IACUC Learning Module - Cats | Previous Next |
Important Link:
IACUC Approved Analgesics, Anesthetics
& Sedatives
Oxygen should be available, because of residual respiratory depression associated with anesthetic drugs. Oxygen may be given via face mask attached to an oxygen source, or via an oxygen cage.
Food and water bowls, buckets or containers need to be removed from the cage. There are many instances where
cats have drowned in only inches of water, being groggy from the anesthesia and unable to control their movements.
No animal should be placed directly on a grid floor, instead, animals should be padded to protect against possible injury during recovery from anesthesia. If the
cat is laid on it's side, it needs to be turned from side to side about once every ten minutes, to prevent the "down side" lung from injury. If possible, position the animal on their chest and stomach with the head in a slightly downward position. This ensures the best position for breathing and protects against aspiration of gastric contents should vomiting or regurgitation occur. If vomiting does occur, clearing of the mouth with suction generated from a syringe or suction device is important to prevent aspiration into the lungs.POSTOPERATIVE CARE
All patients recovering from anesthesia require specialized care, even when the patient is a
cat! The area needs to be warm, quiet and have good
lighting. Room temperature should be maintained between 80-90°F because most animals will be hypothermic following general anesthesia. Alternately, a comfortable background room temperature may be supplemented by warming lamp, heating pads or hot water bottles. If electric devices are used, the
cat must have constant monitoring, so that it cannot chew any cords! An incubator is an ideal device for this purpose and permits administration of supplemental oxygen as needed.Standard
Biological Data for the Cat (Felis catus)
|
|
Normal Range |
| Weight, adult males: | 3-7 kg |
| Weight, adult females: | 3-4 kg |
| Birth weight: | 110g ± 20 |
| Estrus cycle: | 14 days (anovular) |
| Gestation range, days | 65.5 ± 1.7 |
| Litter size: | 3-6 (range 1-10) |
| Weaning age, weeks: | 4 - 7 |
| Breeding life of female: | 4-5 years |
| Breeding life of male: | 5-7 years |
| Breathing rate/minute: | 20-40 |
| Life expectancy | 9-14 years |
| Heart beats/minute | 100 - 120) kitten (130 - 180) |
| Body temperature: | 100.5-102.5o F (38.1o C -39.2o C) |
| Recommended space requirement | <4 kg - (3 ft² x 24 in. H) or >4 kg - (=4 ft² x 24 in. H) |
| Recommended room temperature | 64-84o F |
| Recommended room humidity | 30-70% |
| Litter/Bedding type | treated corn cob, beet pulp, wood shavings or commercial product |
| Feed consumption (average): | ½ ounce Dry Dog Chow per 1 pound of body weight |
| Water consumption: | 50-70 ml/kg |
| Kittens begin on dry feed: | 4-6 weeks |
Nutrient Requirements and Estimated Daily Food Allowance for Cats
| Cat | Body Wt (kg) | Dry Type | Semi-Moist | Canned | |||
| g/kg body wt | g/kg body wt | g/cat | g/kg body wt | g/cat | g/kg body wt | g/cat | |
|
Kitten | |||||||
| 10 week | 0.9-1.1 | 78 | 70-86 | 83 | 75-91 | 227 | 204-250 |
| 20 week | 1.9-2.5 | 41 | 78-103 | 43 | 82-108 | 118 | 224-295 |
| 30 week | 2.5-3.8 | 31 | 78-118 | 33 | 83-125 | 91 | 228-346 |
| 40 week | 2.9-3.8 | 25 | 73-95 | 27 | 78-103 | 73 | 212-277 |
| Adult | |||||||
| Inactive | 2.2-4.5 | 22 | 48-90 | 23 | 51-99 | 64 | 141-288 |
| Active | 2.2-4.5 | 25 | 55-113 | 27 | 59-122 | 73 | 160-329 |
| Gestation | 2.5-4.0 | 31 | 78-124 | 33 | 83-132 | 91 | 228-364 |
| Lactation | 2.2-4.0 | 78 | 172-312 | 83 | 182-332 | 227 | 499-908 |
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