Head cone recommendations

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HelenR

HelenR

Member Since 2022
Footfoot has got a slightly swollen ear, probably due to kicking it because of itching. The ear wax did indeed need some attention - we've had so much else going on that I hadn't cleaned her ears lately, a routine which she really hates. Anyway, I've just cleaned inside that ear with some Johnson's ear cleanser, and of course the first thing she wanted to do afterwards was kick it again.
In case the inflammation gets worse - I thought at first glance she had an aural hematoma, and I REALLY want to avoid that happening - I thought I might get hold of a head cone, so I have it if we need it.

I see there are lots of different kinds, from the basic plastic cones, to padded rings, to flower-shaped 'Elizabethan collars' :)
Any recommendations from experience?
 
The padded/inflatable donuts seem like it would work since it seems it would prevent kicking.
I do not think the flower-shaped 'Elizabethan collars' would not work since she kick through or over that collar.
The rigid cone would work but those interfere with a lot of normal actions/routines of the cat.
 
I would always opt for a soft flat E-collar instead of one of those hideous cones. Here is Wendall modeling the one I made for him when he had emergency surgery for a ruptured anal gland and there wasn't time to order one. It also made a nice pillow.


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It lookes like she took a slap of soft foam and cut it out like a donut and then covered it with fabric. I do not know the how the closure/tie works.
 
I cut a 12" circle in 1" thick foam, and a smaller one, about 4", to fit over the head, covered it with fabric and added 4 little loops to thread a collar through. However after it was finished it seemed a 10" or 11" circle would have been enough because sometimes he tripped over it. When one of our dogs needed an E-collar I made it with a pool noodle.

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Our vet gave our cat a softer, vinyl "cone" to wear when she needed one. She hated it. She hated it so much, she went out the cat door into our enclosed screen porch, and somehow shredded it into pieces. We never found all the pieces, somehow, among the furniture and toys on the deck, so we put it back together with duct tape to hold the remaining pieces together and fill in the gaps. Closed the cat door and had to keep a close eye on her to prevent a relapse in behavior. So, if you have a high attitude cat, I would not recommend one of those type.

But maybe you could make your own cone out of duct tape to begin with? It's got some flexibility, is tougher than fabric, but not quite as stiff as the hard plastic ones.
 
... 'high attitude cat', I like it :)
The redness in her ear went down, so thank goodness, she doesn't need a cone just at the moment. I'd still like to have something handy though, for the next time she kicks her ear raw. So I will attempt to make something. Thanks for the instructions, Deborah!
 
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