Would you put your cat in a onesie?

[MidnightMeltdown]

My poor 8 month old kitten had to have his abdomen opened up to remove an undescended testicle. He' been sent home with a plastic cone of shame which he has to wear for a week 🙁. My female was spayed a few months earlier and didn't need one, but vet said that my boy was licking the wound too much which can lead to a potentially fatal infection due to the bacteria in his mouth.

The cone is awful. It prevents him from licking the wound, but it also prevents him from doing lots of other things, like eating and drinking easily, licking any part of his body including paws, face and bum, scratching, playing, curling up to sleep etc, and he keeps bumping into everything. I can't believe that vets still give these things out. I don't know whether I can keep it on him for much longer so I've ordered him a cat onesie. He probably won't like that either, but I thought at least it will keep the wound covered and allow him to move more freely.

Does anyone else have experience with anything like this? Is a onesie a good substitute for a cone or did your cat hate it or manage get out of it? Has anyone made their cat wear a cone for a long period of time and found that they got used to it?

No I would not! It will make him furious with itching. He won't be able to wash himself with that on either! HAven't you Googled for the other options??
www.amazon.co.uk/Xinzistar-Recovery-Protective-Adjustable-Elizabeth/dp/B08DJ21XNY/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=inflatable+cat+collar&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1617969373&sr=8-2

We had a cat who had to wear a cone for two weeks after an operation.

We removed it so she could eat and drink, as well as if we were able to supervise her directly (so she didn't need to wear it if we were all hanging out in the living room etc.). She basically only wore it at night or when we were out.

It wasn't nice BUT without it, she kept splitting her wound open. Eventually she had to be stapled closed as nothing else was working on her.

Yes our cat had a onesie for about a week after a major operation and was fine with it although she woke up from the anesthetic with it on which may have helped.

I am a receptionist in a vet surgery and an ex veterinary nurse. The plastic cones are a fail safe way to prevent interference with healing wounds and stitches. Other things are available and sold by vets, but in no way as reliable. A floppy fabric collar can be pushed aside, a vest can be chewed through, the buster inflatable collars can work but still be got around.

We always discuss options with owners, but the safest are the cones. We explain that they can be removed whilst you can supervise him, during mealtimes etc. Bowls need to be raised up on a brick for example to aid access. A daily gentle brush from you would be an excellent idea. This should all have been explained to you. He shouldn't be allowed to rush around either, post abdominal surgery. It can take seconds for a pet to damage the op site or cause infection and possibly another anaesthetic to re-suture. That's why they're first choice.

Ours has one after she was spayed,
She hated the cone, she looked like muppet but it did its job

Sorry for the stupid face. I was only annoyed by you saying I can't believe vets hand these things out. There's a clear reason for this and we WANT to do the best for you and your pet! The pet shirts can work very well, but if he gets it off when alone or in the night, it's hopeless.

mine hated the onesie so much she wouldn't even move whilst wearing it, just lay still for days! poor thing. Eventually I got her this kind of rubber inflatable ring collar from pets at home which prevented her from reaching her wound but left her head free to do cat things. Really recommend it, was so easy to get on and off and she didn't mind it at all https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/-p34381-1--

[quote FortunesFave]No I would not! It will make him furious with itching. He won't be able to wash himself with that on either! HAven't you Googled for the other options??
www.amazon.co.uk/Xinzistar-Recovery-Protective-Adjustable-Elizabeth/dp/B08DJ21XNY/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=inflatable+cat+collar&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1617969373&sr=8-2[/quote]
I have, but the onesie looked like the best option because it would at least allow him to wash his face, legs, and backside after going to the loo, and seemed it less restrictive than anything else. It's made of soft cotton and he's got long thick hair so I can't imagine that it would be too itchy?

@Chunkymenrock

I am a receptionist in a vet surgery and an ex veterinary nurse. The plastic cones are a fail safe way to prevent interference with healing wounds and stitches. Other things are available and sold by vets, but in no way as reliable. A floppy fabric collar can be pushed aside, a vest can be chewed through, the buster inflatable collars can work but still be got around.

We always discuss options with owners, but the safest are the cones. We explain that they can be removed whilst you can supervise him, during mealtimes etc. Bowls need to be raised up on a brick for example to aid access. A daily gentle brush from you would be an excellent idea. This should all have been explained to you. He shouldn't be allowed to rush around either, post abdominal surgery. It can take seconds for a pet to damage the op site or cause infection and possibly another anaesthetic to re-suture. That's why they're first choice.

Thank you for the advice. I was just a bit surprised that they haven't managed to invent anything better than this by now, as the cones appear to be very distressing to the cat. Mine got his leg caught under the cone while trying to get out of it and I found him hobbling about on 3 legs in a panic 🙁

Our cat got out of her onesie when she had one after she was neutered. Incredible how flexible they are.

Our cats had onesies after their spay. They weren't cut properly around the back end and were promptly covered in wee, so we had to do an emergency dash back to the vets for cones. The onesies lasted about an hour and cost twenty quid each😡

@wonderstuff

Our cat got out of her onesie when she had one after she was neutered. Incredible how flexible they are.

This is what worries me. He might have to have the collar at night when unsupervised. He's a right wriggler, so just a bit concerned that it will be a total nightmare to get back on him once off. Especially now he knows what it is!

@eurochick

Our cats had onesies after their spay. They weren't cut properly around the back end and were promptly covered in wee, so we had to do an emergency dash back to the vets for cones. The onesies lasted about an hour and cost twenty quid each😡

How did they cope with their cones? Did you leave them on 24/7 and did they get used to them?

My parents cat had one on. He was surprisingly good about it. And happily let them put it on. They did have to modify the back because he kept tripping over it. But he was an absolute super start with it. I think it make him look handsome.

Forgot pic

Op, Zylkene is worth a try too. It's a calming supplement. Your vets should have it or you can buy online.

Our cat came home in a onesie after a bladder operation, but once the GA had properly worn off, she got out of it. I tried to put it back on her a couple of times, but it was a horrible undignified struggle on both sides, so I resorted to a cone I’d got as an alternative just in case. They aren’t great in many ways, but it was the only failsafe was of keeping the wound inaccessible.

Thanks all for the responses. I am a bit worried that the cone might come off too to be honest, as it's attached to his collar which is quick release. It's already come undone once...

Think I'll leave him in the cone for a least the first 48 hours to allow some initial healing time, then I might try the onesie depending on how he is.

licking the wound too much which can lead to a potentially fatal infection due to the bacteria in his mouth

I had never even thought of this but yes , cats' mouths must be hoaching with bacteria ! Our old cat gave herself a 'lick granuloma' (as the Vet called it) we had to use the Cone of Shame and she had medication till her skin settled and she didn't overgroom.

(Guinea-pigs otoh have natural probiotic healing spit . If one of my piggies had a poorly eye the cagemate would wash it . Herbivore eating the first pooh passing )

Mine would all scratch me to bits if I tried a onesie!
The cone is restrictive, but it’s meant to be. As well as stopping him from licking, it should make him unsure enough about jumping around to not do it (risking pulling stitches!). He’ll get used to it - Luna actually walked backwards the first day after spaying to try and back herself out of it 🤦🏻‍♀️
Raise the food and water though as suggested above :)

My (now no longer with us) cat had a Medical Pet Suit after surgery - it had a gap at the back so she could wee and poo without us having to take it off.

However, she did reverse out of it one day and we found it discarded on the floor in disgust.

Hard cones are horrific and I think they only add to a cat’s distress after an op which is counter productive. You ca get soft comes on Amazon, still not great but better than the hard ones.

They do get used to it.

I had a cat when I was young who had to have a collar on and off for a reoccurring wound. To start with she walked backwards but after a coupe of days, she did get used to it. I used to take it off for her for supervised cleaning but she learned to eat and sleep with it.

It is awful but it's better than the alternative.

The cone is still on and he seems to be healing ok. He's just extremely grumpy that he has to wear a cone AND he's not allowed outside. Last night was a nightmare. He was balling his head off, scratching the blinds, and trying to burrow his way under the patio doors! I tried to play with him a bit to distract him, but it's hard to get him engaged as he can't pick things up and put them in his mouth which is what he wants to do. Also have to be careful not to overexert him (as that would defeat the purpose of him being inside in the first place!). If anyone has any tips on how to entertain an extremely grumpy cone head I'd be grateful!

He has a catit digger so I'll hide some treats in there for him tonight - which might keep him entertained for 10 mins if I'm lucky!!

My car had a onesie from the vet when he got a small infection on this back and needed cream for it. He hated it but the vet instructed I persist and she was right-after a couple of hours he decided he could walk in it after all.