Now that your kitty has undergone surgery and is back at home, there are some things to keep an eye on. Following these home care instructions to will help ensure your kitty gets all the attention they need to heal well.

Post surgery concern? Call 802-860-2287 to schedule a complimentary recheck appointment.

Tonight

• Keep your kitty in the carrier for 1 hour after arriving home

• Limit your kitty to one room overnight (a small bathroom works well)

• Provide food, water and a litter box

Keep your surgery patient separate from children and other pets for 24 hours. Exception: nursing cats who were spayed today can be reunited with their kittens this evening.

For the Next 7 Days

Keep your kitty indoors and as quiet as possible.

Inspect your cat’s surgical site daily, looking for swelling, discharge, odor and gaping.

Consider placing an E-collar (cone) when your kitty is unsupervised to prevent licking or chewing at the surgical site.

Your Kitty’s Surgical Site Location

For females, it is on her belly or her side. For males, it is under his tail.

What is Normal?

The way your cat’s incision looks today is normal.

Females: a closed, dry incision and a green tattoo line at her belly button

Males: a gradually shrinking incision and a green tattoo line at his belly button

Mild sneezing or ocular (eye) discharge 1-10 days after surgery is common. This is not a cause for concern providing your kitty is eating normally and otherwise well.

Check your Kitty daily for:

Redness, discharge, excessive tenderness, swelling, open incision, licking incision

Loss of appetite, vomiting diarrhea, excessive hiding, excessive tiredness

Call Affectionately Cats 802-860-2287 if you are concerned.

After the 7-day Recovery Period has passed

Your kitty can resume normal activities.

We recommend transitioning to an all-canned food diet for optimal health.

There are no sutures that need to be removed.

What’s Next?

Your kitty will need vaccine boosters in 1 year. We will call to remind you. If your kitty is under 5 months old, a distemper booster is due in 3-4 weeks.

Your kitty’s daily calorie needs will increase. The average 10 lb. cat needs one 5.5oz can of cat food per day, total (approximately 200 calories)

BONUS: How to Save $$$ at the vet’s office

An exclusively canned-food diet is best for your kitty. Cat’s are carnivores; they are made to get their water from their food.

Canned food is high in protein and water (like a mouse). Dry food is high in carbohydrates and low in water (like a potato chip)

Feed your killer predator the way he/she was meant to be fed and you will spend less on “sick pet” visits at the vet’s office!

For more information visit: www.affectionatelycats.com/risks-of-dry-food

BONUS: Lyme Disease Update 

Vermont is the #1 state for human cases of Lyme Disease, which is carried by ticks. If your kitty goes outdoors, he/she is at high risk for picking up a tick.

Tickborne disease makes cats very sick. The same ticks can crawl from your cat to you, spreading disease.

Don’t risk tickborne disease. The most affordable option that repels and kills ticks is a Soresto collar, which lasts 8 months and is also effective against fleas.