Cat staying overnight after neutering?

One of my male cats is being neutered tomorrow. I'm apprehensive about it for a few reasons. First off, I'm worried about he anesthesia. I know the risk is low of anything bad happening, but that's all I can think about. It probably isn't helping that this is the first pet I have been responsible for getting de-sexed. For those of you who have gone through this, could you please tell me your experiences to lighten my fear a bit? Secondly, the vet is insisting he stay overnight. I really don't want to leave him overnight. They said they close at 5pm, someone will be by to check on him around 7 or 8, and then he's left completely unsupervised until 8am the next day. I don't want to leave my cat in a strange place with a bunch of other barking and meowing animals that he doesn't know. I know he'll get scared and I'll be very worried knowing no one is there to monitor him. Also they said they don't feed them while they're there. So he has to go from 10pm tonight until 8am Friday (34 hours) without food. I don't like that either. That seems like a really long time for a kitten to go without food. Everything I've read online says you can feed cats small amounts of food and water the night of surgery if they're not too groggy or nauseous. So should I insist on taking him home that night? Can I refuse to leave him overnight?

Since no one is there overnight monitoring him, I see no benefit to him staying.  

I've had several cats neutered, none remained overnight.  Nor did my male dog when he was neutered.   All were released prior to the office closing for the day (usually  6 PM), and food and water are offered in small amounts starting one hour after arriving home.  I think they want the cat to settle down from the car ride, not sure on that.  Start with small amounts of food and water, don't want the cat gulping it all down at once.  I've never had a problem.

As for your fears, for the males, the surgery is non invasive.  It is pretty quick and they generally are back to their usual self once the anesthesia leaves the system, usually about 24 hours.  Of course, you are SUPPOSED to keep the cat calm, no jumping etc. for a few days.  Yeah, right, when kitty feels FINE!

  Why are you using this particular vet?  And how old is this kitty cat?  What reasons has the vet given for the cat having to stay overnight? 

Do you have the option of switching to another vet?

Freedom said:

Since no one is there overnight monitoring him, I see no benefit to him staying.  

I've had several cats neutered, none remained overnight.  Nor did my male dog when he was neutered.   All were released prior to the office closing for the day (usually  6 PM), and food and water are offered in small amounts starting one hour after arriving home.  I think they want the cat to settle down from the car ride, not sure on that.  Start with small amounts of food and water, don't want the cat gulping it all down at once.  I've never had a problem.

As for your fears, for the males, the surgery is non invasive.  It is pretty quick and they generally are back to their usual self once the anesthesia leaves the system, usually about 24 hours.  Of course, you are SUPPOSED to keep the cat calm, no jumping etc. for a few days.  Yeah, right, when kitty feels FINE!


  Why are you using this particular vet?  And how old is this kitty cat?  What reasons has the vet given for the cat having to stay overnight? 

Do you have the option of switching to another vet?

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I use this vet because I live in a very rural area. There are only two vets within 75 miles; the one i use is a small animal vet and the other one is a livestock vet (he will see small animals, but I've been to him before and he's not as good with small animals as the small animal vet). My kitty is 10 months old. I would've had him neutered when I first got him, but he has had anemia from fleas due to a severe flea infestation since I got him at 8 months of age. The vet said he is now well enough to be neutered. The only reason she gave for him staying overnight is that it was there standard practice due to them being groggy from the anesthesia. But in my mind what good is it that he's there if no one will be checking on him? I would have much more peace of mind watching him overnight myself where I could monitor him and make sure the doesn't have any reactions. At least if he's here and something happens there's a chance I could make it to an animal hospital in time or at least call the vet's emergency number and try to wake her up. If he's there, no one would know anything was wrong until the next day. I just don't feel right leaving him there unsupervised overnight.

iheartlife said:

I use this vet because I live in a very rural area. There are only two vets within 75 miles; the one i use is a small animal vet and the other one is a livestock vet (he will see small animals, but I've been to him before and he's not as good with small animals as the small animal vet). My kitty is 10 months old. I would've had him neutered when I first got him, but he has had anemia from fleas due to a severe flea infestation since I got him at 8 months of age. The vet said he is now well enough to be neutered. The only reason she gave for him staying overnight is that it was there standard practice due to them being groggy from the anesthesia. But in my mind what good is it that he's there if no one will be checking on him? I would have much more peace of mind watching him overnight myself where I could monitor him and make sure the doesn't have any reactions. At least if he's here and something happens there's a chance I could make it to an animal hospital in time or at least call the vet's emergency number and try to wake her up. If he's there, no one would know anything was wrong until the next day. I just don't feel right leaving him there unsupervised overnight.

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That is really strange that they would want him overnight unsupervised. Yes he may be groggy from anesthesia but he will be more than awake enough to go home by closing time. If they know what they are doing and following proper protocols then there is no need for him staying. I would definitely express your concerns about this to the clinic and request to take him home. And that you are not comfortable leaving him when no one will be around. You could offer that he stays there until the time that someone stops by for the evening check and you can meet the evening check person there and bring him him home then and offer to bring him back first thing in the morning for a morning recheck. They should be willing to compromise somehow.

If there's a third small animal vet with good recommendations within a bit more of the radius, I'd opt for the longer drive.  Trust your instincts, it's really silly to require an overnight stay but not have an overnight attendant - ugh, I cannot imagine a clinic with recovering patients with no one to monitor them!

When my boy was neutered I was sent off to amuse myself for 40 minutes until he was ready to be picked up. One of my foster girls was kept in overnight but her operation was unexpectedly complicated and I live quite far from the rescue's vet clinic.

They probably keep them in because they've always done it. Ask if you can wait around of if they'll make an exception for you. If not then as cats tech says above go for a longer drive.

Pegleg said:

When my boy was neutered I was sent off to amuse myself for 40 minutes until he was ready to be picked up. One of my foster girls was kept in overnight but her operation was unexpectedly complicated and I live quite far from the rescue's vet clinic.

They probably keep them in because they've always done it. Ask if you can wait around of if they'll make an exception for you. If not then as cats tech says above go for a longer drive.

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Your right, it could just be because the clients live so far it's easier if they don't have to make a trip out twice in one day, so that's what they're used to doing and no one's ever questioned it.

I've never heard of this before. I would tell them no, and would not feel at all comfortable leaving any of my pets unsupervised overnight. Do they charge u for the overnight boarding? This is the only reason I could see for this would be the money they would additionally make. My stray guy I found beginning of December was taken in at 10 and picked up at 330. He was awake but would doze off. Slept just a pinch more that evening but ate like a pig after a couple hours (I found him the day before so he was still starving). I would not recommend it especially since there is no need.

What did you decide to do in the end?  Can we have an update?

Freedom said:

What did you decide to do in the end?  Can we have an update?

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He was neutered Friday and brought home that evening. But he's not really eating. He's pooped once shortly after we got home; he's peed a few times. But he's not really eating. He'll drink water. And if I out canned food down he'll lick the juice off t but he won't eat the canned food or the kibble unless you put it in his mouth and make him check to swallow. Why won't he eat? What can I do? I can't get ahold of the vet till Monday!

Good for you working through this with the vet and getting him home same day.

As for him not eating . . . . he may be feeling nauseous still, from the anesthesia.  Last night it was just 24 hours.  With luck he will feel better today and start eating.

You may want to try enticing him with something really yummy.  Boiled boneless skinless chicken breast is one option.  Remember as a cat he has small tummy.  He only needs a few striips cut short; maybe from what will be YOUR lunch.  Just don't use any spices or herbs.

It's very likely that he's still neaseaus from the anesthetic. Is he on any post op medication at all? That could cause nausea too.
If he's drinking and going to the washroom that's great. If he's licking the gravy from the canned food it's possible he's just not ready for solids yet. You could mix a bit of canned with a bit of water to make a soup, so he can drink that. As long as he's getting a little bit of calories he should be OK. If he doesn't perk up and want food in the next little while here are some ideas to entice him:
You can heat up the canned food in the microwave.
You can add boiling water to the dry food to bring out the smells and make it soft.
You an feed meat flavors of baby food.
You could feed some liquid from a tuna can or a little bit of canned lunch meat.
Or as said before a bit of plain chicken is safe.
Any kind of fish or human food can only be temporary. It's good to get a few calories in him to hold him over, but long term could cause problems.
If he's not back to normal by Monday I would call the vet. Or if he becomes lethargic and unresponsive then go to an emergency vet.