Do cats have a higher risk of death under sedation and general anesthesia compared to dogs?

• A. Cats
• B. Dogs
• C. They are equal
• D. Not enough data

Answer: (A)

Cats have a higher risk of death under sedation and general anesthesia than dogs because their bodies respond differently to anesthetic drugs and airway management. Physiologically, cats are more prone to dangerous respiratory and cardiovascular depression from many anesthetic agents, and they have a tendency to develop hypoxemia or profound bradycardia if ventilation or circulation is compromised. Airway management can be trickier in cats; laryngospasm and reflexes are more easily triggered, which can lead to sudden breathing difficulties if not promptly addressed.

Metabolically, cats process drugs differently from dogs. They rely less on certain liver enzymes (like glucuronidation) for drug clearance, so many anesthetic drugs or adjuncts can last longer or reach higher effective levels in cats, increasing the chances of adverse effects. This makes dosing and drug selection more error-prone, requiring careful titration, extended monitoring, and species-specific protocols. Cats are also more susceptible to temperature and metabolic disturbances during anesthesia, such as hypothermia or hypoglycemia, which can further raise the risk of serious complications.

In modern practice, with thorough monitoring and tailored anesthesia plans, risk is reduced, but the inherent physiologic and pharmacologic differences still contribute to a higher perioperative mortality risk in cats compared to dogs.