Inguinal Hernia in Cats: Vet Guide 🐱🦴 2025

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, veterinarian & founder of Ask A Vet.

An inguinal hernia occurs when abdominal organs protrude through the inguinal canal in the groin. While rare in cats, this congenital or acquired issue demands prompt evaluation and surgical care to prevent complications.

🔍 What Is an Inguinal Hernia?

Within the inguinal region, weakened fascia allows intestines, fat, or other organs to bulge into the groin or scrotum. This may be unilateral (one side) or bilateral (both sides), and may be reducible (contents can slide back) or incarcerated (trapped, possibly strangulated).

🧬 Causes & Risk Factors

• Congenital: developmental failure, often in kittens
• Acquired: trauma, injury, straining, obesity or wound breakdown
• Breed predisposition: Siamese and Oriental breeds sometimes
• Concurrent conditions: hernias may occur with other congenital issues like umbilical hernia

🚨 Clinical Signs & Complications

• Visible swelling in groin, scrotum, or inner thigh
• Discomfort or pain—yanking tail, biting area
• Appetite, vomiting, or lethargy if intestines involved
• Incarcerated hernias cause bowel obstruction, ischemia, and severe pain
• Strangulated hernias lead to necrosis and sepsis

🧪 Diagnostic Evaluation

• Physical exam: palpation reveals soft or firm mass
• Abdominal palpation: assess GI signs, pain
• Imaging: X-rays or ultrasound to identify organs and hernia contents
• Bloodwork: CBC, biochemistry for dehydration, infection, pain markers
• Pre-surgical tests: clotting times, risk assessment, anesthetic safety

💉 Treatment & Surgical Repair

1. When Surgery Is Needed

• Non-reducible or incarcerated hernias require emergency surgery
• Reducible hernias may be scheduled electively to prevent complications
• Kittens often treated promptly early for best outcomes

2. Surgical Approach

• General anesthesia and sterile prep
• Incision over hernia, gentle entry to reduce contents
• Examination of intestines—check viability and resect necrotic tissue if needed
• Closure of internal inguinal ring with sutures or mesh reinforcement
• Scrotal or thigh tissue closure with layered suturing
• In complicated cases, intestinal resection or reattachment required

3. Post‑Operative Care

• Pain control: opioids, NSAIDs, gabapentin
• Fluid support and monitoring of intake/output
• Restricted activity for 10–14 days; crate or calm confinement
• Suture monitoring and E-collar use to prevent licking
• Pre-surgical diet and weight control if obesity present

📆 Prognosis & Follow-Up

• Most cats recover well with timely surgery
• Prognosis worsens with strangulation or necrosis
• Rechecks at 3, 7, and 14 days, then monthly until full healing
• Watch for recurrence—rare if repair is robust

🏠 Home Recovery Care

• Maintain crate or calm area; limit vertical movement
• Manage pain medications and feeding schedule diligently
• Keep incision clean and dry
• Monitor stool, appetite, activity, and hernia site
• Provide gentle enrichment while resting

🤝 Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz Support

Ask A Vet offers telehealth support for:

• 📸 Reviewing incision healing and swelling
• 🔁 Advising on pain meds, diet, and recovery milestones
• ✅ Deciding when in-person recheck is needed

Woopf & Purrz provide nutrient-dense, easily digestible diets to support healing, lean muscle mass, and skin integrity—ideal during recovery.

✅ Key Takeaways

• Inguinal hernias are rare but serious in cats—can be congenital or acquired
• Signs include groin swelling, pain, or GI symptoms
• Surgical repair is standard; emergency surgery if incarceration
• Post-op care, E-collars, pain control, and activity restriction are essential
• Telehealth and proper nutrition support smooth recovery

📞 Final Thoughts

An inguinal hernia might seem alarming, but with prompt evaluation and expert surgical care, your cat can make a full recovery. With Ask A Vet guiding healing and Woopf & Purrz fueling recovery, your feline friend is in good hands. 😊🩺

Need help with post-op monitoring, incision care, or fighting recurrence? Visit AskAVet.com and download the Ask A Vet app now!