Anesthesia for cats is necessary for any surgical procedure, whether it's a more complex operation, tartar cleaning, or even essential health processes such as cat neutering. It's important to understand how anesthesia works and what to expect so you know how to handle yourself when it's time to go through any of these procedures with your kitty. Do you know how anesthesia works? What's the difference?between injectable and inhalation anesthesia? And what are the most common effects it can cause? To help you with these questions, the Paws of the House has put together some information that will help you understand the procedure.

Anesthesia for cats: what is the difference between injectable and inhalation anesthesia?

Anesthesia for cats can have some variations. One of the most determining factors is whether the anesthesia is injectable or inhaled. Injectable anesthetics are more commonly used, as they have a lower cost. Applied intramuscularly or intravenously, this type of anesthesia has a combination of substances that leave the animal unconscious during the surgical procedure. AlreadyIn inhalation anaesthesia, these drugs do not need to be metabolized by the cat's body. This way, the animal returns to consciousness as soon as it begins to inhale fresh air. Inhalation anaesthesia for cats is more expensive because it requires the use of a specific device to intubate the animal.

Which type of anesthesia for cats is safest?

Both types of anesthesia for cats are safe, but you need to take a few things into consideration before choosing the right one for your cat. Factors such as the cat's age, size, breed, and even diseases it has will determine whether it is better to use inhalation or injectable anesthesia. The veterinary surgeon and his or her team are the best people to choose the most appropriate option. Sometests help define this, such as kidney, heart and liver function. Care should also be taken when dealing with an elderly cat, in which case inhalation anesthesia is often recommended as it is safer for the heart.

In emergency situations it is a little more difficult to define this with the pre-operative examinations. It is therefore more important to have a reliable team, with the monitoring of a specialized veterinary anesthesiologist. Ask all the necessary questions and clarify with the surgeon in charge what the risks are.

Anesthesia in cats: the most common side effects

After the application of anesthesia, it is expected that cats will have some side effects. One of the most common is that the animal feels cold, so always bring a blanket to cover it after the procedure that requires anesthesia, even a simple castration. It is normal for cats to be sleepy as well. In the first 24 hours, the animal may show lack of appetite and even vomiting - but stay calm!watch out for anything unusual and call the vet if this is the case. It is important not to force the cat to eat or drink water, everything will return to normal little by little.