Ideas to make eating easier with cone?

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FurBabiesMama

FurBabiesMama

Member Since 2017
Hi. My civvie, Willow, had an anal sac rupture (ouch), and we ended up at the emergency vet last night. The poor baby is in a cone, and she struggles to eat. I have watched her and tried to figure out what I could put the food in to make it easier, but I have yet to come up with anything. So, I am reaching out to you for ideas. It seems that it needs to be something taller than a normal bowl but not very deep, and something that is stable enough that it does not get pushed around as she tries to eat from it.

She is having to take Clavamox which previously has made her nauseated, so I am very concerned about her getting enough to eat so that it is not hitting an empty stomach. Please help. :(

PS. The vet mentioned that she had to wear the collar 'a couple of days'. The discharge papers did not specify how long so I called up there, and the lady said two weeks. NO WAY! Any thoughts on how long is an absolute must? I am not leaving it on her one minute more than that.
 
I know it's not convenient, but is there any way you could put food on a plate and lift it up to her mouth? So she could eat off the plate? Obviously, that won't work if you are out of the house, but maybe in the evening just to make sure she is eating enough? Also, I know the cone is awful, but it's there to help her. I'd give it a full week and see how she's healing. Take it off one evening when you are home to watch her and see how she does. If she leaves the sore spot alone, you can probably go without it, but if she starts trying to lick/paw at it, you'll need to put it back on for her own safety. I hope for a speedy recovery!
 
Is there any way you could remove the cone for the time she needs to eat? You could watch her and put it back on as soon as she’s done.

I’ve been given a soft cone in the past and I would fold it back to allow eating then open it forward again afterward. Pet stores often sell other cone designs that might be more comfortable.
 
PumpkinsMum said:
I know it's not convenient, but is there any way you could put food on a plate and lift it up to her mouth?
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When she first came home last night, she would tolerate me holding the bowl at an angle so that she could get to it better, but she will not anymore. Having the cone on is making her skittish since she cannot see beside/behind her, and she keeps bumping into things. :(
 
Oh that poor baby! That definitely doesn't sound comfortable at all. I have no suggestions, but I wanted to send some hugs, scritches, and healing energy for your Willow's speedy recovery! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Is there any way you could remove the cone for the time she needs to eat? You could watch her and put it back on as soon as she’s done.

I’ve been given a soft cone in the past and I would fold it back to allow eating then open it forward again afterward. Pet stores often sell other cone designs that might be more comfortable.
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I have been thinking of removing it for eating, but I am a little concerned that I will have trouble 'catching' her to put it back on afterwards. She is not fond of being picked up on the best of days, and the way she is right now, it will be a real challenge. I may have to try this though.

I need to get to a pet store and see what they have. Something I could fold back would be great. Of course, that probably means she will be able to outsmart it and get to her butt area to lick. Last night, I did catch her attempting to lick back there, but the cone did it's job.

Poor baby. I just hate this. It would be different if they could understand what is going on when we have to put them through something like.
 
FurBabiesMama said:
I have been thinking of removing it for eating, but I am a little concerned that I will have trouble 'catching' her to put it back on afterwards. She is not fond of being picked up on the best of days, and the way she is right now, it will be a real challenge. I may have to try this though.

I need to get to a pet store and see what they have. Something I could fold back would be great. Of course, that probably means she will be able to outsmart it and get to her butt area to lick. Last night, I did catch her attempting to lick back there, but the cone did it's job.

Poor baby. I just hate this. It would be different if they could understand what is going on when we have to put them through something like.
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Would she eat in the bathroom with the door closed?
 
They just hate having to wear those things. Leo just kept walking backwards thinking he could back out of the cone around his neck. A smaller soft cone worked the best.
 
One company makes a type of e-collar that is flatter and less conical, which makes eating much easier. There are also soft collars and inflatable ones (which just inflate enough to keep them from being able to lick any body parts). I have used them all. If your kitty is flighty because of wearing the cone, it will probably be difficult to get it back on if you remove it! I would think, in Willow's circumstances, an inflatable cone/collar might be your best solution. I'd be concerned about her still being able to lick the site with a soft cone/collar.
 
We used to cut a U shaped piece out of the bottom big enough so that the cone wouldn't rest on the dish. The problem there is now there's a gap in the cone where Willow can nibble where she shouldn't. Maybe 2 cones? One for meal time and another for everything else. For whatever reason only vets can sell cones here and only with an exam. That's kind of stupid because with some imagination anyone can make a cone at home assuming you're not using a Javex bottle that you never cleaned. We tried to softer fabric cone but our vet didn't have all the right sizes.
Too bad there wasn't a cone that fit around a cats waist facing backwards! No problems with food or vision, just not very fashionable.
;)
 
Something around the waist- If you could come up with something like that that doesn't interfere with them walking etc. let us know! There's got to be something better than what is now out there- I don't think anyone has cared enough to really put some thought behind this. The vets just say- Yeah it doesn't work very well, but that's all we have.
 
Lillie said:
Yeah it doesn't work very well, but that's all we have.
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You got that right! I was in a hip to toe plaster cast during a blazing hot no-AC summer. They stupidly assumed I wouldn't want to pay the extra $25 for a fiberglass cast. There's always another way. (no more scratching with knitting needles either)
:banghead: o_O
 
Try setting it up on a riser. Here's what I use for risers here - when a new one arrives, I just grab another can and cut it to the right height. Corelle cereal bowls fit well, many larger saucers will fit too. Put a can of something in the bottom to hold it steady if needed. Cones fit around the outside and don't interfere with eating.

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Well, poo... she struggles a little bit even with the upside down dish. I have her regular bowl and the dish available to her, so between the two, hopefully, she can manage to get enough. I think I will end up removing the cone, at least for meals, within a couple of days.

She is so pitiful. She never lays down and gets relaxed (which is normally her specialty). She just sits in weird places staring forward then starts moving around bumping into things... repeat... repeat. I saw her trying to bathe but all she can get to is part of her tail. She cannot scratch her neck/face if she has an itch. I just hate this. :(
 
Are you using a soft or hard cone? Also my vet tech recommended trying it in the opposite direction around his neck which left his head enough room to get to his food dish but made it difficult to get to his butt.
 
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