Licking after neutering - how much is too much?

[MissIndecisive2023]

My two 5 month old kittens both got neutered today.

They clearly didn't read the memo to "take it easy" tonight, they are scrapping each other as usual, leaping around the furniture and generally going crazy - probably due to being shut in a cage all day.

Anyway, they haven't been given cones of shame to wear, but I wonder if they need them? One kitten in particular is licking the wound quite a lot - the fur around it is quite wet so even with my best efforts to keep an eye on them he is managing to sneak off behind the sofa and have a lick.

Will that be ok, or do I either need to really try harder to stop them licking or get them a collar so they can't? (Don't think I will be able to get one before tomorrow morning now anyway)

They need the collars on. Any licking is likely to lead to infections and delayed healing.

Thanks. Will it be ok to leave it until tomorrow or do I need to sort it tonight?

I'd say ideally tonight but appreciate that might be tricky. Cats' tongues are so rough they can easily irritate a wound like that and introduce infection. Good luck!

My 6 month two were done about 2 weeks ago. He didn't even notice anything had been done!
We got a little suit with poppers for his sister so they didn't lick her wound and it (mostly) stayed on until the wound healed.

They also were even worse after the ops, mad zoomies, curtain climbing, chasing each other. I currently have no curtain pole, their latest endeavour.

Yes my two are going crazy. It said in the post op leaflet to try and discourage them going up and down stairs…mine are leaping around like frogs!!

On the hunt for buster collars but it seems they need collars to be fixed onto and the out of hours vet don’t sell those…

Has Richie abolished cat tax?

Definitely get the collars, OP. My boy was done at 6 months and came home with a collar. He absolutely hated it. I took it off and he licked his wound so furiously, that it got infected. Lesson learned.

Gah the collars that I got last night are too big. Kitten who was licking last night seems ok, kitten who was not licking too much looks to have opened his wound up. Off to the vet. Again. That’s 5 times in the last 2 weeks!

Wahhh nightmare!! At least the vets can give you collars and bandage to tie them in with (tighter than is obvious - they are crafty little devils who will either get it off or a leg stuck if too loose). Goodbyeeeee money 🤦

Ive just put the collars on and they are very distressed :(

I know they have to keep them on - if they keep licking they won’t have a choice then and it’ll be much worse. But they are struggling to eat/drink with them on - is that right?

Get baby grows and put those on,

My cats got the collars off in 5 mins (cat 1) and 7 mins (cat2).

They also did not get the memo about sitting quietly after an operation.

An actual babygro or one designed for a cat post op?

You can buy doughnut type soft collars which might be more suitable.

@Blondie1209 Same :(

I'm so stressed by all this. I am due to work tomorrow morning but I don't know if I can leave them when they are trying to get these bloody collars off all the time and can't eat properly.

Will they just become resigned to wearing them?

Can't decide if I should sleep in the lounge with them tonight, but my eldest has ASD and is often up in the night and will freak out if I'm not in my bed. If I leave the doors open (they usually sleep shut in the lounge) then they will run around and keep everyone awake.

(I'm not calm in a crisis. I'm very stressed!)

They will get used to it, they won't like it but will tolerate it. If they're on securely it should be fine, I really wouldn't worry too much. I was an idiot with my cat and took it off thinking it would be okay as it was nearly healed, it was not ok! You've done the most important thing in putting the cone on.

They have lasted 24 hours but they are so miserable. They've been sleeping all day which is so unlike them. They aren't eating much (unless I hand feed them chicken) or drinking much. I'm hoping the sleepiness is just misery rather than them being horribly dehydrated and poorly.

I could take the collars off for them to eat/drink but just think it will be so much worse when I put them back on again, that maybe it's better to just leave them on and keep going as we are?

My cat had actual babygro that the vets put on her.

Worked fine.

I wonder if it's easier (ish) for female cats as the scar is on the abdomen. With the boys I don't know how they can cover the surgical area without also covering the bum/penis so they wouldn't be able to use the litter tray!