Ok, cat has had its surgery, how do i keep the collar on him? he has removed it twice in the past 10 minutes.

[Marne]

I don't want him licking his stitches but he wont keep it on, he has worked out that if he wedges his head in somewhere he can pull it off .

[RedwingWinter]

Depending where the stitches are, would it work to get him to wear an item of clothing that will cover them up? Like a very small child's t-shirt or something?

[Marne]

He has had his tail amputated, i have been watching him over the past hour without his collar and he hasn't managed to lick it yet (vet said he could reach it but i'm not sure if her can), he's much happier without it on and has now started jumping around and has now fallen asleep on the top of the sofa. I will keep a close eye on him.

[Naoko]

If it's his tail, could you wrap a bandage/cloth round his middle so he can't reach? It wouldn't be as uncomfortable for him as the collar, I think, and it wouldn't touch the wound, but it won't let him bend far enough to lick the stitches.
Certainly wouldn't wake him to do it though, he can't lick anything while he's asleep! Poor kitty, hope he's ok.

[Marne]

Good idea Naoko, i will give it a go if he starts licking it. Hopfully he will sleep well tonight (as he has been awake sinse i got him home). He seems very happy (so much better than he was yesterday before surgery) but he has been given strong pain killers so maybe on a high, hopfully he wont feel too grotty tomorrow.

[RedwingWinter]

Poor kitty! I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[Lizcat]

Marne you need to get that collar on it would take the average cat under 30 minutes to remove all those stitches. In the clinic we use a piece of bandage through the loops of the collar to tie it in place. You should be able to just get two fingers in between the bandage and the cat's neck.
It is tough to see them with the collar on, but I know your finances are tight and you don't need another anaesthetic and stitching cost.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I've said this before on here but I stop cats licking wounds by painting essential oils on the FUR around the wound, never the skin.

It's so off putting to them they stay away from it.

Have you got a babygro? Even a doll sized one. Cat may sulk with you though, especially if the other cats find out.

[Marne]

Thanks Lizcat, the vet put bandage around its neck to hold it on but the cat still gets out of it, he went all night without it on (i checked on him at 2am as he woke me for food) and he hasn't touched the stitches, luckily i am home today so can keep a close eye on him. I keep trying the collar but it is off within 5 minutes .

[crazynanna]

I had this 3 weeks ago after crazykitten was neutered. Took 15 minutes to get on (with the bandage), and took 0.2398 seconds to remove! i tied it so tight on the last attempt, I swear her eyes' bulged . Couldn't get hold of a babygro to customise, so did the vaseline around the fur/wound, and she hated it!

She stopped nibbling on day 2...all ok now still looks like a punk rocker with a mohican leg/side though

Poor kitty...hope she's better soon

[Marne]

They didn't charge me for today .

We went for the check up, all was fine, his temp was a bit high but this was due to him getting stessed in the car and managing to get out of his carrier twice (almost causing me to crash the car) on the way to the vets.

I have now bought him a new carrier with the money i thought i would have to pay the vet today.

Stitches are coming out next weekend and then he can go outside, he still has a lump at the top of his stump where the tail is broken (was quite high up) but not sure if this will ever heal.