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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

Keeping a cat in pre-op

17 replies

QueenoftheSarf · 05/10/2013 22:51

Right, so I have booked my 7 yr old cat in to have his teeth cleaned next week, which will mean a general anaesthetic and they've told me not to feed him after 9pm and to keep him in all night. I'm fine with the no food thing but keeping him shut in will mean him having to have a litter tray (which I don't have and he hasn't used since he was about 12 weeks old). I'm not sure how he'll react to it.

I really don't want to restrict him in this way and I don't want to traumatise him any more than I have to, as he'll be traumatised enough on the day of his op!

A couple of years ago we thought he had something stuck in his throat so I took him to the same vets and they advised that to be sure he hadn't I should book him in so that they could have a proper look down his throat but it would mean putting him right under so they could do it. The funny thing was, I was never advised to keep him in then - only to not feed him after 9pm.

I know they're being cautious to ensure he doesn't eat elsewhere but do you think it's absolutely essential that I stress him out by restricting him in this way? Can I get away with just not feeding him? He's not one for catching stuff so I don't think he'll catch anything to eat and he's a proper scaredy cat so I can't see him going into anyone else's house to pinch food, and I'm certain no neighbours would feed him.

Would you just take all his food up but leave the catflap open as usual if you were me...?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 05/10/2013 23:08

I'd be keeping him in all night anyway as a matter of course - nighttime is by far the most dangerous time for cats what with car accidents and predators/mean other cats.

If I were you, I'd bite the bullet, get the tray and start keeping him at night right now. He should be fine with it as long as he knows he'll get out during the day.

thecatneuterer · 05/10/2013 23:08

If you're sure he has no food source outside then I think it should be fine.

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/10/2013 23:18

To check down a throat I would use a particular anaesthetic that causes any food to be vomited up while the cat is still conscious. To do a dental I would use a totally different anaesthetic hence the difference in protocol.
I would keep your cat in overnight it is really not going to distress him too much and the risk of him vomiting under the anaesthetic and aspirated in the lungs if he does get something to eat out overnight is far greater than the small amount of upset he will feel. A washing up bowl works great as a temporary litter tray and you will nee to keep him the night after the anaesthetic as in the first 24 hours they are not able o fully regulate their temperature.

Original poster

QueenoftheSarf · 05/10/2013 23:22

My thinking is that he won't twig why he's not got any food down at home so he won't go out looking for food but if he knew I was purposely starving him then he might do!

Surely if I give him a big feed at 9pm he won't be that hungry overnight will he? It's only at 7.45am the next morning, when he's winding around my legs for food and I pick him up and shove him in his cat box (which he loathes!) and bundle him into the car for the vets that he'll realise what a nasty mean cow I really am. And by then it'll be too late!

I think I'll take the risk so as to keep things as normal as possible for him, especially as the very same vets practice never told me to keep him in before his last general.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 05/10/2013 23:26

But they have advised it this time - and Lonecat (who is a vet) has explained why and advised similarly. I think you ought to listen to what is being said.

Frenchfemme · 05/10/2013 23:39

For goodness sake do as advised and KEEP HIM IN! Mine hate it, but not as much as I would hate myself if something happened due to me disregarding professional advice.

Original poster

QueenoftheSarf · 05/10/2013 23:52

Sorry I must have cross posted with Lonecatwithkitten. I can assure you that I will most certainly be keeping him in after reading her advice. Now I fully understand the reasons for the different advice based on the different types of anaesthetic. Thank you so much.

Just out of interest, Lonecatwithkitten what about the anaesthetic you use for castration? I wasn't advised to keep him in after having that done and I'm thinking now based on what you 've said that maybe I should have been? Will it be worth asking the vet if they don't mention it this time? I'd hate to put him at any risk.

OP posts:

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 06/10/2013 00:02

I'm sure he'll be fine being kept in for one night.

We recently started keeping our cat in after coming home late at night to find him in a face to face staring contest with a fox. The fox is pretty much a constant fixture these days so the cat stays in.

He didn't seem that bothered about the change really.

He is having an op on Tuesday and I'm more concerned about making it out on the school run in one piece - he's usually fed at 6 and let out so I'm going to be tripping over him at every step whilst he loudly complains :)

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 06/10/2013 00:03

oh and we've been told to keep him in for 24 hours due to the temp thing and the general doziness after the GA.

Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 08:37

We advise keeping inside for 24 hours after any anaesthetic due to temperature regulation, just like humans are told to be with another adult for 24 hours after an anaesthetic.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/10/2013 08:49

You could always put soil/compost into a poundland litter tray.

Sparklingbrook · 06/10/2013 08:52

Hi. SparklingCat had her teeth done last month. Nothing to eat after 10pm but nothing mentioned about keeping in. She is always in overnight anyway though. I let her out for a wee the next morning before we went to the vets.

Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 11:21

I'm afraid sparkling you would have been sent home from my clinic. Last year we had a cat vomit under anaesthetic when she was in for a spay even though she was intubated and we took correct precautions to try and prevent aspiration she did develop aspiration pneumonia we saved her, but it was a battle. On closer questioning her food had been lifted, but she had been allowed out and had found her own meal.

Sparklingbrook · 06/10/2013 11:24

Oh no. I did watch her have said wee and hoiked her back in sharpish though Lone.

cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 11:35

It's a pity some vets aren't more forthcoming about the reasons for instructions. (As is clear from the OP's posts where her vet wasn't.) Would it not be good practice for practices to have a little leaflet to hand out or website section (or both) setting out some basic rules in simple language eg for pre-op and, more importantly, the reasons behind them?

Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 12:32

Cozie 90% of our op bookings are made over the phone for the next 48hrs my receptionists are trained to give clear information as to keeping in and why on the phone.
We then provide clear written instructions on keeping in on going home and why.

cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 12:35

A good example, Lone, but I don't think all practices are so positive about these things. (I'll stand to be corrected on that.)

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