The 10 Stages of Cat Surgery I’ve said it before: I’m a nerd. My
particular nerdy passion is medicine and surgery, so when my
cat, Kissy, needed to have her leg amputated, I asked if I could
watch. My vet said that was fine. Not only was this a chance to
satisfy my curiosity about this aspect of cat health -- what
happens during an operation -- I also thought it would be a
great opportunity to share this knowledge with you. After you
drop your cat off in the morning and she’s had all necessary
blood work, here's what happens: The first drug your cat
receives is a sedative. This relaxes her for the handling she’ll
require for the next stage of pre-operative preparation. The
sedative also reduces the amount of drugs your vet will need in
order to induce and maintain anesthesia. 2. Insertion of IV
catheter A small patch of your cat’s fur is shaved, usually on
her foreleg, and a special needle is inserted into her vein.
This IV catheter is used to administer drugs and fluids, if
needed. 3. Induction of anesthesia