eating around "the cone"......a dilemma

I have a slight problem with feeding the kitten right now, because the vet has had to put a bigger cone on him. the one he had that was fitted properly, he figured out how to still lick his surgery site.

So my problem comes down to this: He can't reach his little head into his food bowl(the cone holds his nose an inch or so off the floor)

I can give him a water trough, or a tall water container, but I am a little stumped for feeding, short of a tallish bowl/cup of dry food? Any suggestions for my crafty little kitty in his cone of shame?

Can you put his bowl on top of an upsidedown bowl? Will that be high enough?

He'd knock that over, but you've put me onto another idea. I could put round bowls into his regular stainless steel bowls, which have a frame. That would raise them about 2inches off the ground-thanks!

Does he eat wet food? You could stack 3-4 of the larger cans of wet food and put a small bowl on top of the cans.

ETA: Or a regular sized can of canned vegetables...

Yes, I prefer to feed him wet....especially after a vet trip, when he can use a little added water in his food I've got him on Pate foods and I mix warm water in, which he just laps right up. I'll try the stacked can trick, it should let him stick the whole cone over the pile and reach his food

Matts mom said:

 
I'll try the stacked can trick, it should let him stick the whole cone over the pile and reach his food

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Exactly! 

I don't know why your kitty is in the cone, but when I had my cat spayed, the cone wasn't an option, she simply couldn't manage in it. I sewed a little 'body sock' from half of a t-shirt; basically a tube of fabric with holes for legs, head, and rear end. It was far prefered over the cone for her and for me! It barely restricted her in any way but it still stopped her from getting at her stitches, it was just ideal. Not sure if this would work for the location of your kitty's wound (obviously if it's on his rear or legs then it'll be no good) but if it's anywhere else it could be worth a try? 

Have you looked into getting a soft collar? I purchased one for my kitten when he was neutered and the cone was able to bend so he could eat without issues. He seemed fine in it and still was unable to get at his incision.

The one I had bought was called a Kong soft E collar. There is also comfy cone out on the market. Maybe you could check around your local pet stores or even ask the vet if they might know where you could get one. It might just work!

Other that that, you could just take off the cone at meal times if you are able to be there to watch him. That is what I did in the past before I knew about soft collars.

How did the stacked cans work?

The stacked cans seem to be working pretty well.

I took the cone off for supper tonight, and let him have it off until he started licking the incision.....He loved the freedom of being able to eat and wash lol but didn't appreciate the cone going back on. But if he's going to lick the site, I guess he'll need it until he's closed up-at least when he's not under my direct supervision.

Malt said:

 
I don't know why your kitty is in the cone, but when I had my cat spayed, the cone wasn't an option, she simply couldn't manage in it. I sewed a little 'body sock' from half of a t-shirt; basically a tube of fabric with holes for legs, head, and rear end. It was far prefered over the cone for her and for me! It barely restricted her in any way but it still stopped her from getting at her stitches, it was just ideal. Not sure if this would work for the location of your kitty's wound (obviously if it's on his rear or legs then it'll be no good) but if it's anywhere else it could be worth a try? 

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Now that's a thought. I'll keep that in mind if he ever needs to be kept off of another body part

glad it's working well! I hope the incision heals up soon.

Matts mom said:

 
The stacked cans seem to be working pretty well.

I took the cone off for supper tonight, and let him have it off until he started licking the incision.....He loved the freedom of being able to eat and wash lol but didn't appreciate the cone going back on. But if he's going to lick the site, I guess he'll need it until he's closed up-at least when he's not under my direct supervision.

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It's one thing for a cat to lick the incision spot, totally another to actually chew on it to do damage to the stitches.

Why not allow him to be out of the collar and clean the spot, watching that he doesn't chew it.

If he cleans it and is done, he doesn't really need the cone.

Especially if it is from being neutered.

He's doing well today without his cone He's hanging out with the kids and they're keeping an eye on him. Today is day 5, so I think he can keep the cone off except when I go out. I'm torn between the knowledge that many males are not even sent home with one, and the knowledge that cats mouths are full of bacteria-plus the vet says wear it for 5-7 days

This is going to sound weird. Some friends of mine used bondage tape. (yes, the stuff you get in sex shops) Bondage tape sticks to itself but not to skin/fur. They used it when their kitty had a leg injury.

Raintyger said:

 
This is going to sound weird. Some friends of mine used bondage tape. (yes, the stuff you get in sex shops) Bondage tape sticks to itself but not to skin/fur. They used it when their kitty had a leg injury.

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Yep-sounds weird  but not because of the concept so much as I'm not sure how to apply it to the issue of stopping licking of the neuter site   

I might add some to my first aid kit though...sounds handy

I keep thinking of the Family Guy episode where Brian has a cone and Peter pours the food into it. "Here comes the gravy!" :lol3: