Control of Postoperative Pain in Cats

Benito-de-la-Vibora, J., B. D. Lascelles, et al. (2008). "Efficacy of tolfenamic acid and meloxicam in the control of postoperative pain following ovariohysterectomy in the cat." Vet Anaesth Analg.

This prospective, randomized, blinded and placebo-controlled study was performed at the University of Madrid, Spain to evaluate the effect of two non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (tolfenamic acid and meloxicam) on control of post-operative pain in cats. Sixty-nine client owned cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy were enrolled in the study. The cats were given a dose of either tolfenamic acid (Tolfedine, Vetoquinol), meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial), or placebo pre-operatively and again post-operatively. Pain and wound sensitivity were assessed using standardized scales for up to 25 hours post-operatively. The meloxicam group was less painful than controls at 6 and 22 hours post-operatively; both treatment groups were less painful than controls at 25 hours. The number of cats requiring rescue analgesia did not differ between the groups. Cats receiving tolfenamic acid or meloxicam had decreased wound sensitivity compared to controls at all time points. The researchers conclude that both tolfenamic acid and meloxicam provide a similar analgesic effect for up to 24 hours post-operatively.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Lascelles, B. D., M. H. Court, et al. (2007). "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cats: a review." Vet Anaesth Analg 34(4): 228-50.
>> PubMed Abstract

Slingsby, L. and A. Waterman-Pearson (2000). "Postoperative analgesia in the cat after ovariohysterectomy by use of carprofen, ketoprofen, meloxicam or tolfenamic acid." J Small Anim Pract 41(10): 447-450.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

My cat is 8 years old and female. She had two litters in her life and she never ran out…

Great questions. First...it is never too late to get a cat spayed if she is healthy. Eight is not that old for a cat and the spaying surgery is done so frequently it has minimal risks associated with it. In fact, spaying your cat could help prevent further problems. Older unspayed cats are prone to a pyometra (infected uterus) that can be extremely serious. Cats do not stop going into heat at a certain age like a person would, so this could go on for some time. I would recommend giving your local shelter or animal control a call to see if there are any low-cost spay/neuter options in your area.

I have a 3 year old male black indoor cat. He rarely licks himself, the food is the same…

This isn't common with black cats. It may just be a problem with your cat. I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian. They can check for external parasites and also examine the hair to perhaps see if your cat has been over-grooming the area. Many cats that chew their own hair are rarely seen doing it.

I have an 8 year old male cat that I got him as a kitten and he was very sick. When I…

I think many times our cat's conditions bother us more than him but I feel you are right in wanting to have more information on what is going on with your boy and doing more as well. Without examining your cat, I can't give you a definitive answer on what is going on, but two things come to my mind. I first wonder if your cat may have had a viral infection and has become a carrier of that virus. The herpes and calici viruses can cause signs of upper respiratory infection including eye infections. While they are not typically fatal, they can cause serious infections. Tests can be done to confirm these viruses and there are treatments that can diminish the symptoms of both. You also mention that his upper eyelid is swollen. I would not discount the possibility of an upper eyelid deformity. While a deformity of the upper eyelid is a rarer occurrence, it could cause persistent eye infections. I would suggest a talk with your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist to determine a plan to diagnose exactly what is going on but also decide a treatment plan.

My cat is a 1-1/2 years old and recently started making a weird “huffing” noise. I don’t…

Many times a cat's cough will sound a lot like a hairball but as you describe nothing comes up. With a cough, cats usually have their head stretched out parallel to the ground rather than being hunched over like when vomiting. Coughing can be due to many things: asthma being most common but also parasites, heartworm disease, heart disease and bronchitis. It would be ideal to have a veterinarian examine your cat to make sure this is nothing to worry about.

I have a 14 year old cat. I stepped on her tail, why is her tail so sensitive?

I am a little confused by your question? Are you asking why it hurts when you step on it or why is it sensitive after your step on it? Regardless, the answer is really the same. All cats’ tails are sensitive and very susceptible to injury. The tail has several major components: skin, bone, blood vessels, nerves and subcutaneous tissue. When you step on the tail you are putting a lot of pressure on the bones and tissues of the tail. This can do some pretty severe damage. It would be like if someone stepped on your finger.

I have a small eight pound cat that always seems to be hungry. I feed her 1 tsp of dry…

Once a can is opened, it needs to be treated with the same care you would provide your own food. Serve the wet food at a time of day when your cat is likely to consume all or most of the food in a reasonable period of time. You're doing the right thing by putting the unused portion of food in the refrigerator to keep the food from spoiling. However, even though the food is being kept refrigerated some bacteria could be being produced that may be causing the vomiting. It appears that storing the food for 12 days may be too lengthy; you may want to not store the food for more than 4-5 days. This may require offering slightly more food or purchasing a smaller can of wet cat food. You will also want to warm it up to at least room temperature before serving.

I bought Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins & Minerals dry food for my Siamese lynx seal point…

What you feed your cats depends mainly on the cat's life stage (kitten vs. adult vs. senior), activity level, current body condition and whether your cats like the food presented to them. Fortunately, the Purina Cat Chow brand has a line of products that covers a broad spectrum of cats: Purina Cat Chow for normal activity adult cats, Purina Cat Chow Vitality Formula for older, geriatric cats, and Purina Kitten Chow for kittens and pregnant queens.

Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula is a relatively new product that contains reduced fat and calories as compared to Purina Cat Chow Complete/Original Formula. This reduced energy level should help in preventing the weight gain that can be observed in some indoor cats that lead a more sedentary life style. Indoor Formula also contains a natural fiber blend to help control hairballs, a problem seen in most cats. Cat Chow Naturals is also a relatively new formula that contains natural ingredients for a natural, healthy lifestyle. A major difference between the two formulas is the protein and fat levels. Cat Chow Indoor Formula contains lower levels of these nutrients as compared to Cat Chow Naturals. This is mainly due to the energy needs of indoor cats. Some indoor cats can be prone to weight gain do to reduced activity. A reduction is calories can help in preventing unwanted weight gain in these indoor cats.

The best way to answer this question is to feed Cat Chow Indoor Formula or Cat Chow Naturals to your cats. Your cats will tell you based on consumption and their overall health and well-being which food is the best choice for their life style.

My cat Oliver is three-and-a-half-years-old. He only likes to drink from the bathroom…

One option might be a faucet attachment specifically for pets’ drinking enjoyment. There are a number of products made for using outside, for dogs. I found a “pet quencher” at www.petguys.com that attaches to indoor faucets, too. It has an automatic water shut off but allows the pet to sip at leisure. For pet fountains, you may need to maintain it for much longer than three months, in order for Oliver to learn to accept it. Various fountains make different sounds and you might find one he more readily accepts. Cats tend not to drink a lot anyway, so you may not see him sip all that often. In fact, canned cat food contains up to 70 percent water, and if he eats this kind of diet, he probably won’t need to drink as often as you’d think. Of course, you can also simply shut and latch the bathroom door so he can’t access the bathroom faucet and must use alternatives.

Why does my cat rub/roll around on my clothes after I take them off? She has done this…

She’s more likely trying to put her scent on your clothes. Also, the smell of you—the person she adores—may be soothing and comforting to her. So by rolling on these scented items, she can almost be surrounded by your aura.