Outdoor cat stuck inside with cone

I am wondering if I could get some advice for my neighbour's cat...

She normally is free to come and go as she likes through a cat door and spends most of her time outside, including bathroom and doesn't use an indoor litterbox.

The other day she got a corneal ulcer and now has a cone to prevent her from scratching and pawing her eye, needs eyedrops 3-4x a day, pain meds and has to stay inside. However, she is not accustomed to using a litterbox or being confined inside for long periods of time.

So she's been a little bit distressed and unhappy, being stuck inside and dealing with the cone. 

Does anyone have advice on how to help get her to use a litterbox inside or other tips for keeping her less stressed? They put some dirt in the litterbox in hopes of it being more like the outdoors, but so far no luck. The other option is to take her out on a harness and leash to do her business, but not sure she's ever been on one before.

Are there any alternatives to the cone for preventing her pawing her eye?

Is does sound like she needs the cone until she's healed. I would try more dirt in the litter box, possibly mostly dirt.

As far as litter goes, Dr Elsy's Cat Attract litter is well worth trying. It's fantastic for teaching outdoor cats about litterboxes. I don't recommend a harness if she not used to one, though.

There are alternatives to a cone, but I can't think that any of them would be appropriate in this case, simply because I don't think they'd stop her getting to her eye. The only thing that would be ok is a cone in a softer material - I have a Comfy Cone for my dogs (thankfully haven't needed one for a cat in years :cross: ). It's more comfortable to lie down and sleep in, but visibility is, if anything, more compromised than with a plastic e-collar. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QRNHMC/?tag=&tag=thecatsite

Hmm well we added more dirt, leaves and whatnot to the box and she used it at last thought she had a pee on her bed first. Stuck in for the next week and a bit while it heals, so this should be interesting.

Glad to hear she's started using the box. Any accidents need thorough cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner, to stop the cat thinking they're appropriate litterbox alternatives.

Hope the healing process is quick and relatively stress free

Yes, me too. I hope she continues to do so...I am looking after her while my neigbours are away, been sort of designated the neighbourhood cat-lover. I may leave some of her poop in the box so she knows to continue to use it if that's a good idea? Normally I am scrupulously clean about the box, as my cat was a little princess. My cat died two weeks ago and I am struggling to have another cat in the house to look after, but I know someone has to care for her. So I hope it is quick and stressless, too, though she's spent the last two nights meowing at the door and scratching at it trying to get out poor thing.

sidneykitty said:

 
Yes, me too. I hope she continues to do so...I am looking after her while my neigbours are away, been sort of designated the neighbourhood cat-lover. I may leave some of her poop in the box so she knows to continue to use it if that's a good idea? Normally I am scrupulously clean about the box, as my cat was a little princess. My cat died two weeks ago and I am struggling to have another cat in the house to look after, but I know someone has to care for her. So I hope it is quick and stressless, too, though she's spent the last two nights meowing at the door and scratching at it trying to get out poor thing.

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For a cat just learning what a litter box is, yes.  Leaving a bit of her poop in the box is an excellent idea. 

Bless you for taking this on when you are still mourning the loss of your own cat.  You have a great heart. 

Oh my goodness - I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your cat I can imagine how that makes all this especially difficult for you.

The poop in the box is a good idea - it'll make it smell like the right place to go. Once the connection has been made, switch back to cleaning the box as usual.

Thank you...it is hard, every time she does something like my girlie used to do I start crying all over again missing my baby (she's in my avatar) but the neighbour's  cat is sweet in her own way and is endearing herself to me and my spouse. At the same time, its nice to have a cat around again but she did not get along with my cat at all so its a bit funny to be looking after her now.

Good news - She's coping with the cone better now that its been a few days and is meowing less. Bad news - She has a whole week to go still for that poor eye to heal! But so far, she's using the litterbox well, too so she must remember from being indoors as a kitten! 

Your girl was truly beautiful

Glad to hear your neighbour's cat is coping better now. Hopefully she'll continue to accept her confinement calmly

Thank you for your kind words.

Me too! I think the first 24 hours were the hardest. Lots of meowing and scratching on the door and whatnot.

Your Asha (in your signature) is adorable! There is just something I love about black cats!

Thank you Black cats are definitely great...but then, I've never met a cat I DIDN'T like :lol3:

sidneykitty said:

 
Thank you...it is hard, every time she does something like my girlie used to do I start crying all over again missing my baby (she's in my avatar) but the neighbour's  cat is sweet in her own way and is endearing herself to me and my spouse. At the same time, its nice to have a cat around again but she did not get along with my cat at all so its a bit funny to be looking after her now.

Good news - She's coping with the cone better now that its been a few days and is meowing less. Bad news - She has a whole week to go still for that poor eye to heal! But so far, she's using the litterbox well, too so she must remember from being indoors as a kitten! 

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Your girl was gorgeous.  It's such a searing loss, and only other animal lovers really get that. 

I'm glad to  hear that you're temporary foster is adjusting to things.  You're doing a wonderful job with her.  And GREAT news about the litter box!

Columbine said:

Thank you

Black cats are definitely great...but then, I've never met a cat I DIDN'T like

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Me too but I do especially like black cats!

Ok she is doing quite well except as of today, her eye is quite pink above the eye. Not on the eyelid or in the eye, but the skin outside the top of the eye is pink...anyone have ideas? She's scheduled for a followup next Thursday but I wonder if I should call the vet tomorrow. She does not seem to like it when I try to get a close look and touch near her eye but she doesn't like that anyway. I can still see the tiny scratch on her actual cornea but we expect that to take a few weeks to heal fully. She's been on antibiotic drops for almost a week now.

Oh no, and now she had diarrhea. poor kitty. could that be from her eye drops?

hno: Poor little girl. I wouldn't have thought the drops would cause diarrhoea, but I suppose it's possible. I hope it clears up soon

 I know, the poor girl.. she was also on a low dose of Metacam for the pain but I didn't give it to her yesterday as the vet didn't specify how long to treat and I don't want her getting to adjusted to pain meds if that makes sense? But maybe I should just give her some today. To be honest I did NOT like the neighbor's vet at all but I have to go with what they want, so I just have to get over it and give her the best care I can.

It could also be from wet food I guess. Neighbor normally feeds her just dry and I have been giving her some wet as well to help her stay hydrated to help the healing so the food change could be to blame, too. She had a normal poop this morning and her pink above her eye looks better as well!!! Hopefully this trend continues! Crossing paws.

I am wondering how she will react when she's allowed outside again!! She seems very happy to have company and sat on my spouse's lap for a long time the other night! The neighbors said that was quite unusual.

The wet food is far more likely to have caused the diarrhoea - its pretty common for cats who are used to dry diets to get mild tummy upsets when fed wet food. You need to introduce it gradually to keep her tummy happy.

I love that she's enjoying her time with you...despite the cone and meds She might decide that she wants to stay with you :heart3: Hopefully it wouldn't cause too much upset if she did

besides "cones" there are inflatable collar neck "rings" that look somewhat like a floatation device, for example;

http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/procollar-premium-inflatable-protective-collar

Not sure if it would keep her from rubbing her eyes, though.

Oh no, @Columbine  that is actually how I ended up with my last cat, Sidney. She was meant to be a long-term cat sit-ee and we loved her so much we kept her. (Disclaimer: The owners were happy for us to keep her, they never wanted a cat to begin with but took her in when no one else wanted her!) So I am not sure I could do it all over again although we do really like her and hope she likes being with us.

I saw those @barbgee, also not sure it would keep her paws away from her eye.

She's doing well, sitting on my partner's lap all the time (I never knew she was such a cuddler before now, as I'd only ever seen her outside). She gets her eye checked Friday and we're hoping it will be better, but I can still see the scratch on the eye so I am not sure. But now I'm wondering - will she re-adapt to outdoor life ok or is there anything I should do to ease he slowly back? I've only ever had indoor cats before, so totally clueless on this stuff.