TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
12. Spay/neuter and Veterinary Care
• Preparations before surgery
Withhold food & water
For adult cats, all food and water should
be removed from the traps by 10 p.m. the
night before the spay/neuter surgery. It’s
important for the cat’s stomach to be empty
during the operation. Otherwise, there is a
chance the cat will vomit while anesthetized
and the regurgitated food could cause him to
choke or gag, a potentially fatal
complication. Water should be withheld,
too. If too much water is ingested by a
female, her bladder swells and is more
exposed to an accidental cut during the spay
procedure.
For kittens, food and water should not be withheld for as long. They need to eat
closer to the time of surgery than adults. How long before the surgery food and water
should be withheld depends on their age. The younger they are, the closer in time to the
operation they should be fed. Consult your veterinarian for the precise timing. For any
age, food and water should be removed at least a few hours prior to surgery.
Arrange for emergency post-surgery veterinary care
If you’re working with experienced, competent veterinary professionals, the
incidence of post-surgical complications will be very low. Still, it’s best to plan what you
would do in the rare event something does go wrong after the cat has been returned to
your care. If the veterinarian or clinic performing the spay/neuter will not be available at
all times, then try to line up a veterinarian who will be able to respond in an emergency
or locate where in your area late or early hour drop-in care is provided.
Special instructions for veterinary staff
Any special instructions for the veterinary staff should be written on a label on top of
the trap. For example, write down if the cat is limping and you want the left front leg
examined, the cat is older and you’d like the teeth looked at, there is a wound that needs
cleaning, the cat is pregnant, or you want any kind of veterinary care beyond the standard
treatment provided. It’s especially important to write it down in big bold lettering if you
do not want the cat eartipped because you will be adopting him out. (If a mistake
happens, don’t be overly concerned – eartipped cats are no less adoptable in our
experience.)
In addition to placing special instructions on a label, make sure they are also noted on
the veterinarian or clinic’s intake form. If the clinic is experienced with ferals, they will
already have their own form and you’ll simply need to relay the instructions while they or
you fill the form out. If there is no intake form, don’t make the mistake of relying only
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