When to remove stitches from a cat

Castrated cat

When we take a cat to be neutered, be it male or female, the vet will close the wound by putting stitches on it. Thus, infections, which could endanger the life of the animal, are largely prevented. But once at home we have to provide a series of care to minimize the risk even more.

So that everything goes well and no unpleasant surprises arise, we are going to tell you how to care for it after the operation and when to remove stitches from a cat.

How to care for a cat after neutering?

La castration It is an operation that is performed under general anesthesia that consists of removing the reproductive glands of cats. As usual, hairy males recover after 3-4 days, while females may need a week. But this may actually sound worse to us than it really is. In fact, from the experience that I have, the cats are almost completely fine the next day, and the cats usually return to their normal lives after two days.

But of course, during those first days you have to ensure that the animal is calm and comfortable, and above all that it does not lick the stitches. Although we must not force him to anything, we must not let him know that the wound is manipulated. Therefore, it may be necessary to put a elizabethan necklace the cat and a sock as a shirt for the cat. Although, if we can, the best thing is that we are with him / her 24 hours, at least the first 2 days. Cats do not like to wear anything: they can become very stressed, which could make them want to touch the points more.

Another thing we have to do is administer medications recommended by the vet. This will relieve pain and itching, so you can get back to your routine much sooner than we thought. And finally, We must ensure that he drinks, eats and relieves himself. During the first day, you will most likely not do anything, but from the second you should start to hydrate and eat. In the event that he did not do so, he would have to be taken to the vet.

When are the stitches removed?

Young cat at the vet

After the intervention, the vet will tell us when to remove the stitches, if necessary. In fact, generally those that put on the furry ones end up being removed by the animals themselves after 7-10 days, but sometimes they have not been able to do it and that is when we have to take them for the professional to remove them.

How do they do that? Simply, keeping the cat firmly attached and cutting the stitches with scissors. If it is a furry that is very nervous, it is put a little anesthesia to relax and thus avoid hurting it.

I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.


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  1.   Monica sanchez said

    Hi sweetie.

    It depends on what was done to you and the type of injury. Sometimes they do not put stitches because it is a wound that heals better 'on its own', without help.

    If you have any doubts, we recommend that you consult your vet.

    Greetings.

    1.    Juan Victor said

      How about, my kitten was sterilized on Monday and it is Sunday and she has already removed all the stitches and it is the second time that she has done it, we tried all cut polo collar so that the wound is not manipulated, my concern is to take her again so They put the stitches again but it would be the third time in the week that they sleep or 6 days later the wound is closed and does not need to put stitches?

      1.    Monica sanchez said

        Hi John.
        In principle at 6 days, if everything has gone well, the wound should be closed at least by the most superficial layers of the skin. It is difficult that after almost a week the cat opens the wound.

        If you see her well, that is, if she eats, plays and leads a normal life, I wouldn't worry too much. Of course, if it is down or sad, and if the wound looks bad and / or smells bad, do not hesitate to take it back to the vet.

        Regards!

  2.   Grace said

    Hello, a little more than 15 days ago they operated on my cat, they removed a tumor. A week ago the stitches were removed but since he was still fresh, the dr recommended putting a sock on him to prevent sucking. Today I took off the sock h licked it and still has a dangling thread, is it dangerous?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hello Grace.

      I'm not a veterinarian, but cats usually heal quickly from these types of wounds. After more than 15 days have passed, it is likely that it is already dry, or almost.

      Anyway, in case of doubt I recommend you consult with the vet who operated it.

      Regards!

  3.   Adri said

    Hello. Thanks for all this info. I tell you that I sterilized a cat that I think has no owners (and if she does, they didn't take much care of her since the cat passes it to her at my house). I was afraid she had kittens and was at my house.
    The vet told me to take her 10 days later to get the points (the point actually because it is only one). I have two cats that were given 3 points at the time and they ended up pulling two, so I decided to remove the last one since the wound was healed. That was exactly 7 days later. I pray the same happens with this kitten because she is very restless and nervous. He passes it at the door asking to leave. But I know it will go far and it is not ideal. This is my third day without sleep, not only to ensure that the wound is not licked, but also for all the meows of the little girl wanting to leave. I hope she heals in 4 more days and I can set her free as she is used to.

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Adri.

      Yes, when a cat does not feel at home ... it shows a lot. But you can distract her a bit with a rope, or with wet cat food for example.

      In any case, it is likely to improve soon.

      Regards!

  4.   Luz Maria Ururi Vargas said

    My male cat was neutered and his wound tissue is on the way out but he has no pain or nothing is that good or not?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hello Luz Maria.
      Yes it's normal. But if you notice that he suddenly has any symptoms, such as fever, or loss of appetite, consult your vet.
      Regards!

  5.   Helen Mero said

    Hello, my cat was operated on on Tuesday and today a point was removed, but the wound is fine, it is not irritated or anything, it has been difficult for me to keep it still because it is very imperactive, the same day that it was operated later that the effects of the anesthesia will go away, I was as if nothing and I was very hungry, so far it is very good but I am worried that on the second day a point has been taken? But it is inevitable that I do not know how to lick it, when I clean the wound, it does it constantly ☹️

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Helen.

      If you see him well, animated, and he makes his life normal, do not worry. Cats (males) recover very quickly; the cats do take a little longer, but not too long (after 3 days they return to their routines if all goes well).

      Greetings.

  6.   Malena said

    Hi Monica, thanks for your post. We took my cat to be neutered and she got two stitches. One left and the wound healed. Can I cut it with scissors?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Malena.

      It's best to have it removed by a vet, just in case. Surely nothing will happen, but sometimes they can be hurt by removing the stitch.

      Regards!

  7.   Sara chacana said

    Hello, my male cat was neutered and a few days later I lifted his tail and noticed that he had like a large coquito, I don't know if it is normal after castration or should I take him to the vet.
    Thanks for the information it is very useful.

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Sara.

      It is better that you consult the vet. He can help you.

      Greetings.

  8.   jeimy said

    I have a cat and she underwent surgery to avoid having a kitten a little over a month ago and the stitch has not yet been removed, it already looks scarred but I don't know if I can remove that stitch myself, because I was waiting for her to remove it. but I think that I can no longer do it without help, what should I do?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Jeimy.

      If it has not been removed, better take it to the vet so that he can remove it, since you could harm him.

      That happened to one of my cats, and the vet was able to remove them without much trouble.

      Regards!

  9.   Elza said

    Hello, thanks for the info, today they sterilized my cat and when I picked it up they didn't tell me anything, and when I saw it I saw that it had like a knot, and I was left wondering if I have to go to have it removed or if it falls off by itself

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Elza.

      No, it is not necessary for you to go, unless it is not clear 🙂
      But male cats generally recover quickly.

      Greetings.

  10.   Estefania GR said

    hello well my kitten has been a month since her sterilization and we have not removed the stitches so they are already small and whenever we go to a veterinarian it is closed or they are busy so we decide to remove them but we do not know how and their explanation is a Little confusing, so if you could give us a more detailed explanation, I would really appreciate it.

  11.   Diego Gallardo said

    Hello good, I have a query. Today is 1 week since I sterilized my kitten, so that she does not have to walk all day with the collar, because it was difficult for her to walk, I put a girdle so that she does not have contact with the wound, the thing is that during the night took it off and licked his wound. I wanted to know if that could be dangerous and do I have to take her to the vet or is it normal?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Diego.

      Don't worry, if it's been a week now, the wound is probably already closed inside, so it's not dangerous. As the days go by, it will also close on the outside.

      Regards!

  12.   Patricia said

    Hello, 11 days ago my cat was neutered. The first 2 days he did not want to eat or go to the bathroom. He barely used the Elizabethan collar… .we took it off on the 6th day because he grunted like possessed? Now he is like a normal cat does everything normal but his little things are still cooked. It licks sometimes. It is turning pink… is that normal ??? Because at first we put gensian violet as prescribed.
    We are afraid that he will hurt himself when he wants to take it out alone ...
    Should we leave him that normal?
    Thanks for reading I hope your answer?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Patricia.

      Yes it's normal. But it would be nice if a vet saw it. Or if a case asks if those points go away on their own or if they have to be removed, just in case 🙂

      Regards!!

  13.   Stephanie rl said

    Hi good day. Excuse me, I have a question. A week ago we castrated my cat, the first day we tried to put the Elizabethan collar on her and I struggled so much that a suture point was opened, the suture is an intradermal one with nylon threads, the next day they sutured her again and we decided put the girdle on him but it only lasts for 3 days on him, then he breaks them or takes them off, and he immediately goes to lick the wound. My question is, today has already passed a week after your operation, if you lick the wound there is no danger of infection? Do you think it will open up again? My fear is that she will reach the knot of the suture and pull it off herself. I hope you can answer me, thank you very much.

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Stephanie.

      Since a week has already passed, the wound has probably closed on the inside so there would be no risk in principle.
      But ask the vet to see if they have put stitches that fall off on their own, or if they have to be cut, since if they are from the latter you will have to take it back to have them removed.

      Regards!

  14.   Delia santos said

    Hello, good morning, yesterday they sterilized my kitten, they told me that the stitches were inside that it was not necessary to carry her, so that the stitches will be removed, is that normal? I did not understand much how these points are supposed to be removed if it is from the inside?

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Delia.

      Yes, they can be like that. The stitches will fall off on their own when the wound dries (that is, when it closes well).

      Greetings.

  15.   Mackenzie said

    Hello, well my cat was operated on two weeks ago, today is Monday and I see that half of her suture was removed, I find her wound slightly red, and I see that it is draining a little. It worries me, from day 1 I put her Elizabethan collar on her, and now I put on a girdle that I made with a T-shirt. I have been told that the stitches come out on their own, others that they do not, and the truth is that the vet did not tell me anything about that, only that he should give him the first 10 days. But nothing from there, I would contact the vet, but the operation was done in a campaign, the kind that go from place to place. Anyway, she is very lively and I stop playing, things get complicated for me 🙁

    1.    Monica sanchez said

      Hi Mackenzie.

      If you see the cat well, eating and drinking normally, don't worry.

      Greetings.