My cat has defeated her E collar - advise requested!

Me kitty was spayed about a week ago and as her energy has returned she has discovered just how to lean and reach around to paw at her stitches and also rub the edge of the cone on them. It has caused a bit of bleeding and scabbing.

We went to the vet once where he cleaned off the area and said the top layer of stitches is very stretched and suggested we keep her confined to a large kennel to decrease activity. My problem with this is she can still paw at it and it's still bleeding! I haven't been able to find any clear cut advise on bandaging the area. Is bandaging safe? Are there any other alternatives? She had a antibiotics injection during the vet visit but we still have a week to go before removal and I'm worried she'll bust them open early! Any advise is greatly appreciated!

Hi.

No, don't bandage. It won't work at best and can wind up getting folded or scrunched around her abdomen or chest and really hurt her badly. It won't work either.

How long ago did she have surgery? What kind of sutures are they? Are they absorbable? Do you have to have them removed? How much does your cat weigh? What kind of collar is it? Does it have a size printed on the edge of it? If so what size is it? Can you post a picture of your cat wearing the collar from the front and a side view?

She had the sugary 8 days ago. They're not absorbable, we have to get them removed. She weighs just over 6 pounds. I think it's just a regular E collar, it has a cloth through the neck that's tied to keep it secure and has the number 10 printed on it, I'm guessing that's the size.

Personally, I'd leave the collar off and see how she does.  If she starts annoying it, you can use a large paper plate, the top of a man's tube sock, or a baby onesie.

Very cute little cat. I hate those e collars too. Most cats will try to stand on their head to get them off. Often they get a paw stuck in the collar. I would think that would happen with a larger size. You can go to a pet store and buy an inflatable collar which I think works better. It velcros on.

8 days, the surgery site should be pretty much healed. You could try leaving the cone off. I wouldn't try bandaging. You can also use a paper plate and tape it onto the collar to extend the circumference, but I don't think that will help much.

Where I worked we would take out sutures in 10 to 14 days. You are almost at ten now.

Okay, a little update! When I got home from work yesterday I checked her suture area and saw a small white patch that appeared to have pulled away from a scab. I was very worried that she had broken the stitches so I called the vets office (15 minutes before close) and brought her in for an emergency check up.

There was no rupture, yay! And no charge for the visit, yay! Our vet was still concerned about the top layer of stitches being stretched and inflamed. We agreed to the confined to a dog kennel idea (I had been confining her to the small spare bedroom before) but still emphasized that it wouldn't stop her from pawing her sutures so he did put on a bandage.

We go back Monday morning for a bandage change and a check to see if she is healed enough for a suture removal!

Her bandage is kinda funny; he used cast stuffing and the colored wrapping as well. My poor kitty is NOT happy about being in a kennel. It's big enough for food, water, and litter box with space to lay down, though, and only for two days. I actually bought one of the inflatible collars the other day. Hoping this will help because she does get her paw in the cone a lot.

Thanks for all the responses!