Although FixNation’s flagship spay/neuter clinic in Los Angeles is now closed, our practices and protocols are still considered the ‘gold standard’. Here are some tried-and-true tips for what to do before surgery, the day of surgery, and post-surgery.

TRAPPING AND HOLDING YOUR CATS

• Obtain a HUMANE trap. Whether you have your own, or are using a loaner trap, be sure to use only humane, non-collapsible traps.
• Choose a holding area. Choose an area where the cat will be safe in its trap overnight. It should be warm, dry, well-ventilated, and secure.
• Safety first! Never attempt to handle a feral cat. Don’t stick fingers in the trap or allow children or other pets near the trap.
• Keep the cat covered and calm. Placing a trap cover or an old towel over the trap so it’s totally covered, which will allow the cat to remain quiet and feel more comfortable. (If you’d like to make your own trap cover for a Tomahawk 608 FNS trap, email us at info@fixnation.org and we’ll send you a pattern and instructions!)
• Food & water. No food after midnight. If a cat eats after midnight, it poses a serious surgery risk and the cat could die. The only exceptions are kittens under 4 months old; give them one teaspoon of wet food the morning of surgery. Water should always be available for any pre-surgery cat and is okay throughout the night.
• Monitor, monitor, monitor! – Don’t place trapped cat(s) in your holding area and forget about them! Check in throughout the night and again in the morning. Peek under the trap cover. Community cats may growl, spit, hiss or lunge at you when you look at them. Don’t take it personally!

ARRIVING AT THE CLINIC

• Transport safely. Never transport cats in an open-bed truck or a closed, unventilated car trunk.
• Arrive on time! Check the paperwork provided by the clinic you’re using. 
• Check-in process. Be sure to check in with a clinic staff member.
• Emergency number: Be sure you have the clinic’s after-hours emergency number before you head home.

For Community Cats

• Do not open the trap.
• Keep the trap covered at all times.
• Recuperate in a climate-controlled/moderate environment.
• No excessive heat or cold – if you are uncomfortable, they are too.
• Monitor the cat every hour while in your care, until you go to bed.
• The morning after surgery day, release the cat(s) where trapped, unless otherwise directed.

Normal Recovery Behavior

Less activity, lethargy, slightly wobbly and/or light panting. You may see slight bleeding from eartip. A bump about the size of an almond may appear at the incision site on female cats; if there is no discharge, it may be a normal suture reaction that will go down on its own.

Abnormal Recovery Behavior

Continued bleeding or discharge from the surgery site, vomiting, dilated eyes, continued wobbliness, fast breathing and shivering the next morning. If you see any of these, do not release the cat – consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Additional Notes

• No suture/stitch removal required, unless specifically advised.
• Feed 1/4 can wet food 6 hours post-op (check surgery time on pink sheet provided by clinic).
• Normal appetite should return within 24 hours of surgery.
• If a friendly community cat is licking or chewing at the incision area, you will need to get an e-collar immediately and keep it on 24 hours a day for 7-10 days.

For Companion Cats

• No running, jumping, playing or strenuous activity for 7-10 days.
• Keep your cat as calm and quiet as possible.
• It is best to keep your cat separated from other pets for 3-5 days.
• Monitor your cat and check the incision at least twice per day.

Normal Recovery Behavior

Less activity, lethargy, slightly wobbly, and/or light panting. A bump about the size of an almond may appear at the incision site on female cats; if there is no discharge, it may be a normal suture reaction that will go down on its own.

Abnormal Recovery Behavior

Continued bleeding or discharge from the surgery site, vomiting, dilated eyes, continued wobbliness, fast breathing and shivering the next morning. If you see any of these, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Post-surgery emergency contact info

If you have concerns about a cat that is slow to recover or is having complications call and email the clinic that performed the surgery.