Keeping cone on

Shivi111

So, Moriarty cut his paw and has had to go to vet to have it sorted out. He's been sent home bandaged from paw to hip and sporting an Elizabethan collar. All meant to stay in place until bandage change on Monday.

Problem is, I can't keep him in the cone, he's a smarty pants and has worked out how to escape. And he is going for the bandage and working at the tape one cone is off, I know he'll have it off in no time.

I've tried taping the collar but he's getting out anyway. I feel like I've seen other cone types that I could try instead that might be harder to escape from... but local pet shop has none. Anyone recommend a shop in Dublin where I might get something? Vets closed now till Monday...

boomerang

Can you tighten his collar more so he can't pull the cone off?

There are inflatable, tyre-type buster collars but depending on where the bandage is, he may still be able to reach it with one of these on.

To discourage him from licking you could rub some vicks into the outer layer of the bandage. It tastes vile but it's safe! Or you can get bitter apple spray from the petshop.

Shivi111

Funnily enough, he has worked out that he can open the side of the cone by banging it off the radiator, then gets his head through the tie! I've taped up the join to see if that stops him.

I'd an inkling he'd be an issue, I had to tie the cupboards closed when he was fasting for sedation... he knew where the food was hidden!

Good idea re bitter apple, I'll get some today. I feel so sorry for him, on house arrest and has been pacing and crying all morning!

Shivi111

It's pathetic!

mymo

I got a blow up doughnut type one for my dog, thought it was great as his hind leg stitches weren't touched...
Until he took them all bar one out yesterday just hours before the vet visit to remove them. I don't think they'd work on a cat, they're too smart and flexible.
I hope you can find a way to keep him away from stitches.

tk123

I've no idea where I saw it (probably youtube??) but I saw one tied on with ribbon threaded through the loops and under the cat's front legs so it couldn't take it off - it worked too lol! I don't think and inflatable one on it's own would work - maybe if you combined it with the cone?

aonb

So cute! serious bandage there!
Could you put a babygrow type thing on him?

Shivi111

Thanks for all the tips here!
To update, we managed to keep him in his cone for most of the time (mostly by following him around and putting it back on when he removed it!) It was all a bit of a nightmare but the bandages have come off now, my boy is all healed up and back to normal