Thanks for the encouraging reply! I checked with our vet and found out that they DON'T use a preanesthetic: they only use "gas." [she told me what it was, but I don't remember] Had a chance to chat with Bishop's breeder and found out that another one of her cats died [recently?] due to anesthesia complications that sound similar to ours.

The final results on the tests on our mix [with the mouth ulcer] came back and IT'S NOT A CANCER! As originally thought, it is "eosynophyllic granuloma." It is treatable. It may go away forever, but most likely he'll have flair-ups that will have to be treated with steroids. We just want him to be comfortable and not in pain!