pet care & health
Post-op purrs
Bringing your cat home after surgery can be stressful, but knowing what to expect makes all the difference.
By Dr Ingrid de Wet of Cottage Vet Clinic
Bringing your cat home after surgery can feel overwhelming. They may be sleepy, quiet, or even slightly disorientated. You might find yourself watching every breath and wondering if everything is normal. Fortunately, cats are very resilient and recover quickly from procedures.
As all cat moms and dads know, cats are sometimes maddeningly inscrutable and mysterious, and that’ s part of their charm. Unfortunately, they’ re also experts at hiding their pain – it’ s an inbuilt survival mechanism.
So it’ s essential to know how to spot discomfort and care for them during this time to help them return to their normal selves as quickly as possible.
Understanding anaesthetic effects
Anaesthetic drugs can take several hours to fully wear off. Your cat may seem more withdrawn than usual or hide once they are home. Some drugs may also make your cat appear to be on a“ high” – wide-eyed, wobbly, and unsettled.
This is completely normal behaviour, especially for cats who are sensitive to stress. It is important to prepare a quiet, warm, and comfortable space for them while they recover.
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