign.

I had to take his collar off. He was going absoloutely mental and it's too big for him so he could nearly take it off.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 11/09/2013 10:34

I never bother with a collar these days. None of my boys will tolerate them.

BubbleBathFoam · 11/09/2013 11:04

We don't bother with collars anymore either. We did, but about 4 months ago I went to change boy cat's collar and literally within an hour of him having it on he went all funny. He was growling and attacking, crouching in corners. It was like he didn't recognise me. Totally out of character for him.

I was so worried, thought he was hurt. I couldn't pick him up without using a towel because he was so scared and lashing out. I was advised that it may be the collar so took it off.

He was soon back to his loving self. Since then I have vowed never to use collars again.

Original poster

whethergirl · 13/09/2013 00:01

Oh dear, well I hope my cat won't mind wearing a collar because the reason I want him to wear it is because I have just bought a pet tracker and he needs to carry the tag.

When I first put the collar on, he went mental, but that's because it had a bell on it. I took the bell off and he was a bit better with it, but as it had an elasticated bit he was able to take it off. It was also too big for him so I'm going to try and kitten collar next.

I must admit, I don't like the idea of putting cats on collars (I wouldn't like to wear one). But my last cat got stuck in a garage for 3 days, I would hate for anything like that to happen again.

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