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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:
Veterinari · 30/12/2020 21:59

Cat burrito

m.youtube.com/watch?v=2VSJ4B0fTzs

Triplecatmom · 30/12/2020 21:59

We have had loads of cats with issues and the best advice I have is to put a baby gro on instead of the cone

Veterinari · 30/12/2020 21:59

Most cats do prefer fabric or inflatable collars to plastic ones

Greenbks · 30/12/2020 21:59

Can you get feliway plug in or some cat nip to calm her?

vanillandhoney · 30/12/2020 22:01

Slight licking of the stitches at first is perfectly normal and shouldn't be anything to be concerned about.

She sounds stressed and I'm not surprised - she's likely a bit confused from her operation, sore and then had to have a cone on her head which stopped her doing everything that comes naturally to her - grooming, eating, jumping and drinking. I honestly think on cats, cones can be a real welfare issue and can do more harm than good.

If she's in the room with you I wouldn't force her to have a cone on. It's really unnecessary in most cases. When mine was spayed last year we just left her to it - she did lick her wounds a bit but they healed fine and we never had any issues. A cone would have come off her in about thirty seconds anyway 🤣

Original poster
TVDFan · 30/12/2020 22:02

We've tried a babygrow but I can't get anywhere near her. She's not the most tolerant cat on the best of days but now she's ferral Sad.

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 30/12/2020 22:02

Take it off, leave her to it.

Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2020 22:03

I have had many cats spayed and neutered and never used a cone. It’s always been fine

Original poster
TVDFan · 30/12/2020 22:05

The video looks good but that's a calm cat in the video. My cat is not calm and we'd have no fingers left if we tried to wrap her now. That's the issue, we can't even stroke her.

OP posts:
Original poster
TVDFan · 30/12/2020 22:06

Maybe we should leave her to it but it will be impossible to watch her closely as we both work.

OP posts:
rookgizzardpie · 30/12/2020 22:06

you don’t really have any choice other than leaving the cone off by the sound of it

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 30/12/2020 22:07

If she isn't scratching at the wound, I'd leave her be - she must be very stressed.
Neither of mine had cones after being spade - nor any of the cats in the rescue centre when I worked at cats protection.
I do remember one having a cone, but a different operation.
How long did the cat suggest she should wear it for?

Veterinari · 30/12/2020 22:08

@TVDFan

The video looks good but that's a calm cat in the video. My cat is not calm and we'd have no fingers left if we tried to wrap her now. That's the issue, we can't even stroke her.
Which is why I gave you all the previous advice on calming down and letting her calm down.

If you've wrestled her into a state you won't be able to touch her. She's painful, stressed and you keep manhandling her.
Take a breath and give her a break and some treats and act normal for a while

vanillandhoney · 30/12/2020 22:08

Just leave her.

I think making her stressed and forcing a cone on her would make things worse at this point. I've never known a cat to need a cone after a routine spay operation. Our vets have never sent ours home in cones and have never recommended it.

AlwaysLatte · 30/12/2020 22:10

When I had a coned cat I used to take it off at mealtimes as the thing was so distracting the poor cat didn't want to eat with it on.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 30/12/2020 22:12

Purina Neutering advice
this suggests a cone often not necessary

ancient thread on here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/1942161-does-my-kitten-need-a-cone-after-being-spayed

Original poster
TVDFan · 30/12/2020 22:14

I'll just leave it off her and hope for the best. Thanks everyone! Just wish I'd never taken the damn thing off 🤦‍♀️😞

OP posts:
Veterinari · 30/12/2020 22:18

@TVDFan

I'll just leave it off her and hope for the best. Thanks everyone! Just wish I'd never taken the damn thing off 🤦‍♀️😞
She'd be worse off not being able to eat or drink Confused Honestly, stop stressing
vanillandhoney · 30/12/2020 22:18

On the contrary I think you've done exactly the right thing.

Cones can be incredibly stressful for cats as they prevent them from all kinds of natural behaviours. IMO they should only be used as an absolute last resort.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 30/12/2020 22:26

I'd have done the same thing and taken it off so that she could settle down and eat. I understand putting on a cone if the cat was stressed and clawing at the wound or licking it incessantly, but just to lumber her with one 'just in case' seems bizarre - of course it would be stressful for her.
Give her her favourite food to pick at and leave her be.

When my first cat came home from the vet she was really wobbly all evening, really distressing. The second one, a few years later, different vet, I covered the floor in cushions so that I could sit with her without her wanting to jump up.... opened the door of her carrier to let her out and she bounced out as if nothing had happened.

Hope that she's OK and had a good night, come back and let us know how she is in the morning.

cricketmum84 · 30/12/2020 22:28

Can you sit on the floor with some dreamies or similar to get a bit of trust? Then quickly pop the cone back on while she is snacking.

I would be concerned about leaving the cone off if she is showing interest in the stitches.

Just take it slow and try not to stress as they are so good at picking up on stressful feelings x

Veterinari · 31/12/2020 07:37

Any update @TVDFan ? How is she this morning?

SwanShaped · 31/12/2020 09:00

Oh poor thing. How is she this morning? Did you manage to get the cone back on?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 31/12/2020 10:14

@TVDFan how is she today? Flowers

CRbear · 31/12/2020 10:23

I could have written this a couple of weeks ago except the vets didn’t even put the bloody cone on her while she was out! Oh “just” “pop” this on her when you get home. My arse. There was no way she was having the plastic cone on. They take too long to get on a cat to start with. Called my mum in tears and she got me an inflatable one. Waited until the cat hopped on my lap and then I slipped it on. Much much easier. She didn’t keep that on all that well though- usually got it off overnight but she didn’t seem to bother her stitches and it’s healed well now. And the suggestion of a onesie is laughable if you’ve got a cat you can’t get a cone on. I told the vet that and she said “oh it’s quite easy you just slip it on over it’s legs and then tuck the arms in”. Come on!!! The vets are covering their backs- I get it. But I wish they’d be a bit more understanding of how difficult it can be rather then immovably sanctimonious about how imperative the cone is!

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