Baby boy being neutered today - what to expect?

[Stropalotopus83]

So our male cat is being neutered today, in fact, it's probably happening as I type. I'm sure the vets will provide lots of info on how to care for him when he comes home but I'm just after some advice from those who have been there before. He's our first cat. Any tips on how best look after him, what to expect etc? How to know if he's recovering well or showing signs of infection? Will he want fussing or should we pop him in the spare room so he has peace and quiet?

Honestly. I used to say I wasn't a cat person and now he rules my life 🙄

He will let you know what he needs. It’s usual for them to be a bit subdued for a day or two, and if he feels that way he’ll take himself off somewhere he’s comfy.
The vet will probably send him home with painkillers, which you can put in his wet food if he has it. Keep him inside for a few days, but he’s probably not been outdoors yet anyway.
Mine have both been completely unfazed by it - but my littlest was really silly and zoomy after his. I spoke to the vet who said it wasn’t usual but there’s not a lot you can do.
He might have the cone of shame, but if he pulls it off, you might struggle to get it back on. It’s a really straightforward op for boys.

Expect overkill in his hatred for you right now.. Which may or may not include a huge poo on your pillow.

Expect the vet to say keep him quiet, no jumping etc, and for your kitten to be doing wall-of-death circuits round the sitting room for 3 hours with you wondering whetherhus stitches have burst...

@WishIWasACavewoman I think yours is related to my little boy 😂 Maybe not as unusual as the vet had me believe

Good luck. If he is given a cone of shame, consider a post surgery sleepsuit instead, far less distressing and super cute. Amazon have loads,

It's a pretty minor op to neuter a male. He might be sleepy or weirdly active (drug to rouse from anesthetic can make them hyper). He will have been given a strong pain killer that lasts 24 hours and will probably be only slightly sore after that. He will probably feel terribly sorry for himself and might not want a fuss until he feels better.

Get a cone or a doughnut he might be fine he might be a chewer

I've had five boys neutered first one was stoned walked into the freezer slept it off all good second one went into a frenzy and attacked himself had to dash back for a cone he was aggravated BADLY third and fourth ran around like lunatics and fell asleep in the middle of the floor number five! Dug in his water bowl tried sitting on my shoulder trying to head boop me slid down me crawled back up did it all again high as a kite he was 😂

So it can go many ways

Thanks all, have had a quick look at the sleep suits, they look great but I don't know if he would let me put it on him! Definitely going to keep it as an option though. We've had the call that he's had the op and is recovering nicely, going to collect him at 4pm.

Have made the spare room all cosy and have actually put the heating on there for him (!) just in case he wants peace. He sometimes likes to sleep in there when he wants to be left alone so I'll leave that up to him and I guess just follow his lead on what he wants.

This may be a stupid question but will he be able to use his litter tray as normal or should I expect accidents?

I have had many boy cats all of whom were fine with the operation - as others have said it’s pretty minor for a boy. Be guided by him and let him sleep, or eat, or whatever he wants - he may sleep it off, or he may go a bit mad for a while - just roll with it, he will be right as rain very quickly. I hope you are enjoying your first cat op, wonderful animals to share your life with. Btw there’s a rule here about pics, just sayin’..

He's home and seems utterly bewildered and out of it bless him. He has the collar on and has tried to get it off a few times but very half heartedly so we'll persevere with that for now. Had to take the lid off his litter box - he has a closed one with a flap but he couldn't manage it with his collar, it is actually big enough to take the collar but he seemed baffled by it all so we just removed the lid for now.

Lots of aimless wandering around but he's completely silent, no miaowing or anything which is bizarre as he's usually a very chatty cat. Have popped him in the spare room with blankets and his litter tray lots of water and some of his teddies. Have been advised to give him chicken and rice for dinner by the vet so sorting that now.

He's got to go back to the vet for a checkup in two days so that's reassuring as they'll know what to look out for in terms of infection etc. honestly I'm so stressed for him it's ridiculous!!

Don't want to stress him by poking the camera at him so older pics of happier times lol!!

They don't usually need a cone after being neutered. I dont think they even use stitches on male cats. My 2 were fine after there's. No cone and didn't lick the area too much

I also didn't have a check up unless there was an issue

Not sure about the chicken and rice advice either . I just fed my 2 as usual but little and often as they were only 4 months old.

Aww, bless him, he’s gorgeous. He’ll likely be his normal self by tomorrow - probably feels a bit drunk just now, lol

Gorgeous boy!
No stitches for male cats.
The vet was correct something light for his tummy as anaesthetic and stress can make them a bit sick. He'll be given a strong painkiller and they will have sterilised the area to prevent infection. Its unlikely only if he started over grooming the area. You'll have been asked to keep him in (if he's outdoor) till his post operative check.
He will seem a bit dazed (like a drunk man) this will wear off by tomorrow. His eyes may be a bit glazed but don't worry.
He'll soon forgive you.

I thought he had definitely had stitches? They sent him home in a cone and I assumed it was to stop him licking the wound? They have removed both testicles so assume they must have stitched that up?

He isn't enjoying the chicken and rice so may well offer normal wet food a bit later.

Here is the advice we were sent home with - doesn't specifically mention stitches but assumed he had them due to testicle removal?

I'm really confused now!

From the little that I know very small incisions are made to remove the testes. Stitches would cause more annoyance than they would help as they're such small wounds so they're just left to heal on their own.

They only make a tiny incision and pop the testicles put. Dont think t

The incision is big enough to need stitches.

I watched it on YouTube

No stitches after neutering males. In the vast majority of cases. It is a tiny incision, only about 3mm on each side for a young male. An older better endowed Tom might need a single stitch each side. But a kitten, never, ever sutured one.

Never used a collar, or a suit, or anything.

Ah I see. I had assumed that incision must mean stitches.

He has settled down a lot and is sleeping now after eventually eating some rice. Thanks for all the help everyone x

My pair have had several anaesthetics and was advised to give chicken and rice. Absolutely no way will they eat that! Always gone straight back to normal diet with no problem.

What a gorgeous boy!
Mine refused to wear the cone and had a little lick but it was fine. No special food.

I asked our vet what to expect when our new cat was neutered.. She said he probably wouldn't even notice the difference. Also no stiches, no cone or bodysuit necessary. He was so funny when he got home though. High as a kite, and had a bad case of the zoomies. Was so loving, fussy and purry.... Totally unlike his usual self!! When we went back for a check up, I asked the vet if we could keep him on whatever it was, as he was such a lovely cat.
( He's generally very difficult) No she said😁.
He was fine next day and didn't bother the wounds. They were 2 tiny little slits hardly noticeable. He was a rescue cat and not neutered until he was 2 years old, so fully developed ahem.. .. Before he was done he looked as if he had 2 boiled eggs stuck to his back end. Hes white 😂.

How is your boy now. Hope he's ok

Ye gods!

Until I saw this was The Litter Tray I was feeling completely gobsmacked.

🤣