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Original poster

Help please... Feeding a cat in a cone!

54 replies

TVDFan · 30/12/2020 20:04

Our lovely Russian blue has been spayed today and is now in a cone for two weeks Sad

She's really struggling to eat. She wants food but won't be hand fed/spoon fed. I've tried holding the bowl for her but she won't come near. She's a very wary cat anyway so now she's worse. She's also a grazer so won't eat a meal at a time.

Any advice at all? How did you feed your cat in cone?

OP posts:
SpudsandGravy · 30/12/2020 20:09

Although she prefers to graze, could you take the cone off after you've put her morning food down in the hope that she might eat something, and then put it on again?

quest1on · 30/12/2020 20:12

Ohh not sure. Could you ask the vet what they recommend in these circumstances? She’s probably freaked out as her side vision is gone. Maybe try a small raised bowl in the normal place and pile the food high so she can get to it?

CantStandMeow · 30/12/2020 20:14

My vet told me yesterday that they should manage to eat/drink in a cone but if he seems to be struggling then take it off for an hour so they can eat and drink. She gave an hour before bed as a good time.

dementedpixie · 30/12/2020 20:16

Could you use a cat bodysuit thing instead of a cone

ofwarren · 30/12/2020 20:17

Mine totally refused the cone, was running around terrified in it and ended up ripping it off.
She never touched her wound at all thankfully.

hotcookie · 30/12/2020 20:21

Use a medical shirt or feed from a plate.
I HATE cones on cats & v v rarely use. Flat plate /dish easier for them to feed from, but put to her first so she realises needs to put head over. & also query the cone. adequate pain relief & they shouldn't need it. Haven't routinely put cat in one for >15y

Batinahat · 30/12/2020 20:30

Yes to taking cone off briefly for her to eat and just watch her to make sure she doesn't do herself any damage while it's off. When mine had surgery I would shut her in a room with me and take cone off so she could relax a bit and she would then eventually eat. We also discovered our cat would be tempted by lick e lix and nothing else when post operative - she survived on this alone for a good week as we could get nothing else into her.

1Morewineplease · 30/12/2020 20:34

Take the cone off for feeding then pop it back on.

Lovemusic33 · 30/12/2020 20:37

Take the cone off too feed and just keep a close eye on her. My cat hates the cone and managed to get it off anyway.

Shesellsseashellsontheseashore · 30/12/2020 20:37

We used a flat plate. And with all best attempts, the cone didn't last 2 weeks, we spent more time putting it back on after it had been houdini'd off . But she did leave the wound alone.

MereDintofPandiculation · 30/12/2020 21:23

We just left them to it. They scooped up meat in the cone and ate it from the cone, and we then had to try to keep the cone at least moderately clean.

vanillandhoney · 30/12/2020 21:25

Does she really need a cone? Whenever I've had female cats spayed I've just kept an eye on them and they've all healed fine.

I don't think a cone is necessary - especially not for two weeks.

SwanShaped · 30/12/2020 21:26

I’d also take the cone off whenever you’re with the cat. And only put it on if you’re out the room. Your cat might not pick at the stitches anyway. Soft cones are a bit more comfy than the hard plastic ones. Not all vets have them tho.

Beecham · 30/12/2020 21:28

We took the cone off after a day, she was too upset. Didn't luck her wound much, and it's healed fine.

underneaththeash · 30/12/2020 21:29

We just took the cone off our Russian blue after she was spayed, watched her for a bit and she didn’t touch the stitches.

Puppymania · 30/12/2020 21:40

I had a childs seaside bucket and the cat dish just fitted on the top perfectly. I would just ensure the cone went over the bowl and down the bucket and he did not knock it off. Can you raise the dish without holding it?

Snowballtorch · 30/12/2020 21:40

When our cat was spayed a couple of months ago, we took the cone straight off too. She checked out her stiches a little and then left them alone.

I have never used a cone on a cat as none of mine have ever needed it and I hate watching them in a cone almost as much as they hate wearing it. I am sure it is a necessary evil for some, but I would see how she gets on without it and I wouldn't use it for the full 2 weeks.

Snowballtorch · 30/12/2020 21:41

*stitches

Veterinari · 30/12/2020 21:43

Unless she's painful wound interference shouldn't be a big problem and her wound should be totally healed within 10 days so there's definitely no point in keeping it in for 2 weeks.

Cones can be a significant welfare problem. Cats need to eat drink and groom.

If you can supervise her, leave it off and keep an eye on her. Put it on if she's unsupervised or licking at the wound.

TigerDrawers · 30/12/2020 21:43

Definitely try lifting the food bowl up slightly. My old girl didn't do too badly with a cone on but she did have to approach the food from directly above it and the cone ended up resting on the floor otherwise.

cricketmum84 · 30/12/2020 21:45

Our Betsy has just endured the cone of shame after her spay. We are both working from hike so I just took her cone off for mealtimes and then popped it back on as soon as she had finished eating. It's only 2 weeks.

Original poster
TVDFan · 30/12/2020 21:48

I'm at my witts end!

We took the cone off her to eat and she's starving bless her but now we can't get near her to put it back on.

She is hissing, scaratching, biting and lunging at us. She's also licking where her stitches are! I just don't know what to do. I'm in tears as I type this. I can't get anywhere near her.

She has never been like this and this stressed before Sad 💔

OP posts:
Veterinari · 30/12/2020 21:55

@TVDFan

I'm at my witts end!

We took the cone off her to eat and she's starving bless her but now we can't get near her to put it back on.

She is hissing, scaratching, biting and lunging at us. She's also licking where her stitches are! I just don't know what to do. I'm in tears as I type this. I can't get anywhere near her.

She has never been like this and this stressed before Sad 💔

She's likely painful and distressed - were you given painkillers for her?

Firstly relax! If you're stressed she'll be stressed.

Second don't panic. A bit of a lick is normal - distract her with treats or a toy if she's licking at the incision. Sit down and give her a nice calm stroke (don't hold the cone) she's scared and stressed. Act normal

Put the cone down on the floor Ideally smear with lick e Lix or a bit of pilchard juice. Let her see it isn't the worst thing ever.

If you need to get the cone on before bed, place her in the middle of a large towel and firmly burrito wrap her in it (check YouTube for vids) Don't wrestle her she'll be sore.
Quickly pop cone over her head and tie firmly but gently
Then release her

FangsForTheMemory · 30/12/2020 21:57

Mine found it easier to eat with an inflatable collar on. He tolerated it quite well too.

SlippersForFlippers · 30/12/2020 21:58

Mine eats from a saucer as she doesn't like putting her face I'm bowls. Maybe a saucer would be easier for yours too?

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