I had my kitten neutered today.

[RavensChick]

Everything went very well for Raven, and except for the collar the vet gave me to keep on him he's doing pretty good.

Any suggestions/strategies for keeping the collar on him? He's been fussing since we got home (obviously he hates the collar but I have to keep it on him for the next 10 days). I'm new at this so any advice is more than welcome. Thanks.

[emilyg]

1. Why the collar. Never

had one for my males.

[virgdem]

2. I hate to assume, but I do assume that you mean the Elizabethan Collar...

to keep him from licking the surgery site. I just got a catalog from Doctors Foster & Smith (DrsFosterSmith.com) and they have a new soft Elizabethan Collar that they call a Comfy Cone. It is water-resistant nylon fabric and is pliable - you can fold it under for eating or drinking. If this is not the kind of collar you meant, well then, never mind.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I saw ads for that as well and that is what I would use if I had to collar one of my pets.

[RavensChick]

4. Yes, but they gave me the hard one.

Actually, I only kept it on him (or tried to) Friday after I got him home and most of Saturday. Besides, it worked pretty good when I had to give him antibiotics (some pink stuff that tasted horrible from the expression he gave me, but the pills were more effective 'cause I put them in his food). After that, I felt it was best to keep it off him unless it was necessary, and so far, so good. Besides, I distract him from licking the affected area very well so that's working better than anything else. Thankfully he slept most of the weekend because of the meds so I was a little relieved.

I'll go to that website to get the softer version in the event I need it (God forbid for another surgery). Thanks!

[Warpy]

6. I've made them for my cats in an emergency out of shirt cardboard

It was far from ideal, but it kept the kitty away from the abscess or whatever else it was that I didn't want to get chewed on. They were martyrs while they wore the thing, but got used to it pretty quickly.

[Warpy]

5. You have to harden your heart and let him get used to it

because you don't want him licking the operative site and getting it infected, a whole pile of vet bills for you and a world of hurt for him.

They do get used to those collars in a couple of days, although they'll continue to misjudge things and bonk it into the furniture once in a while.

In the meantime, you can take the collar off him for short periods after he's used to it but only when he's in your lap getting pets and scritchies and you can make sure he doesn't go for his rear end. You might also get him some of his favorite treats to help you over your own temporary guilt. Been there, done that.

Remember, it's to help him heal and he doesn't have to like it.

[hamsterjill]

7. Our vets don't require them

I am involved with a cat rescue and we've had something like 40 males done this year so far. Not one of them has ever been collared for a simple neuter. No complications with any of them either.

That said, I always advise people to take their vet's advice. If you're paying for their expertise, you should probably follow it.

THANK YOU for getting him fixed! It is the responsible thing to do.

[RavensChick]

8. Thanks! I appreciate that!

I took him back for a follow up this morning and all is well. The vet found no complications and he healed very well. He's not licking down there so apparently my way of distracting him is working very well. Besides, I don't have to take him back until December for another round of vaccines. Trust me that's a load off my mind so Raven's back to his active self. (Now if only I can keep him off my dining room table...)