The Cone of Shame

Posted on March 3, 2025

Nothing is more pitiful than seeing a cat (or a dog) with the dreaded e-collar (Elizabethan) on. However, this collar is paramount to protect your cat’s incision. Some cats adapt quickly to the collar while others panic and fly around the house once they are let out of the carrier.

If you have a cat who was Houdini in a past life, he will quickly figure how to slip out of the cone. If this happens, contact your vet to see if a new, smaller collar can be made. In many cases the collars are tailored for your cat and the type of surgery they had to prevent licking and pawing at the incision site.

Some things you can do to make it slip resistant are put medical tape around the edges of the collar to make it slightly tighter and a bit harder to slip out of. Some cones have loops to put a string through for a tighter fit. If your cat is really having a tough time there are soft, inflatable collars you can purchase, baby onesies or cat bodysuits, depending upon what type of surgery was performed.

Another issue with the cone is that it is often difficult for the cat to eat. You can buy elevated bowls or prop up a bowl on a layer of books so the cone will fit over the bowl. You can take the cone off for mealtimes only, but you must watch the cat while he is eating. Do not walk away for a second! Put the cone back on immediately after he is finished eating. Leaving the incision unprotected even for a second is a risk. If the incision is damaged, you and kitty will be back to the vet and kitty will not be happy. Additional things you can do post-op include keeping your cat indoors, monitoring the incision and restricting your cat’s activity. You might have to keep him in a bathroom for the time being to ensure he is safe. Depending upon where the incision is you might need to use special litter as regular litter can stick to an incision.