The ideal time to administer subcutaneous fluids is when your cat is in a state of relaxation and comfort. For most cats, this is approximately 2 hours after they have eaten a meal. At this point, they will have partially digested their food, leaving their stomach in a stable condition. This means less strain will be placed on the cat’s stomach, making them less likely to vomit.
It is possible to administer the fluids before your cat has eaten, while their stomach is still empty. In this case, there is less stress placed on the stomach, but as their stomach is empty, it may be prone to bloating, which in turn may cause discomfort to your cat.
Meanwhile, as your cat’s stomach will have become bloated right after eating, administering subcutaneous fluids may put additional pressure on them, increasing their likelihood of vomiting. As such, unless there is a specific reason that necessitates fluids immediately after a meal, you should avoid doing so.
Of course, when administering subcutaneous fluids to cats, the most important thing is to check your cat’s health and reaction to the process, and to administer the right type and amount of fluids following proper measures.
