Covering sore patch on cat - animal polster?

[HollyWoozle]

Our sweet cat has some allergies which make him a bit itchy (we have discussed with vet). We have an idea as to the most recent cause and have removed this from his diet, but whilst scratching he has caused a sore patch roughly between his shoulder blades. It’s a very shallow wound, just a sore patch of skin essentially, but it’s taking a long time to heal as he keeps licking it and I would like to try and cover it so that we don’t have to go down the cone of shame route. He will lick off any creams or similar.

Has anybody used animal polster? How does it work? If I understand correctly, it’s a product to help you hold a bandage in an awkward place, but I am not actually sure how it works… is it like vet wrap and you have to make a full wrap so that it joins back to itself?

If I could just cover the patch for a day or two I think that would make the world of difference. It’s a very clean, healthy looking wound so far but I just can’t see it healing easily as it is.

 

[missmatch]

I’ve used it but not on cats. It was used after my horses muscle biopsy. I found it brilliant, you cut to size and stick then cover with another dressing. It really does the job.
However having cats and knowing what they’re like Im 100% sure they’d keep at it till they got it off unless you used one of the cat babygros over it.
Or why not just use the babygro instead of the cones. Have you tried the soft cones etc? There’s loads of different types now.

 

[Burnttoast]

This might not work (depending on exactly where the wound is) but when our late lamented Jingles had a wound on the front of her neck that was tricky to heal we couldn't use a cone as it rubbed but we made a tall collar (about 2.5-3 inches wide) from a plastic milk bottle (joined with duct tape) - one of the side effects was to reduce her range of movement so she wouldn't have been able to groom the area you're trying to protect.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks both for your replies. Wound is sort of between his shoulder blades so your plan won’t work in this case @Burnttoast but that was great thinking by you! ??

@missmatch I’ve ordered some animal polster as it sounds handy to have around. I did wonder about putting a vest on him instead of a cone though, would be more comfy. I’ve found a cone here at my mum’s this morning but am going to investigate the clothes options online. I’ve never dressed a cat but if he can just leave it alone for a day or two I think it’ll really start to heal.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Would a cat recovery suit work?

 

[splashgirl45]

I’ve got some very small dog suits which I used for my little terrier when she was spayed they worked a treat. I could send you one if you would like it

 

[splashgirl45]

Just seen you might be reasonably near to me, we could meet up and you could have all of them ,,I’m between Clare and Haverhill on the Suffolk/Essex border , let me know if interested

 

[HollyWoozle]

Aww @splashgirl45 that is such a kind offer, I appreciate it. However I’ve just tried a small dog suit from a lady in village, looks a similar size to yours, and was actually a bit small and an odd fit on him unfortunately. You’re so nice to offer though! And your terrier is gorgeous ?

I may have to measure him and order a cat recovery suit as @HufflyPuffly suggests. I tried bandaging it this evening but was so hard to do without impinging on movement somehow and he was deeply upset by the cone of shame and had it off very quickly. Polster is on order too and I am also investigating liquid bandage only available in the US ?

 

[Umbongo]

Unfortunatley cats are very good at getting things off and anything that sticks to his skin is likely to irritate his skin further. I would look into the vest or a fabric cone. I am in NZ but cats tolerate these really well.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I bought a vest which arrived yesterday and seemed ideal, snug but not too tight and he wasn't too horrified by it... but then he woke me up twice in the night, having managed to get his front legs through the neck hole thus shimmying the vest down his body. I gave up and removed it in the end and am disappointed that didn't work as it seemed like a comfortable option and not so stressful for him.

I guess it's back to the cone option, I will buy some different ones to see if I can manage to keep one on him.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Have you looked at this type of collar? They seem quite popular but I’ve no experience of them.


https://www.fruugo.co.uk/adjustable...MI8vm5-IbD_AIVDtnVCh2d-A1lEAQYASABEgLR2fD_BwE

 

[Bellasophia]

I’d try the vest again,but sew the neck a bit tighter first,so it is a snug fit.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Have you looked at this type of collar? They seem quite popular but I’ve no experience of them.


https://www.fruugo.co.uk/adjustable...MI8vm5-IbD_AIVDtnVCh2d-A1lEAQYASABEgLR2fD_BwE

That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen ? looks like it would work though!!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Oh wow, I hadn't seen the toast option! Haha! I have actually panic-ordered a sort of cape-type cone now which folds backwards instead of being firm and upright like the classic ones, but I didn't know toast-shape was a choice then. I guess I will have to try things out until I find what works... the mark doesn't seem to be getting any worse at least.

@Bellasophia I did consider that by then worried it would be too tight as it doesn't appear loose, but then again, I guess it must be if he can get his legs through it! Definitely another option, thank you.

 

[Bellasophia]

I had a vest suit for my st poodle when he bloated and was operated..the first night he weazled outof the suit like Houdini..a quick seam was sewn and he remained in the suit.
Show no pity or they will have those stitches out in a flash.
It was a lot better than acollar option which he would have hated..and he soon got used to wearing it for the week.

 

[HollyWoozle]

(Deleted duplicate post)

 

[HollyWoozle]

I hate to be that annoying person that asks for and then ignores advice, but I wanted to update the thread in case it’s useful for anybody else.

After trying different vests, making adjustments, ordering new types of cone and attempting to bandage him in a sort of harness formation, I caved on Friday night (when the sore patch looked really sad) and decided to go for it with the ‘animal polster’. Basically I cleaned the sore bit with Vetericyn first and then used a wound dressing (coated with Vetericyn Hydrogel) stuck on with a patch of polster. It has actually worked amazingly well! I’ve been changing it every 24 hours or so and the skin is 90% healed since Friday.

The polster is not that difficult to remove to change (on a calm cat at least!) - it does leave some sticky residue on their coat but it can be combed or cleaned out without much fuss. Our cat is absolutely not bothered by it and hasn’t fiddled with it at all. He is much comfier than he would be in a cone/vest and he can still go outside.

I’m really relieved but thank you all for your suggestions. I did take them on board but when the polster was delivered and I was stuck for options I just decided to give it a go.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Good to know it worked . The vest worked for me after the cone was a massive no ??, but Squirrel still did her best to shred it!

 

[HollyWoozle]

They are certainly wily little so and sos!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

They are certainly wily little so and sos!

Haha definitely! All the others didn’t need anything after their spay, but because we fixed a hernia at the time too, Squirrel was more complicated. She was an absolute savage! So for any future issues, I’m banking your findings ?.