Returning to normal entails more than just coming out of anesthesia. It usually takes several hours, if not until the next day, for the cat to return to their full normal self after anesthesia. Sometimes, it can even take a couple of days, especially with the narcotics and pain medications we use. However, this does not mean they are not able to go home after they've recovered for several hours after anesthesia. They're usually back to looking around, able to get up and walk around their kennels, and can be safely transported home and put into a recovery place.

When we turn off the gas anesthesia, usually within about 5-10 minutes, cats start to regain consciousness and come out of general anesthesia, entering into the post-anesthetic period. This is the typical timeframe we expect when we turn off the gas for the cat to start coming back to consciousness.

Yes, it is possible that your cat could die from general anesthesia, although it's a very minor risk if all precautions are taken. Veterinarians are trained medical professionals who know how to mitigate risks and promote safety, but there are things that are out of our control when an animal is under general anesthesia. Anesthetic death, although rare, is a real risk of general anesthesia.

Mitigating risks and side effects involves having a complete health exam on your cat, conducting pre-anesthetic blood work to check organ function, and doing an ECG to examine the cardiac rhythm. Checking the heart health before anesthesia is also important.

The brachycephalic breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, which have more restricted airways due to their facial structure, could be considered a bit higher risk.

A responsible veterinarian will make sure that you understand there are risks when a cat goes into general anesthesia. They should never gloss over those risks. They should explain how they know how to mitigate risk and how confident they are in doing so. They should also be open to discussing your past experiences with pet anesthesia. One unique aspect of what we do here at Blue Oasis is that we allow you to stay with your cat while they undergo a general anesthesia procedure. This enables you to witness how we work to mitigate those risks and ensure your pet's safety. Additionally, you can be present to ask questions as we guide your pet through the procedure.

Some of the risks of anesthesia include hypothermia, complications with controlling airways, coughing due to interference with the trachea, risk of aspiration pneumonia due to a communication between the airway and the stomach and esophagus, development of arrhythmias and low blood pressures, and potential kidney injury.