Will my crazy cat adjust to the cone?

[Pandasnacks]

My poor cat broke his leg and has had it pinned together today, including external metal holding it together. He keeps trying to chew it so needs the cone on but he's removed it multiple times and is rolling round like a cat possessed trying to get it off!

Will he adjust? I think overnight I may need to attach it to his cat hardness for extra reinforcement as he can get it and his collar off. But he hates the harness so much I feel extra mean for considering making him wear that too. It's for the best though right? If he'd accept the cone or not try and chew the wiring off his leg life would be so much easier for the poor little guy.

If he's getting it off, then call the vet and ask for their advice. They might say to do it up a little tighter, but of course you have to be careful with that.

Do you have any Feliway? That would help to calm him down. Feeding a high protein meal such as cooked chicken or sardines makes my lot contented and go to sleep.

It won't go any tighter (without causing harm) but after much fighting and pulling his own fur out he gets it over one ear and then gets his bottom jaw under it and then it's game over for the cone. Unfortunately no feliway and the vet is shut until Monday, I've used it before and he didn't respond to it at all but I may try again if I can find some tomorrow.

You could try putting it on backwards so it lays on his shoulders, but that may not stop him getting to his leg. A vet used baby grows on one of my cats, but he was quite compliant!

You need a soft one. Get on Amazon and get next day delivery.

Would second the idea of babygrows or at least a soft and stretchy baby garment (perhaps with bits cut off) to stop cat chewing wound.
A friend of mine had great success with their dog after an operation with stitches covered by a tightly-fitting button-up cardigan cast-of from a five year old. So much softer and more comfortable for the animal.

It's got external metal (fixator?) coming out of his leg at the top and going back in further down, it sticks out enough that I can't really cover it up with clothing.

Will he not be able to get a fabric cone off as easily? The ones I've looked at look like they fasten with Velcro so I think it looks easier to get off really.

Don't take that cone off love until you have received Vets advice.. a friend of mine, ex vet nurse told me many a cat is pitched up back at the vets because owners have taken the cone off and Kitty has decided to rip her stitches out.

Try one of these. None of my cats have ever tolerated any type of cone. I had to remove them for their own safety.

It's not me taking the cone off, it's the cat, that's the problem! I've already followed the vets advice of attaching to a collar and also dying to use a bandage too, he's so determined that he gets it off anyway.

Mine kept removing her plastic cone after surgery. We found a fabric one with Velcro and a toggle was harder (but not impossible) for her to remove. She seemed to be more comfortable sleeping in it as well. She still hated it, of course. Much sympathy to you - hope your DCat calms downs a bit and doesn’t agitate the wound.

I've ordered one of these, hopefully itl work. For now I've attached the vet one to his harness so it's harder to get off, but I guess I can't sleep as il need to watch him incase he gets tangled in it trying to escape. Honestly I didn't no cats could escape the cones, I thought he'd be miserable but secure at least. The external metal stuff in his leg will be there for 6-8 weeks so we will need to find a compromise, poor cat.

Cats are absolute sods aren't they. And tbh a bit too clever for their own good. See what your vets advise..

I had a use a solid leather dog collar with a proper buckle which wouldn't stretch off (unlike a cat collar) .... she hated the cone but they absolutely have to wear it for their own good, for a while at least.
What I did try to do was give her short breaks from it, so she could wash herself in other places, watching her like a hawk of course.

I'd say look at if he is getting enough pain relief and that might help with the chewing.

Thanks il ask the vet on Monday, he gets pain relief once a day which doesn't seem enough, but I'm not a vet so it may be totally right. He's only 8 months old and is a total butter every day, it's his best quality, so this is going to be so hard for him. But hopefully itl work out and then he can enjoy a long healthy 4 legged life afterwards 🤞

Eek, 8 weeks. Poor kitty - and poor you. Hopefully he will adjust to the new normal after a couple of weeks, but it is really tough on both of you. As others have said, keeping the pain relief up should help a bit.

Our cat broke her pelvis and was on cage rest for 10 weeks after surgery. I started a thread on here and gots lots of helpful advice and support. Your cat is younger than mine but @jacelancs went through something similar with her cat Findlay, when he was a similar age. We found calming cat music really good with ours, and once he is a bit better, Cat TV on YouTube and puzzle toys good for distraction on cage rest.

Thanks for all the advice. He thankfully has kept the cone on since my recent attachment of it to his harness. Question now is... do I take it off to give him a break? Or will that remind him how good life is without it and start this whole process again? I'm at work for 8+ hours tomorrow and can't work from home so I really need him to stay safe.

Can he eat and go to the toilet with it on? If so, I’d be reluctant to take it off for the reasons you’ve stated.