Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Beats — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:50:57 GMT

Summary of the data in the abstract from the earlier post:

159 cat caesareans over 13 years

Only 12 cats had propofol/isoflurane, of the 33 kittens born, 24 were born alive and 21 of those were drowsy.

6 cats had epidural with lidocaine ("usually after premedication with xylazine": I'm curious about the unusual), of the 23 kittens born, 22 were born alive and none drowsy.

There was also data for thiopentone/halothane which was similar to propofol/isoflurane.

There was also data for ketamine+alpha-2 which had similar numbers born alive, but very few drowsy in comparison (suggested atipamezole given to kittens).

The retrospective nature of the study, combined with the long time period and differing approaches and people involved limited the ability to draw any conclusions.

The nature of the records which were kept, in particular regarding the number of drowsy kittens, and how likely these were to be consistent and comparable between groups was not detailed.

The authors give the opinion that "[alpha-2] and ketamine [and atipamezole to kittens] appeared to be associated with ... a lower percentage of drowsy kittens compared to ... propofol [and isoflurane]. Propofol and isoflurane, although used successfully for caesarean section in the bitch, appear to be less suitable for use in the cat."

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Beats — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:14:19 GMT

Thanks Clive, but I think might now have found the abstract I was after, so can save you a trip to the attic.

Also, I checked my 5th edition of Lumb and Jones and found no mention (that I could find) of this abstract or a comment regarding concerns re propofol for cat caesareans - indeed only comment specific I found (p716) simply states "Comparable studies have not been performed in cats; however... anatomy and physiology support similar success with this strategy." referring I think mainly to iso and propofol and referencing Funkquist and Nyman's dog study from 1997 (but not this pesky abstract on cats from 1996 from same authors). I think I must have read the comment on propofol for cat caesareans being inadvisable in Clarke's anesthesia test instead, but don't have that one to hand...

I'm not trying to perpetuate what seems to be a forgotten myth, just curious on others experiences etc!

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Lesley Strong — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:54:28 GMT

Did lots under the old Saffan for breeders and never had any lssues( only option then otherwise was thio or gas.) Some of the early ones also got ether then later halothane so Iso was v welcome when it came in

Kittens alway seem slower to get going than pups who come out screaming

Dont really operate now but assume Alfaxan would be the same thing so go for that

Hate propofol for cats they seem to take ages to settle compared with triple

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Clive Ansell — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 08:06:44 GMT

[quote userid="12930" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31214/anesthesia-for-cat-caesarean/247505#247505"]If anyone has access to that earlier abstract: https://www.vaajournal.org/article/S1351-6574(16)30156-5/abstract[/quote]

I've got some old copies of VAA journals somewhere (loft) I think, and will try and dig them out.

I seem to remember an abstract mid 90's that suggested xylazine/ketamine was the safest choice, but from memory was a very small study. (Xylazine was more widely used then, medetomidine was a new kid on the block)

Last cat caesarean I did was a fractious semi feral stray. triple combo in a crush cage. Mum and 3 kittens survived.

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Beats — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:30:16 GMT

I'm not saying avoid propofol (indeed, there is another publication in the last year with very high kitten survivals that found similar levels with either propofol or alfaxan: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11577479/ but it was a much smaller study, and oddly doesn't mention the previous study in abstract form in cats - perhaps their library access didn't allow them it either - but does reference the one in dogs from a year later by the same authors)

My interest was piqued by the much larger numbers in the recent study and poor survival. May be more likely down to what cases present than anything else, but would not be outwith the realms of possibility that anesthetic drugs had an effect.

If anyone has access to that earlier abstract: https://www.vaajournal.org/article/S1351-6574(16)30156-5/abstract then please take a look and summarise the details (if there even are any deetails...) for the rest of us would be much obliged!

RE: Anesthesia for Cat Caesarean

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 22:12:34 GMT

I think in the last 5 years I've done 2 cat caesers (on more than one occasion I've done 2 dog or cow caesers in the same day). Both were single, large dead kittens. Neither would have been alive at induction, in both cases I spayed the cat.

I think the comparative rarity of the operation in the cat is likely much more of a factor, rather than drug choice. I would continue to happily use propofol in a cat caeser, don't keep Alfaxan in the practice and havn't touched it in the 10 years since the last thread.......