neutering questions!

[JBalways2000]

So AJ and Raven are booked in to be neutered on monday. i know its just a routine op and im sure everything will be fine but i still cant help worrying like mad already. ive been told they will both be health checked before it being done which is good. ive mentioned before that i worry about Ravens breathing, even though 3 or 4 vets have now told me that there is nothing wrong with him i still cant help but worry about him with the anaesthetic.

i have been told not to feed them after 8pm the night before but i wondered if it would be ok to give Raven some rescue remedy the morning of the op? he just gets very stressed out even if we hold him when he doesnt want to be and isnt very people friendly so im getting so worried about how he will be with a complete stranger(the vets)

any tips on how to keep him calm? i will be sending him off with a blanket with our smells on for him carrier but other then that is there anything i can do?

oh, and is it ok that they will be going in seperate carriers? they are far too big for me to bring them together in one now but didnt know if it would stress them more being apart from each other.

can you tell im worried?

[Mags]

I'm sure your boys will be fine and it is quite normal for you to worry over them.

Personally I would check with your vet to see if it would be alright to give him Rescue Remedy on the morning of the op....

My Cassie is also an extremely nervous cat and isn't people friendly either. She was perfectly alright when she was spayed, also when she was hospitalised for a week, a few years ago.

The vets know just how to handle nervous cats, most likely the vet nurse will give him a lot of fuss and attention and he will be just fine.

I wish you, AJ and Raven all the best for Monday...

[dinahsmum]

All the best from me too - they'll be absolutely fine, I'm sure, and ready for all the fuss you will give them when they come home.
Next morning they will have totally forgotten about it.

[whiskey]

im sure your babys will be fine they bounce back really quick my daisy was in yesterday when i got her home it was as if nothing had happend good luck kittys

[JBalways2000]

Thanks for that everyone, has made me feel a little bit better to know how well others have came through it. im the same every time one of my animals needs an op, but for some reason im even more nervous about my boys!

i just hate to think of poor Raven being scared, but your right im sure the nurses deal with cats like him every day and know just how to make him feel better

i might ring about the rescue remedy still though.

will have to make sure the boys nails are trimmed for monday, Raven is a nightmare to do but he also rips you to pieces if you try and hold him hes sweet when he wants to be though(hes my baby always comes to me for his fuss ) will have to try and catch him when hes asleep!

[Elaine]

Best to ask about the RR. How do you normally give it to them? It may be possible to rub a drop or two on the ears but always best to ask.
Wish them all the very best xxx I am sure they will be fine xxx

[JBalways2000]

Originally Posted by Elaine

Best to ask about the RR. How do you normally give it to them? It may be possible to rub a drop or two on the ears but always best to ask.
Wish them all the very best xxx I am sure they will be fine xxx

ive never actually given them any rescue remedy so not sure how you usually give it-that was going to be my next question it was recommended to me when i got the new kittens to calm down my older boys but i never needed to use it then.

[Elaine]

Oh ok, I asked because some people add it to food or water which would obviously be a definate no no for the op.
You can also rub a wee drop or two onto the tips of the ears but i dont know if that would be safe to do before the op or not so best to ask.

[Amber]

It's only natural for us to worry when our babies go in for op's - even the simplest of one's! When my Max was castrated I was awful - and it was even worse the fact that it was me monitoring his anaesthetic

Anaesthetics are safest when the stomach is empty, so do not feed AJ and Raven after 8pm the evening before the operation, and keep them indoors so that they cannot get food elsewhere (or escape so you can't catch them in the morning ) you will not need to restrict access to water unless otherwise instructed by your vet. With the rescue remedy, I would contact your vet for advice, but I would be more inclined to use something such as a Feliway spray instead.

Transport them both in a secure basket. The basket needs to be easy to clean, and not so large that the cats fall about in them - for getting cats in and out, a top opening basket is by far the easiest.
Ideally the box should be regarded as part of the furniture at home, so that it doesn't become a signal for a stressful journey. Get the carrier to smell familiar and reassuring - put some clothing in that smells of the cat's favourite person, spray the basket and contents with a Feliway spray if you have one about half an hour before you leave, and wipe a soft cloth around your cat's faces to pick up the scent, and put this in the basket. You can also rub this around the carrier especially in the corners.
If your cats panic at the sight of the carrier, try to get them in safely and gently at the first try. Have the carrier close by but out of sight. Wrap the cat in a thick towel (preferably one which smells familiar) and pop them (and the towel) in quickly so that they cannot grab the carrier and get into a struggle.
Keep the basket covered with a blanket/towel during the journey as this will help them to relax.
Secure the carrier in the footwell behind the front seat or strap in using the seat belt.
Drive carefully so that the carriers are not thrown around and avoid loud music. Talk quietly and reassuringly and stay calm yourself - cats are great at picking up tension from their owners!
Try to avoid rushing and bumping the carriers against your legs as you carry them into the surgery.

Your cats will be admitted into the surgery, and checked to ensure that all is well before the operation and you will be asked to sign a consent form - this is a good time to ask questions and raise any concerns you may have. Your vet will either phone you once the operation has been completed, or give you a time to call for an update. Once the health check is completed, they will most likely have a pre-med which normally consists of a sedative, and a painkiller to relax them and help them through the induction period.
They should be kept in for a few hours after the operation until they have recovered from the anaesthetic.

On returning home they are likely to be a little quiet and may be unsteady on their feet. They will probably have a shaved area on their legs aswell as the operation site from the IV catheter. It is important that they don't lick at the operation site - if this happens contact your vet who should be able to supply you with a buster collar. check that the wound is not red, swollen or oozy, and make sure that any medication is given as instructed.
Your vet will probably advise that you keep them indoors for at least the first night, and they will appreciate a quiet, warm place to sleep.

Remember that the nurses and vet will be used to handling nervous cats - they see them every day they will make sure that everything is handled in a safe, and as stress-free way as possible.

Sorry for the long post I do waffle when I get going

[Mags]

Thank you for that very informative post Amber........... that will certainly help to put cat owners at ease when their pet needs to go in for an op .....