Before Surgery

The cat should be kept inside the night before surgery if at all possible. It may have water, but no food after midnight. This is important so that it doesn’t vomit while under anesthesia, which is dangerous. And of course, no breakfast either!

• If you were not able to keep the cat enclosed during the night, please let the vet know so he will be better prepared in case the cat did eat during the night.
• Make sure the carrier or trap is securely closed and clipped before you take the cat to your car. Cats are clever! Many cats escape from a carrier that is not securely fastened, or when the top and bottom come apart.
• The trap or carrier should be completely covered with a sheet or lightweight towel. This helps the kitty stay calm.
• Be sure to always place a waterproof cover under the trap or carrier, to protect your car or floor leaking urine, vomit, and such.
• Make sure the carrier is clearly labeled with your name, phone number, and a short description of the cat. If it is a borrowed carrier, or a trap, tape the information on securely. We want each cat to go back in the correct carrier, with the correct person! 

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About the surgery

• Kotor Kitties offers sterilization surgeries because we want each cat to have the best chance at living a healthy life.
• There is always a small risk during surgery. Free-roaming and feral cats face increased risks during handling, anesthesia, and surgery. By requesting this surgery you acknowledge the small risk, and agree to not hold Kotor Kitties, its volunteers, and veterinarians liable should a cat experience complications, injury, escape, or death.
• The cats will not be tested for any diseases before surgery. If you know that the cat has a chronic problem with the heart, kidneys, liver, or respiratory system, please tell the vet when you arrive with the cat.
• At this time we are not able to provide free vaccines, microchips, or parasite treatment with the surgery. Please ask the vet for the price if you wish to pay for these services as part of their care.
• All cats sterilized for free through Kotor Kitties will receive an “ear tip”, where less than one cm of an ear is removed on the top. This is done on the left ear for males, and the right ear for females. This is to protect the cat from being trapped or brought in again for surgery. A small tattoo will also be applied to their abdomen, near the surgical scar, to protect against a second attempt to spay neuter them. This applies to both males and females.
• While we recommend ear tips for everyone’s cat, including our own, if you are opposed to having a eartip on your cat you may arrange with the vet to donate our cost of sterilization (36.30 euros for female, 24.20 euros for female) and not have it tipped. The vet will still apply the tattoo on the abdomen, for the cat’s safety in the future. It will not be visible once the fur grows back, unless the cat is shaved for surgery.

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After Care of Cats

• Make sure there is ample ventilation in warm weather, so that the cat does not overheat
• When the cat is alert, provide water in a way that won’t spill and wet its bedding. The cat does not need water if it is eating canned food
• For cats over 2 kg: Provide canned food when fully awake
• For kittens under 4 pounds : Provide a small amount (1 tablespoon) of canned food as soon as the cat is awake enough to eat safely. Provide additional canned food (about half the amount of a normal meal) 2-3 hours later. Kittens tend to wake up faster than older, bigger cats.
• Normal surgery reactions:
  • Ear tips : Minor bleeding is expected
  • Males : Minor bleeding is expected for the first 24 hours. Larger toms may bleed more, but should not require treatment
  • Females : Many females develop a sterile suture reaction. A bump appears at the incision site after surgery. THIS IS NOT AN INFECTION! Suture reactions are sterile and don’t require antibiotic treatment. They are caused by the body breaking down the absorbable suture, which we use because it doesn’t have to be removed after the skin heals.
  • You should not see bleeding or discharge at the incision site on a female.
• Observe the cat for recovery problems
  • The cat should be able to move around normally by 8pm. If the cat is unable to stay awake, has difficult breathing or excessive bleeding, or if you notice any abnormalities (swelling, redness, discharge) at the incision site, please seek veterinary attention first. Call the vet who performed the surgery. Then notify Kotor Kitties that there has been a problem. It is important for the cat’s health and our records/protocol that we learn of any problems ASAP.
• Unless otherwise instructed, release the cat the day after surgery. If the cat’s Medical Record indicates she is lactating, she should be released sooner, but ONLY when she is awake and moving around normally.
  • The ideal confinement period is longer, but ONLY if the cat can be kept safely inside without becoming a threat to you or itself. Cats must be evaluated individually. Stress hinders recovery, so for some cats, release is more beneficial than confinement.
• Medications the cat may have received:
  • Anesthesia cocktail : Mix of Talazol, xylazine, ketamine and atropine
  • Penicilin : Antibiotic
  • Buprenex : Pain relief that does not cause or lengthen sedation
  • Iron : Supports blood production for pregnant cat
  • Fluids : Helps prevent and treat dehydration
• Kittens tend to wake up faster, and need to eat sooner than adult cats. It is important not to feed them too much too quickly.
• Follow any other special instructions the vet gave you.
• The cat will usually be ready to release in about 24 hours unless something like advanced pregnancy made it a special case. Make sure the cat is well balanced and well coordinated before you release it back where you trapped it.