Castration of animals is a simple surgical operation that involves removing the gonads in males and stopping reproductive functions. The operation is performed in a veterinary clinic or at home under general or combined anesthesia. If all rules are followed, animals do not experience any serious complications after castration. Moreover, the duration of the postoperative period largely depends on the correct actions of the owners. After the procedure, you need to pay attention not only to the health of the fluffy, but also to monitor the condition of the postoperative area. If a cat licks himself after castration and does it furiously and intensely, sutures may come apart. Bacteria can enter the wound, causing suppuration and causing acute inflammation.
What you need to know about castration
Castration is a simple and quick operation that takes no more than 20-30 minutes. But as after any surgical intervention, in order for the postoperative recovery period to pass without complications, the cat needs careful, delicate care and care.
Important! Any operation is a strong stress for the animal’s body, which can affect the condition and behavior of the pet.
If the operation went well, after about 30-40 minutes you will be able to take your pet home. Take care of a carrier, a basket, at the bottom of which place a disposable sterile diaper, clean flannel, or any other waterproof fabric. It is better to transport your cat not in public transport, as this can cause additional stress, but in a taxi or personal car.
Reasons for this behavior
How a pet endures the adaptation period after castration and recovers from anesthesia depends on the characteristics of its body and character. Animals, like people, can react to shocks in different ways. You also need to take into account that the cat does not understand what is happening and may be shocked the first time after the operation. During this period, he needs special attention and care.
Some pets, as soon as they recover from anesthesia, immediately return to their usual rhythm of life and do not show much concern. Others, on the contrary, may be stressed for several days.
The cat licks the eggs after castration, because he does not know any other way to eliminate unpleasant and painful sensations.
In addition, there may be other manifestations of the animal’s anxiety - for example, plaintive meowing or attempts to hide from people in a secluded place.
Is it possible to lick a wound?
Despite the fact that the saliva of our little brothers contains enzymes and substances that accelerate healing and tissue regeneration, it can also contain pathogenic microorganisms that will lead to the development of acute inflammation, suppuration, and infection. If a cat licks a wound, the natural healing process is disrupted.
In addition, the rough tongue of felines, especially with frequent intensive licking, can lead to sutures coming apart and bleeding. If a cat licks itself, treatment with antiseptics and disinfectants will not give the desired result and will increase the rehabilitation period. Therefore, you need to constantly monitor the cat and monitor the condition of the wounds daily.
Inspect the scrotum for signs such as redness, tenderness, and swelling. If blood oozes from the wound, severe bleeding has developed, the stitches have come apart, or greenish-yellow exudate is released, immediately contact your veterinarian and take your pet to the clinic. Make sure that no dirt gets into the wounds. If, for example, the postoperative area is contaminated with feces, clean the wound with warm water and a weakly concentrated solution of betadine. Dry the seam and lubricate it with antibacterial ointment.
Important! After surgery, consult with your surgeon regarding proper care.
If, in addition to licking, the cat shows restlessness, rushes around the apartment, tries to hide in dark secluded places, constantly meows pitifully and this behavior lasts more than two days, consult a veterinarian. It’s better to play it safe once again than to correct serious consequences later.
Consequences
And yet, is it possible for a cat to lick a wound after castration? There are two opinions on this matter. Some people believe that since your pet's saliva has healing properties, you can let him lick himself. However, veterinarians do not advise doing this for the following reasons:
- A rough tongue can damage the castration site, especially with intense licking. There are frequent cases of seam divergence.
- In addition to beneficial enzymes, saliva contains all kinds of microorganisms that can cause infection and suppuration of the wound.
- Treatment with disinfectants and healing agents will come to naught if the cat licks the castration site.
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The opinion of experts in this case is supported by weighty arguments, so it is necessary to do everything possible to prevent the animal from harming itself.
Postoperative area care
To prevent the cat from licking the wounds and gnawing on the stitches, after the cat has recovered from anesthesia, put on a protective cone (Elizabethan collar) for the pet. A similar accessory can be purchased at a veterinary clinic, pet stores, or veterinary pharmacy. If desired, you can make the collar yourself using cardboard, flexible durable plastic or thick fabric. Give preference to durable material, since the cat will try to pull it off in every possible way.
To ensure that the collar does not cause discomfort to the cat or hinder movement, it must be suitable for the pet in size.
You can also protect the postoperative area from licking by using baby diapers (for newborn babies). For convenience, cut a hole for the tail.
Development of purulent inflammation
Most often, owners of operated animals contact the clinic only when the entire surgical area is swollen, inflamed, and purulent exudate flows profusely from the scrotal cavity. By the way, often licking a post-operative wound is not a “whim” of the cat himself. This happens when a pet is in pain and he tries to cope with the pain reaction in ways available to him.
In cases where your recently neutered cat cannot live without constantly licking the wound, it makes sense to take him to the vet: perhaps your pet does not need a surgical collar, but a course of antibiotics (or even additional surgery).
You should urgently call a specialist in cases where blood is constantly leaking from the scrotum in large volumes. Sometimes this indicates poor-quality ligature placement or other postoperative complications.
In most cases, signs of purulent inflammation become obvious a few hours or a couple of days after surgery. The worst thing is when the cat’s drool (along with hair and other debris) gets into the remote, closed “pockets” of the scrotal bag. In this case, inflammatory processes develop there. In the absence of air and 100% humidity, the pyogenic microflora feels ideal, which is why huge (often multiple) abscesses develop in the scrotum and adjacent tissues.
There are many cases where such abscesses, suddenly bursting, became the cause of the death of an animal from diffuse peritonitis.
What to do if a cat licks a wound
If, nevertheless, the cat licked the wound, bleeding developed, or inflammatory swelling appeared, consult a veterinarian regarding further actions. The veterinarian will prescribe symptomatic medications for general and local treatment.
As a rule, complete healing of wounds after castration occurs on the 9-13th day . But if, nevertheless, the cat licked the wound, bleeding developed, or inflammatory swelling appeared, consult a veterinarian regarding further actions. The veterinarian will prescribe symptomatic medications for general and local treatment. Ranosan, Safroderm, Sanatol, Septogel, Levomikol, Iruksolone, and other wound-healing drugs are used. Before applying medications, the wound surface is treated with any antiseptic. In case of severe swelling, anti-inflammatory ointments, gels, and liniments with an antibacterial effect are used. If there is a suspicion of severe infection, the pet is prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy.
If you notice that your pet’s condition is worsening, or symptoms that are uncharacteristic of a healthy animal are noticeable, take the cat to a veterinary clinic or call a veterinarian at home.
Other predisposing factors
However, not every situation is actually to blame for the “cat-lizun”. It happens that wound infections in operated animals developed as a result of poor postoperative care (or its complete absence). For some reason, many owners completely forget that even the banal cleanliness of the room in which the cat is kept will allow him to recover much faster.
Advice! Do not bathe your pet in the first week after the procedure; clean its genital area of heavy dirt.
This is especially true for long-haired pets. Cats are very clean animals. If, for example, the scrotal area becomes contaminated with a small amount of feces, the pet will definitely lick its “back regions.” In this case, both saliva and feces particles will enter the wound canal. And this in any case will lead to the development of severe inflammation.
With some cats it is even more difficult: in particular, some Persians do not lick themselves at all. If their groin is contaminated with feces, such a “lazy person” may well end his life due to severe sepsis. It is for this reason that veterinarians strongly recommend that all fur in the scrotal area be thoroughly trimmed before surgery. By the way, you also need to cut your tail. Let the cat end up looking like a cross between a rat and a poodle, but his health will be safe.
Unfortunately, there are also cases where wound infections are caused by careless operation and complete disregard for the rules of asepsis and antisepsis. When a specialist neglects to thoroughly prepare the surgical field (does not cut or shave the hair, for example). It also happens that in specific veterinary clinics there is a real “epidemic” caused by Staphylococcus aureus or certain types of streptococci. Some of their strains are extremely difficult to remove completely.
To avoid serious consequences, we recommend that you do not call the first ad you come across, but carefully study the reviews about the clinic where your cat will be operated on. Finally, we once again emphasize the need for a complete medical examination before surgery. If your pet has some kind of chronic infection or systemic disease in the compensation stage, then after castration all these diseases will “bloom” and manifest themselves in all their glory.
Castration: features of the operation
Light-colored litter in the tray will help identify if the wound is bleeding. If bleeding continues for a long time, you should take the cat to a specialist.
It is better to take a soft, non-irritating filler. Dangerous is the lack of desire to go to the toilet, small or large. It's worth trying to give him some Vaseline oil, it should help.
It’s not scary if the first few days of urine are very small, but then its amount should increase. After castration, cat urine becomes less pungent in smell.
Cat behavior in the first days after castration
It is recommended to monitor the animal’s condition for 3 to 5 days. Some pets try to be overly active, but they simply don't have the strength to do so. Coordination of movements is impaired, so watch him carefully. Do not allow jumping, climbing or attempting to run as this may result in injury and falls.
The cat is poorly oriented in space and reacts poorly to external stimuli. The gait is unsteady. Due to unfamiliar sensations and a sense of insecurity, they may meow loudly.
At this time, it is better to place the tray closer. After anesthesia, it will be difficult for the animal to reach it on its own. It is also recommended to remove the filler for the first time (this will help avoid infection of the seams).
In rare cases, pets cannot control themselves, so it is better to use diapers.
After castration, cats can sleep from 2 to 20 hours. This is not something to be afraid of. The main thing at this time is to monitor your pet’s eyelids. He may not close his eyelids reflexively after anesthesia, so do it yourself, otherwise the mucous membrane will dry out. Observe your breathing and general condition. If the animal does not want to eat or does not go to the toilet on the first day, this is an adequate reaction to stress. Don't force him. The next day he will definitely do everything himself.
Rehabilitation of a cat after anesthesia
In the first 3 hours after anesthesia, the cat may vomit. This is due to the fact that the body is freed from the effects of drugs in every possible way. The cat will also experience dizziness, hence anxiety, lethargy, and disorientation in space.
The owner can purchase eye drops that will eliminate dryness, since the cat's eyes remain open for some time under anesthesia and there may be discomfort. Also, if the cat was fed solid food, for the first time choose softer, easily digestible food.
Make sure your pet doesn't overeat. At first you may not feel hungry, but then you should start feeding your pet in small portions.
Postoperative suture treatment
If the cat does not have problems with regenerative processes, then the treatment of the seams will consist of disinfectants and drying agents: potassium permanganate, calendula tincture. There are also professional veterinary medications that are used immediately after surgery. It is better to check the names with your veterinarian and buy them at a veterinary pharmacy. They do not irritate, dry out, and stimulate the incision to tighten.
If the cat is castrated using a seamless method, then no further treatments are required throughout the entire rehabilitation.
Use any medications in consultation with your doctor. The main task at this stage is to prevent the cat from damaging the integrity of the seam and causing an infection. Take care of your collar. Otherwise, you will have to take a course of antibiotics.
Remember:
- Inspect the groin area once a day, especially if the pet begins to actively move. Bleeding can be drip, moderate or intense;
- If there is the slightest suspicion of deterioration or suture dehiscence, you should consult a doctor.
Don’t be afraid to raise the alarm: it’s better to be safe than to miss the moment and let the situation get out of control.
Behavior of a cat after anesthesia on the first day
Gradually, the effect of the drugs wears off and the animal begins to show activity. The cat will most likely be thirsty as the effects of the medications stimulate thirst. After 3 hours, you can put a bowl of water so that he can drink on his own as soon as possible.
The room where the cat is should be warm, it is better to place a water-based heating pad next to it and cover it with a towel.
Place the animal in a non-ventilated place, perhaps next to the heating radiator, but so as not to touch the radiator (within a meter, maybe a little further), or place the cat under a towel with a heating pad. At this moment, the pet may become hypothermic, which will then cause a cold and longer healing of the sutures.
The cat may begin to experience a period of restlessness and erratic activity. This is due to the fact that the animal is experiencing discomfort and will try to change place in the hope of eliminating the stress. Protect the kitten from colliding with objects and falling. His orientation in space is now poor, the pet is in fact half asleep and still has poor control of the muscles and vestibular apparatus.
Without care, the cat may get injured and damage the integrity of the surgical sutures.
Do not let the cat on the sofa, carpets, personal belongings or toys - the pet may wet itself due to weakened self-control.
The very next day the cat will regain control of its body, but sudden movements can still cause discomfort. The pet will eat normally and will be able to independently choose a suitable place to rest. If the cat goes into a litter tray, let it be a coking sorbent. Sawdust or low-quality absorbents may stick to the seam area, which is unacceptable.
Castration of cats depending on age
The most favorable period is from seven months.
The veterinarian will determine how developed the animal is, its organs, whether the cat is physically prepared for the operation, and whether there are any contraindications.
At a young age, cats do not yet have experience of sexual life, so they tolerate the procedure more easily.
You can also castrate an adult pet up to five years old. But old age can lead to complications during the rehabilitation period.
