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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat in medical bodysuit not happy

51 replies

dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 13:02

Had to take my cat to the out of hours vet last night as he was very lethargic, wasn't eating and was growling if we clapped him near his back end. Turned out he had an abcess that needed cleaning and the vet wanted to do xrays in case it was a gunshot pellet so they kept him in overnight.

He was sent home this morning with pain relief, antibiotics and a plastic cone. Tried the cone 4 times and he managed to get it off within seconds. Spoke to the vet and they said you can get stretchy bodysuits instead so I've bought one of them. He's not really impressed with it either but at least he can't take it off.

How long do you think he should wear it and is it totally necessary? Can he go outdoors with it? (I've to keep him in for a couple of days although he has already been scrabbling at the cat flap as I've locked it shut). Any bright ideas about getting his antibiotics into him too would be appreciated.

Cat in medical bodysuit not happy
OP posts:
Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 13:03

This is the wound it's protecting

Cat in medical bodysuit not happy
OP posts:
Aimily · 19/04/2019 13:05

Oh that is an angry cute face! What did the vet suggest with outside timeframes?
I'm guessing the body sit would be until he stops trying to get to the wound?

Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 13:08

They said keep him in for a couple of days. I suppose it'd be easier to go out with the bodysuit on than with a cone. I don't know if he's bothered with the wound or not as he's had the suit on and he's been freaked out by that instead

OP posts:
Aimily · 19/04/2019 13:17

If your not sure, I'd take the suit off and keep an eye on him inside for a couple of hours, see if the wound does bother him, if it doesn't I think you'll be fine body suit and cone free going forward and to let him out in a couple days like vet said.

MissLadyM · 19/04/2019 13:22

Oh bless him, he's lovely. Tell him he looks handsome in his special suit!

Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 19/04/2019 13:23

No advice, just wanted to say how cute his grumpy face is!

CookieSwirlC · 19/04/2019 13:25

How the fuck did you manage to get it on him?! My two would have ripped me to shreds!

CookieSwirlC · 19/04/2019 13:26

He is so going to get revenge on you for making him wear it though.

madcatladyforever · 19/04/2019 13:27

Oh dear bless him. Don't let himoutside, he could get caught on something and stuck.
I have an angry feral on thyroid tablets, even the vet can't pills down her but I have found a way.
Put him on the kitchen counter at a good height for you. Back him into a corner so he can't retreat, open his jaw with your left hand round the top haw from behind and with your right hand throw the pill down his throat or syringe the medicine in then hold his mouth shut until he swallows it. Works every time Smile

OldSpeclkledHen · 19/04/2019 13:30

Cheese for the meds?

And sorry, he looks very pissed off but so cute with it

Try taking the body suit off (if you think you can get it back on again) keep him in and see if he licks or is bothered by the wound?

BayandBlonde · 19/04/2019 13:32

I would take the suit off to see how he reacts, but in any event I would leave him in for a few more days. Although you might not get the suit back on again Grin

If he goes out you want to avoid him rubbing against something or having a disagreement with another cat, or just about anything that could open the wound up and infect it.

He looks super pissed off with you!

BikeRunSki · 19/04/2019 13:32

Very cute angry face!

Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 13:36

This is him begging to get outside. I've taken the suit off for now. I'll maybe put it on for night time when he can't be watched

Cat in medical bodysuit not happy
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YetAnotherSpartacus · 19/04/2019 14:05

Oh that tail! {melts}

agnurse · 19/04/2019 15:05

He does not look very impressed with the suit! I agree that as long as he's supervised you may be able to leave it off.

The suit does not strike me as being odd. Sometimes they will put girl kitties in a Babygro after they are spayed.

Jaxhog · 19/04/2019 15:18

I sympathize. My accident prone kitty hate cones. The body suit looks like a good idea, although I doubt mine would be very happy wearing one either. Last time he had an abcess,he had his paw (leg) wrapped top to bottom in pink plaster. He ripped it off 3 times, before we had to give up. I can't find the photo, but he looked equally pissed off.

viccat · 19/04/2019 15:49

In my experience it just takes them about 24 hours to get used to a cone or suit and then they're ok about it.

Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 15:50

He got the cone back off within minutes on 4 occasions. The suit is off just now and he's sleeping

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/04/2019 17:13

I suspect it might be easier (on cat) to leave the suit on 24/7. Cats are creatures of habit so just get him used to it as quickly as possible and don't ask him to change until it comes off completely.

I could imagine having it on for 5 days, but will the wound heal ok underneath that suit? Does wound need air to heal quickly?

Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 17:18

It's supposed to be hot here too for the next few days. Will it make it hot and sweaty?

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Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 17:19

And now I can't have windows/ doors open to let air in

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Deathraystare · 19/04/2019 17:29

Tell him he looks very cool!!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/04/2019 19:30

Can you crush the antibiotics in food? I always ask for crushable.

Original poster
dementedpixie · 19/04/2019 19:56

I've been trying to crush them into lik-e-lix. 2nd lot wasn't crushed enough and he managed to lick round some of the bits. Loxicom must not be too disgusting either. He has eaten and had some water. I plonked him in the litter earlier and he did a pee (normally does the toilet outside). Have been secretly letting my other cat out the living room window and the back door. Cat flap is set to in only so he can get back in

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 19/04/2019 20:05

You could buy a pestle and mortar, crush them up and mix it into a tiny portion of his favourite food.

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