Hello

My kittens have been neutered today. (they are 5 and a half months old)

The boy (obi) has been fine since we got him home. Cuddly, eating, quite playful. Annie (my little girl who is particularly little for her age) hasn't really come round. She's quiet and subdued which I know is normal but I'm just worried as she normally purrs constantly and no amount of stroking her will make her purr.

Also the vet said she prob won't need a cone but that I could take one in case which I did. She is licking the wound but not excessively so I havent put it on her. I'm just worried about leaving her when I go to work tomorrow!!

Should I put it on?

Any advice would be great!


Rach

I'd put the cone on when you can't supervise her - otherwise she end up making herself very sore. She will recover, it's a much bigger operation for a girl than a boy - just give her time.

Girls are under the anaesthetic longer than the boys and it is a much more invasive procedure for the girl (unless the testicles are un-descended) which is why she will be sleepier than him.

if she is licking the wound then put the collar on when you can't supervise and don't let her lick it, as if she pulls the stitches out she will have to be anaesthetised again to be restitched.

It's horrible seeing them like this but she bounce back and be a lot better tomorrow.

I think when you wake up tomorrow you will find that she is a lot brighter.
Only give her some thing light to eat, like some chicken.

If she is still licking her stitches then she should be stopped. You could put the cone on tomorrow if you have to go work or if you are worrying about her say you're ill and take the day off

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Is that a star wars reference? Obi and Ani?

The operation is quite a bit more significant for a girl, so don't expect her to come around so quickly. Our girl picked up about 12 hours after she got home, but wasn't really into chasing or playing for about 48 hours.

Definitely put the cone on, it's horrible and she won't like it, but it's for the best. It's pretty heart breaking seeing them struggling with the cone, especially when boys tend to do pretty well without one. You can get alternatives like donuts that fit around their neck, or softer cones, but in my experience, at that age the lightweight plastic one from the vets is the easiest for them to wear all day.

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Thanks for all your advice!
Yes it is a star wars theme
She's started to perk up now which is good. The cone we are still battling with. We've tried it with bandage through it tied in a bow but she managed to get it off a number of times.

We then tried it with her kitten collar attached to it. She's so little she's even managed to get that off as well. We've decided to try again tomorrow.

I'm now going to come home at lunch to check she is ok!

I'll give her one thing... She's definately got Jedi powers when it comes to that cone!

R

Do the cone up with the bandage but keep the end short so she can reach them and tie it tightly but loose enough to get two fingers under, cats have quite scrawny necks, if she is licking the wound/stitches then it is really important for her to wear it.

I heard that licking the wound helps with the healing and to stop it getting infected.

I never had a buster collar on my cat when she had it done.