Elizabethan Collars (silly Q)

[Desley (booktigger)]

I didn't think cats needed them with dissolvable stitches - vets dont take them out, so cats have to.

[Millys Mum]

Do you mean her wound is kinda bumpy? Give it a day or 2 and itl flatten out!

[Em]

If you have a cat flap and a determined cat, watch out - my Seth got out even with his collar on. Charley didn't have one when she was spayed (vet doesn't believe in them and would rather restitch/do follow up visits free of charge), she pulled one end stitch out by accident when she was washing the wound and then basically slept for 8 days, at the end of which the stitches had started to come out of their own accord anyway... and she didn't try to go out at all - having said that it was a traumatic spay as she was pregnant at the time so it did take her longer to recover than it would have otherwise. 

Good luck and don't panic.

Oh, and don't just wash the face - cats hate being dirty so if I have one that can't clean itself I always 'wash' them gently with a damp cloth or kitchen towel - it's very soothing to them and seems to make them feel less sorry for themselves. Gosh I'm a soppy butter.... 

[Beanie]

Hi Isabel,

I'm  a bit disappointed to read your post because wearing an Elizabethan collar is a common practice and I feel that your vet should be organized enough to provide you with a

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Do and Don'tfact sheet or, at least, prepare you with verbal instructions.

One little tip which may or may not work. Does she lick you? If yes, you can turn facial wash time into fun by offering your hand for licking

You can then gently move that round her face so that she can see that you are effectively helping her to wash herself. I have tried that with Beanie who had to wear a collar for much longer than any cat I know, which upset me almost as much as it upset her. It worked and she looked forward to it. It all depends on the bond you have with your cat and patience.

[Liza]

i didn't let mine out until after the 10 days, and the stiches removed.  But then my girls only tend to go out at the weekends now in the garden.  Don't like letting them out in the evenings when its dark.  Esp as I lost my last little boy kit, nearly a year ago on a dark night

[isabel]

When can she go outside?
She's pretty much an indoor cat, but she enjoys a romp in my parents garden when we visit.

[Ela]

My little girls both had there ops 2nd week in October and their fur still isn't full grown back, think it will be a few more weeks........its nearly there.

On some cats it seems to grow very quickly and others it takes forever.

[Liza]

My little girls both had there ops 2nd week in October and their fur still isn't full grown back, think it will be a few more weeks........its nearly there.

Tried both of mine in collars as they were both trying to get at the stiches - also trying to clean the area around it after surgery.  The collars stressed them so much that I took them off.  Jet & Cruz then didn't really bother with them after the first day or so, think the inital thing was maybe just trying to have a good wash..........

[isabel]

Thanks for the info  
She's just so depressed with it on!

I think I'll try washing her face for her with some damp cotton.

She's got dissolvable stitches, but I'll leave it on for the ten days anyway.
Any idea how long it'll take for some fur to grow back?
She's a little baldie!

izzyXX

[kris]

Awww poor baby will hate the collar, my freddie had to keep his on after his eye op for 10 days, I didn't take it off him at all because he hated it being put on him SO much that I didn't want to upset him further, I cleaned his face for him and wiped the rest of him down with wet cloths (it was the middle of summer), he was able to eat, drink, get into the tray and sleep although he didn't half try and make me feel guilty 

[Desley (booktigger)]

You keep the collar on till the stitches come out, which is usually 10 days. You can take it off while they eat, and i always give them at least an hour without it on top of that, but it does depend on the cats, you have to supervise incredibly well with most of them!! They can eat, drink and sleep with them. IT is supposed to slip over their head, the bandage is to tighten it - if she wears a normal collar, you could slip the bandage through that to make sure she can't get it off. Good luck.

[isabel]

I just got Jessicka neutered. She came home last night after staying over at the vets.

My dad collected her and was given a "lampshade" incase she tries to lick the wound. Of course, she is trying to lick the wound, so I have put it on her.

They didn't give any instructions though - how long should it be on for? do i take it off for breaks? (she washes her face then tries to wash the wound as soon as i take it off) is she safe to eat and drink with it? can she sleep with it on safely?

I was also wondering what the best method for putting it on is. It slips over her head on the smallest setting (does that mean it's too big?) and there's bandage tied round it. At the moment I've got it tied round her neck. Is that right?

I'm very confused!

And a little annoyed at how ugly her wound is. I know that the scar will be covered in fur, but you'd think out of professional pride, they'd have made it neat. A doctor would get sued for that!