How long for a cat to recover from anaesthetic?

Depending on the cat, it can take just a few hours or even a couple of days for some, so there's no need to worry just yet. It’s perfectly normal; he just needs to get it all out of his system. As for the asthma, I used to have a kitty with asthma and I regularly gave her steam inhalations whenever she had a flare-up. I used those large decongestant tablets that you dissolve in very hot water. You just need to boil about a bowl’s worth of water and drop the tablet in, but before that, put your cat in her carrier with the door shut. Put the carrier in the downstairs loo or the bathroom—an enclosed space is best so the steam really works. Place the bowl of boiling water in front of the mesh door, but not too close so she can't reach it or scald herself, and then drape a large bath towel over both the carrier and the bowl to keep the steam in. Leave her in there for 10 to 15 minutes, but no longer, so it doesn't dry out her airways. Repeat this morning and night until she’s feeling better. I wouldn't recommend an electric nebuliser; I invested in one once but it didn’t work very well and it's not practical at all for a cat. Also, since I’m asthmatic myself, I always have some Ventolin on hand—it’s a miracle worker. When she felt like she was struggling to breathe, she’d actually come to me for a quick puff near her nose, which was enough to calm her down instantly. You’d need your vet or GP to prescribe it, which might be a bit of a long shot, but honestly, it’s what helped my cat the most, just like it helps me. Just like humans, cats can have allergies—to pollen, pollution, or anything else. I once knew a cat who was allergic to his owner's hairspray! If you have any more questions, just ask. Thanks for the info. Shiro is a bit more energetic this morning. He's drinking by himself and eating a tiny bit. He's still moving slowly and reacting a bit when I try to get his attention. He's still staring into space for a while at times, and he hasn't slept yet, though. As for the asthma, he’s already having inhalations and is about to start a course of human bronchodilator tablets for his lungs. But the vet is already considering Ventolin. Thanks for your replies.

Depending on the cat, it can take anything from a few hours to a couple of days for some, so there’s no need to worry just yet. It’s perfectly normal—he just needs to get it all out of his system. As for the asthma, I used to have a cat with it, and I’d regularly give her steam inhalations whenever she had a flare-up. I used these large decongestant tablets that you dissolve in very hot water. You’ll need to boil about a bowl’s worth of water and drop the tablet in. But before you do that, pop your girl in her carrier and shut the mesh door. Put her in the bathroom or the loo—a small, enclosed space works best for the treatment to be effective. Place the bowl of boiling water in front of the door, but not too close so she can’t reach it or scald herself. Then, drape a large bath towel over both the carrier and the bowl to trap the steam as much as possible. Leave her there for 10 to 15 minutes, but no longer, so it doesn’t dry out her airways. Repeat the process morning and night until she’s doing better. I wouldn't recommend an electric nebuliser. I spent a fair bit of money on one, but it didn't work very well; they're just not practical at all for a cat. Also, as an asthmatic myself, I always have a Ventolin inhaler handy—it’s a miracle worker. When my cat felt she was struggling to breathe, she’d actually come and ask for a little puff near her nose, and it would settle her right away. You’d need to get your vet or even your own GP to prescribe it, which might be a bit of a challenge, but honestly, it was the best thing for my cat, just as it is for me. Just like humans, cats can have allergies—pollen, pollution, or anything else. I even knew a cat that was allergic to its owner’s hairspray! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.