Applicable to all cats, particularly those who have had sedatives or anesthetic agents today.

1. Do not feed your cat for at least two hours after you’re home from the hospital, unless otherwise instructed. Water should be available.

2. Your cat’s stomach will do best receiving a light meal the first day home; a series of light meals if he acts very hungry.

3. Your cat has been sedated. Allow him to rest in a dark, quiet room on the floor. He may be groggy, unsteady and his third eyelid may be up. This is normal post-anesthesia recovery.

4. If your cat appears listless, depressed or unwilling to eat for more than one day after being home, please let us know.

5. If you cat seems in need of medical attention during the hours we are closed and you find that our answering service cannot reach the doctor, you should contact our emergency referral service:

First Choice:
Center for Veterinary Care, P.C.
236 East 75th street
(212) 734-7480

Second Choice:
Manhattan Vet Group
240 East 80th St.
(212) 988-1000

Specific Medical Instructions: Those applicable to your cat are checked.

__ 1. If you cat starts licking madly at the surgical area, distract his attention with food, catnip or toys. If you notice any swelling or increased tenderness around the surgical area, please call us.

__ 2. Please carefully wipe the surgical area with hydrogen peroxide and a gauze pad/ q-tip twice a day for ____ days.

__3. Sutures:

__: Are absorbable; no need to remove.

__: Are normally removed within 10-14 days from surgery date; an office appointment necessary, but do call us to set up a convenient time.

__4. If your male cat has been altered, tom cat symptoms generally stop within two weeks; occasionally it takes up to eight weeks.

__5. Any shaved area on the cat’s forelimbs or neck is where blood was taken was taken or anesthesia given.

__6. Your cat has been given a special anesthesia. Please let him recover for 2 days in a low-light, low noise environment.

__7. Please call on ________ for test results, between the hours ___________. Medication may be changed dispensed at that time.

__8. Please continue medication given previously.

__9. Please feed recommended foods only. See our basic cat care sheet for details. AVOID seafood flavor, and semi-moist types.

__10. Bladder was empty, please drop off urine sample.

__11. Colon was empty, please drop off a fecal sample.

__12. Encourage eating and fluid consumption. Tempt with favorite foods; meats, broths, baby foods, dairy products (if they don’t cause diarrhea).

__13. We need to re-admit your cat _____________________.

__14. Routine scaling and polishing of teeth; disinfection of gums.

__15. There were ____ teeth extracted. Please add warm water to cat food and mash out lumps or feed meat baby food for 2-3 days.

__16. Please call with progress report: ____________________.

Arrival Home to Prevent any Possible confusion: If you have another cat(s), remove patient from carrier and let other(s) go inside it and explore. A sprinkle of catnip might help. Soon companion will smell same as patient and won’t be threatened by patient’s unfamiliar scent. You might want to wipe cat with a mild dilution of vinegar and warm water on a cloth to help neutralize any hospital-like smell. You can also rub catnip generously into cat’s fur.

Special Notes / Comments:

Medication: Please read instructions carefully; in most cases extra pills have been provided. If we had to write a prescription, please fill at earliest opportunity. Pharmacy will call us if necessary.