Cat Depressed Wearing Cone? Know Cat Cone Behavior

Yes, your cat can get depressed after wearing a cone. 

This depression lasts for a short period of time in cats.

Because your cat has the nature of living in the moment they do not suffer from severe depression.

There are different ways and changes you can make so that your cat feels better.

Let us read about them further.

Will My Cat Feel Depressed After Wearing The Cone?

Yes, your cat can feel depressed after wearing the cone. Though your cat may even be acting just to make you feel guilty.

Your cat might be dramatic and have reactions like the following to its cone:

• Shake their heads in an attempt to remove the cone.
• Bang their heads on furniture and walls to remove the cone and show discomfort.
• They hang their heads as if they are feeling ashamed of the cone.
• Jump and contort their body trying to remove the cone.
• Pretend as if they are not able to eat and drink with the cone on.

So do not worry much about seeing such reactions from your cat.

They are just expressing their discomfort but as we know your cat must wear the cone after the spay surgery.

You should shower your cat with love and hugs reassuring it that it will be alright for your cat soon.

While many cats feel depressed.

They have difficulty eating and the anxiety and distress they faced are worse. They are restless or very calm and either would sleep less or sleep a lot.

You also like to read about how long to keep cone on cat after spay

Signs That Indicate Your Cat Is Depressed?

• Not much activity( severely calm)
• Disturbance in eating pattern
• Keep hiding
• Don’t interact much
• Sleep a lot
• Stay away from family 
• Changes in schedule
• Change in their bathroom habits
• Do not care much about grooming
• Lack of interest in activities

You should immediately contact your vet and report to them your cat’s behavior.

Your cat could even start getting physically ill. So start taking precautions.

What Should You Do If Your Cat Hates Wearing The Cone?

Try to understand why your cat hates the cone.

The reasons could be that is irritating, and uncomfortable around the neck all the time especially because it is new for your cat.

You should avoid keeping the collars too loose or too tight.

As if the collar is tight your cat would not be able to breathe efficiently and if it is too loose, the collar would continuously rub against your cat’s neck causing friction.

Flea collars can cause itchiness and irritation to your cat which will then need medication.

But if your know how to put on a cat collar properly then it will not cause any irritation or annoyance to your cat.

You might also like to know about how to feed a cat with a cone

Is It Necessary For Your Neutered Cat To Wear A Cone?

Yes, your neutered cat must wear a cone.

This is so that your cat does not bite off its stitches or lick the wound.

The stitches may have to be removed after some days.

How Can You Adapt Your Cat To A Cone And Make It Feel Comfortable?

1. Tie The Cone To Your Cat’s Collar

There are holes and openings at the bottom of the cat cone, these openings have to be used to tie a gauze or fabric in it and tie that to the collar of the cat.

This will prevent the cone from falling if your cat hits itself.

2. Cone Should Be A Proper Fit For Your Cat

Make sure the cone you give your cat is of the proper size and not big or small.

The cone should not be too small that the cat can reach its wound or not able to breathe and it shouldn’t be too large and loose that it can easily get off.

3. Do Not Keep Furniture Around

To make your cat comfortable after its surgery and with the cone, you should give your cat enough space so that it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.

Bumping into things with a cone is nothing you can prevent as it would be difficult for your cat to see with the cone on at the start.

This will encourage it to dislike the collar more. So by keeping your furniture away your cat will have enough space to move around and will bump less into things.

4. Monitor Your Cat

You have to make sure you have an eye on your cat the entire time. Having a cone around your cat is a big responsibility for you as the owner of your cat.

Your cat will try to remove the cone but you have to prevent it and keep your cat calm.

Keep your cat as close to you as possible.

5. Assist Your Cat With Navigation

While your cat has a cone on it will not be able to see properly and so you will have to be the eyes for it.

Your cat might feel frustrated if it cannot see and crashes into walls, furniture, etc.

Give your cat help while they have to go down through stairways though it would be better to avoid the stairs or any other activity for some days after the surgery.

6. Give Treats And Praises On Good Behaviour

Every time your cat wears the cone you should praise and give it treats to encourage this behavior.

Treats would serve as a positive reinforcement for your cat and will associate it with the cone.

This will train your cat to wear a collar/cone.

You might not have to give your cat treats after a while as it would soon get used to wearing the cone.

7. Do Not Remove The Cone

Your cat may try to make you feel guilty for making it wear the cone. You have to be strong and keep the cone on for your cat’s safety.

The longer you force the cone on your cat the faster your cat will tend to adapt to it.

For quick recovery keep the cone on your cat post-surgery.

8. Remove Cone During Meals

If your cat is stubborn and does not eat with the cone on, then you can consult your vet, and then with permission, you could remove the cone from your cat’s neck during mealtime.

When you remove it, make sure your cat does not lick or touch the injured part as it would cause harm.

Stay very vigilant during the entire mealtime with your cat.

Though you could try hand feeding your cat before you decide to take the cone off your cat while it eats.

Put the cone back as soon as your cat is done with the meal.

9. Do Not Leave Your Cat Alone

Make sure you do not leave your cat alone for long periods until it recovers.

You need to keep your cat very safe especially when it has its cone on.

Your cat might need your help moving around the house or while eating. Keep an eye on them and give them, extra care and attention.

10. Always Be Patient

Just as you would feel uncomfortable roaming with something like a cone around your face and neck for the entire time even your cat feels the same way.

Make sure you are patient in dealing with your cat. Give your cat extra love, attention, and care during such a time. Keep a close eye on your cat.

Also, check out do cats get nicer after being spayed

Alternatives Of A Cone For Your Cat

1. Neck Brace Collars

These neck brace collars are similar to the ones for humans.

They are more comfortable than a cat cone and keep your cat’s neck and head from moving. They also allow your cat to have a better view.

Hence your cat will not feel so irritated and will not bang into walls, furniture, etc.

These collars are made of flexible plastic and are easier to adapt to.

They cannot prevent your cat from reaching areas like their tail or feet and hence are recommended for upper extremity issues.

2. Soft Collar Cones

They are similar to plastic cones. They are washable in the machine and slide over the neck of your cat.

It is comfortable for your pet and they are softer and flexible.

3. Inflatable Collar Cones

They are thicker than the neck brace and fit between the cat cone collar and the neck brace. They are better in comfort and visibility.

These collars can pop and should not be used on aggressive animals or if your cat has sharp claws.

4. Small Dog Sweaters

If your cat might be of the same size as a small dog, then it can fit into the small dog sweater.

The sweater should be tight and with a high collar so that your cat cannot move its neck around much.

This option should be your last alternative.

5. Onesies

Your cat fits into baby clothes.

Your baby clothes should fit your cat and cover its feet so that your cat cannot use its claws to scratch the wound.

This is the last but the cutest option for your cat.

What Could Happen If Your Cat Escapes The Cone?

Your cat escaping the cone should not be a problem only if you are monitoring your cat.

If you yell at your cat for taking the cone off then it will scare your cat and will they will hate the cone more.

Try and calmly put the cone back on your cat. You will have to be patient and put the cone back repeatedly.

The problem is if you have not been monitoring your cat regularly.

Then your cat might have scratched or licked the surgery site which could have caused just more infection to your cat.

After a lot of try and patience if your cat still doesn’t adjust to the cone then you might consider using alternatives to the cone.

Though you could always ask your vet for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

Do not get carried away by your cat’s soft and sad eyes because you want to get your cat recovered and so keep the cone on.

Do not feel guilty about keeping your cat safe. Keep monitoring your cat full time until the cone is on.

You could consider alternatives to the one if your cat is in complete denial of the cone.

For more queries ask us in the comment section.

References

• https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/03/13/the-cone-of-shame-makes-pets-miserable.html
• https://memory.ucsf.edu/caregiving-support/behavior-personality-changes