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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

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?

29 replies

SanFranBear · 06/01/2022 20:37

My little, petite girl was spayed today and she was sent home with a bodysuit on. She's not actually that fussed by it except she is really tiny and the suit is too large... so her legs get caught in the baggy bit at the back and it pulls down her back so her head and front legs pop out.

She's got her entire self out of it whilst I was washing up and, whilst cleaning ferociously around the shaved area, seems to be leaving the actual, tiny 'wound' alone. The vet did say all the stitches were internal.

My question is - do I go against my vets advice to keep her in this thing for 10-14 days whilst constantly worrying she'll do herself a mischief when her legs get all caught up in it? Persevere for tonight and then speak to the vets in the morning about a cone of shake or collar? Or just let her be seeing as she seems to be doing ok?

I guess my main concern, other than the fact its against the vets advice, is that her brother also lives here and they do groom each other. He's much bigger and stronger than her so I don't want it to get nadgered through that... not that she'll let him near her at the moment!

What would you do?

OP posts:
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Mia184 · 06/01/2022 21:05

When my cat got spayed, she neither wore a suit nor a cone. However, the vet had advised this; I had actually brought a suit along. Micky did groom the area and nibbled the stitches a bit but didn‘t pull them out.

When the stitches were removed, the vet gave Micky an antibiotic shot because the area around the stitches had a mild inflammation. Other than that, Micky was fine.

I would ring the vet and ask whether you can keep the suit off.

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
LubaLuca · 06/01/2022 21:10

When my latest kitten was spayed, the vet said it was better to have no covering or cone if there was no sign of the cat wanting to nibble the stitches (which my dim-witted kitty didn't even notice).

Beamur · 06/01/2022 21:10

I had to remove the suit from mine too. It was too big and really freaked them out! They just lay on the floor and refused to move. I risked taking them off but didn't have anything to use instead. Kept a close eye on them and they were ok. One word of warning, they went a bit insane as the drugs wore off.

Original poster
SanFranBear · 06/01/2022 21:14

Thanks Mia - Mickey is very cute. My girls stitches are internal so no worry she'll nibble them.. good idea about asking the vets opinion re suit or not. They were pretty adamant it should stay on but she's leaving it alone..

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Original poster
SanFranBear · 06/01/2022 21:16

Yes Beamur.... she is particularly diddy and whilst it's not freaked her out as such, it seemed so big on her and she was hopping as her back legs kept getting caught in it. Shame really as she looked adorable!

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Original poster
SanFranBear · 06/01/2022 21:17

Sorry Luba, missed your message. Interesting as had the opposite advice from mine... feel like perhaps see how she goes overnight and if its looking OK in the morning, perhaps leave it until her post op on Monday?

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Beamur · 06/01/2022 21:20

Bless. I got the smallest sizes and they were massive! My kittens were scrawny little things. Old enough and heavy enough but a breed that's leggy and slender.
I think the vet gives them something to bring them round which sends them a bit haywire. Once this wore off they slept like logs.

Danikm151 · 06/01/2022 21:21

Could you cut the legs on the suit so it’s not dragging around?

Original poster
SanFranBear · 06/01/2022 21:23

Here she is.. one with, one without!

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FannyFifer · 06/01/2022 21:25

When my cat was spayed we didn't use anything. She never really bothered with her stitches & it healed really quickly.

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
thecatneuterer · 06/01/2022 23:17

I'm with a specialist neuter clinic and we never use cones or suits.

Original poster
SanFranBear · 07/01/2022 06:59

Thanks thecatneuterer... your advice is always so excellent and after seeing your post on a very similar thread (should really check before posting), I'm going to just let her get on with it. She's pretty much back to herself this morning and she seems much more comfortable without it.
Thanks both

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AllThingsServeTheBeam · 07/01/2022 07:12

Mine was really small when I had her done and I did try her with a donut collar thing but she just kept getting it off so I gave up. She never really bothered with them.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 07/01/2022 07:51

My girl cat never had a suit or cone when she was neutered - she was tiny too and just left it alone mostly.

It healed with no problems Smile

Toddlerteaplease · 07/01/2022 08:33

My parents cut the legs of their cats. He wore it like a jumper.

SoupDragon · 07/01/2022 08:41

@Toddlerteaplease

My parents cut the legs of their cats. He wore it like a jumper.
Seems a bit harsh.
Lorddenning1 · 07/01/2022 08:48

Aw both my girls got done on Tuesday and have no cone or suit, both are fine and are running around as usual.
I was shocked when I picked them up to see half their fur shaved off, I have only ever had boy cats before so I don't know what I was expecting.

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
KittyKattyFosterMummy · 07/01/2022 08:50

My goodness, since when did the regular use of bodysuits become a thing?! I thought they (and cones) were only used in very extreme circumstances when the cat had been bothering the stitches not as an automatic thing.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/01/2022 08:55

@SoupDragon oops!

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
Livelifeinthebuslane · 07/01/2022 09:08

Mine had a body suit but kept managing to get one of her front legs through the head hole, a bit like a Dalek. It was funny for us, but not for her!

Justsaynonow · 07/01/2022 09:15

Just thought I'd chime in here for a PSA about the suits - my friend's older cat had to wear one to protect an inflamed area of skin but the suit was too tight and has ended up damaging him. He's in a lot of pain, has difficulty walking/moving and is being treated by a neurologist. It's been over a month now.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 07/01/2022 09:22

Our cat has over groomed an irritation on her stomach and has had to have tests inc a biopsy to work out what is wrong with her. She was depressed (!) wearing the cone so we bought a suit.
We sent her in for her tests wearing it and they sent her home wearing a cat supplied one...that is so big she gets her leg stuck in in and has been able to climb out of it.

Small suits are available on amazon for £10 so we are sticking with them.

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
Original poster
SanFranBear · 07/01/2022 09:45

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and stories... seems like no suit is a god thing so will leave her as is (kind of agree with KittyKatty as have only ever had something for previous cats for serious injury/wounds.. but I thought the spay might actually be classed as quite serious?)

Here she is - having another snooze and looking pretty regal. She's a very sweet little thing and I just wanted her to heal up quickly and healthily. Sounds like she'll do just fine.

I'll stash the suit in case of other issues far, far in the future (when she may have grown into it!) Point taken re sizing, JustSayNo - how worrying for your friend - hope your friends boy gets well soon Flowers

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
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Suzysuz · 07/01/2022 10:09

My girl was most unimpressed initially but I told her polo necks were coming back in fashion 😆

Spayed cat and no bodysuit?
thecatneuterer · 07/01/2022 11:39

@KittyKattyFosterMummy

My goodness, since when did the regular use of bodysuits become a thing?! I thought they (and cones) were only used in very extreme circumstances when the cat had been bothering the stitches not as an automatic thing.
Exactly that. I find hearing of them being used automatically really surprising.
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