Hello all, nervous cat momma here. I want to ask you all if I'm taking a good approach to a recovery environment for my spayed kittens.
Background: I've just had my two kittens (estimated to be almost 5 and 4.5 months old) laser spayed today, and gotten them back from the vet a couple of hours ago. I had intended to keep them in their "safe room" for their two-week recovery, but because it has furniture they jump up on I was discouraged from that option by the vet tech. I was also warned that they might lick one anothers' incisions despite the ecollar, so I'd need to keep them separated. They recommended dog crates, which I ran out and got while they were under the knife. They are big enough for a little litter box, a place to lie down, and their food mat. I figured it would be a good way to keep them contained especially when I'm not in the room with them.
But for all the effort to keep them from strenuous activity, they are tearing the crates apart trying to either get out of their collars or escape They'll get exhausted and lie down for a bit, then get frenzied trying to shove their faces through the bars and rolling over and over to get out of the collar. When they do settle down they do not look relaxed at all. I haven't offered them food or water yet because I figure they'll just knock it over, but after almost 24 hours of fasting they need something, right?
I know probably 90% of this is me being super anxious and guilty about putting them through this. I know they'll likely adjust and be a little more calm tomorrow (hopefully!). But I want to know if I'm taking the right approach on the whole in their recovery. I was told to keep the cones on for 14 days, activity strictly limited for 14 days, but I can't imagine confining them to these crates for even half of that. Would they be calmer if I let them out into their room or would it just leave more opportunity for trouble? Is it problematic to have two cats in the same space recovering together?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice!
Background: I've just had my two kittens (estimated to be almost 5 and 4.5 months old) laser spayed today, and gotten them back from the vet a couple of hours ago. I had intended to keep them in their "safe room" for their two-week recovery, but because it has furniture they jump up on I was discouraged from that option by the vet tech. I was also warned that they might lick one anothers' incisions despite the ecollar, so I'd need to keep them separated. They recommended dog crates, which I ran out and got while they were under the knife. They are big enough for a little litter box, a place to lie down, and their food mat. I figured it would be a good way to keep them contained especially when I'm not in the room with them.
But for all the effort to keep them from strenuous activity, they are tearing the crates apart trying to either get out of their collars or escape They'll get exhausted and lie down for a bit, then get frenzied trying to shove their faces through the bars and rolling over and over to get out of the collar. When they do settle down they do not look relaxed at all. I haven't offered them food or water yet because I figure they'll just knock it over, but after almost 24 hours of fasting they need something, right?
I know probably 90% of this is me being super anxious and guilty about putting them through this. I know they'll likely adjust and be a little more calm tomorrow (hopefully!). But I want to know if I'm taking the right approach on the whole in their recovery. I was told to keep the cones on for 14 days, activity strictly limited for 14 days, but I can't imagine confining them to these crates for even half of that. Would they be calmer if I let them out into their room or would it just leave more opportunity for trouble? Is it problematic to have two cats in the same space recovering together?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice!