Sassy cats – Healing

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This was the best of the group I took. He didn’t want his picture taken. It’s not cool.

Gus had his surgery on Wednesday. We picked him up after an overnight stay. I almost cried when I saw him. They shaved a portion of his back and half of his tail. This was overkill. The surgery was under the tail not on his back. He’s naked back there. He has asked for a smoking jacket, hoping it would help when his main squeeze Sasha sees him. He likes to be Joe Cool with the ladies.

He’s having trouble navigating with an oversized cone. He can barely eat with it on. Cones seem to be sized for dogs with long snouts. Food is everywhere. I sit with him and then clean him up afterward. I can’t leave food out. He’s not happy about that but I’ve given him more food times with smaller portions.

Gus with his shaved back end

I have other cones to try. Maybe one will be more comfortable while keeping his booboo out of tongue’s reach. I’ll try a switch later today or tomorrow. I want to give the surgical area time to heal. The vet wants him coned for two weeks. That’s a long time, much like a six-year-old waiting for Christmas.

He needs to use paper litter. The vet doesn’t want sand or clay sticking to the surgical area. That’s been working but when I let him out into the general population, he will go back to using the basement litter boxes by choice. Isolating him for two weeks is too long. He’s a very social cat and I don’t want Sasha’s wrath. She doesn’t have anyone bathing her in adoration.

He is very active. He is so active the pictures are blurry. It’s hard to believe he had surgery. He climbs into my lap as soon as I come into the room and stays there until I leave demanding scratchies, hugs and love. I oblige.

I was very apprehensive about this surgery. When I was checking out, I expressed that and the receptionist helping me said that her cat had it done five years ago. He hasn’t had a blockage since. Gave me hope.

Gus wishes you all a good weekend without any strange things around your neck.

81 thoughts on “Sassy cats – Healing”

  3. When Elsa had her surgery a few weeks ago, they shaved part of her belly, back, entire leg to the ankles despite the incision being in what effectively was just the upper thigh. It’s always overkill to prevent hair from attracting anything that might impact the healing. It will grow back and everyone will be the happier for it. Till then, you’ll discover new aspects of his shape and skin. As for the cone…yeah I thought the one Elsa got was sized for a small rhino. While she was knocked out fon strong pain meds or the first few days, I cheated and used a travel pillow which allowed her some comfort as she rested. Once she became more alert, we had to go back to the full magilla but I removed it when she drank and ate but then put it back on when she was done. My house has lots of narrow hallways/doorways with dog leg turns which made navigation a colossal pain. Couldn’t help but wonder if we’d get through the banging in doorway jams, etc. (note to self-gotta paint the majority of all doorways and walls) but we managed and now she’s sans cone and most restrictions. These creatures are amazingly resilient even if they try to manipulate you into thinking they’re being tortured. Best wishes as you navigate the immediate healing process and hope this procedure makes Gus’ life more healthful and happy. Good luck.

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    • I may try a smaller cone because I’m a neurotic owner but overnight he is in the vet one. He has learned to bang the cone against the door (he’s confined to a room) when he wants attention. They figure it out.

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    • So far he’s been good about the cone. I take it off when he eats or there is food all over. He gets it off when I spend time in the room but he is cooperative when it goes back on. Today I’ll try some of the soft ones I bought. They may be more comfortable.

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  7. Poor Gus. If you thought he would wear it, I could try to crochet some sort of cover for the area. I will keep him in my prayers for a speedy recovery. XO

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  8. Aww Gus! Glad he is active and sitting on your lap for hugs and TLC 🧡
    I hope the two weeks fly by and he learns to adapt to the cone . May he heal up well and be feeling so much better from now on! I think you made the right decision and you can breathe now that you are on the other side of the surgery! Happy weekend! Treat yourself to something special!

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  10. The cones are so hard. I don’t think my pets have ever kept the cone on the full length of time. We could usually get by with shirts or something – except when the private parts are involved. That’s a tough one. Poor Gus and Sasha, too.

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    • It is tough. I’m not a cone person. I swear vets are “cone happy.” They insisted I put one on Gracie for her last dental. I have never used a cone for a dental. That lasted a few hours as she was not pleased. Same with Morgan when she broke her leg. They wanted her coned for the whole time (11 weeks) so she wouldn’t chew on her split. I took it off. She never chewed on her splint. She never licked it. I don’t think she liked the texture. For this one I understand the need but I don’t know why vets haven’t come up with something that’s more comfortable. The one Gus is wearing has 3 hard loops that dig into his neck. Maybe appropriate for a dog with a longer neck but not a cat.

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  11. Gus with a bare bum – hmm. It’s good to see he is feeling frisky though and hopefully soon he is not so fur-less. At least it is over and don’t you wish the woman would have told you when you scheduled the surgery about the success of her cat’s surgery as it might have eliminated some fretting and sleepless nights.

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    • OMG! It’s like forever! I’m counting Wednesday (day of surgery) so we have 11 more days and depending, maybe I’ll go rogue and take it completely off a day early.

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  14. Gus has got a hole in his pajamas! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them make the whole area that clean but perhaps they are getting better results with a more sterile field. But then, I’ve never had a cat put in a cone. Charlie the 1st removed his sutures and our vet just glued the incision down. Of course, that area did not have such a delicate surgery.

    I’m very glad he’s home and doing well, stressing his mama out as she tries to make sure he’s eating. Positive thoughts, etc., on a quick recovery and soon being able to shed the cone.

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    • He’s more active than I expected. They gave him liquid pain meds (gabapentin). He just spit some of it out all over me and the cone. It’s sticky. we all need a shower. I wish they would ask a client for their preference. When I was there 2 weeks earlier they gave the same medicine as a pill. Gus is easy to pill. Boogers.

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  17. It’s so difficult to see them hurting. And it sucks that we can’t explain to our precious fur kids what’s happening and why. It sounds like this is a pretty successful procedure, though. My best to Gus and to you as you navigate taking care of your sweet boy.

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  19. Sending all kinds of get better fast wishes for Gus! I love to hear he is active and I know you will be watching over him like a hawk. Sweet he wanted on your lap and is demanding your attention. I hope the two weeks for the evil cone will fly by. His nakey shave is endearing in a way. It’s good he doesn’t give two hoots about it! Hugs♥

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  20. Glad he is okay, if ridiculously de-furred in the wrong place. Will you do paper litter for all the cats? I can’t see how you could keep him out of other litter boxes unless he can’t fit through the entrance with a cone. Wishing him a speedy recovery!

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    • This is a generic one that is about an inch too long. I don’t want him licking his wounds so I’m being good about it. I’m going to give him a supervised break today but hoping I don’t have trouble getting him back in it.

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      • I’ve done this with cones to facilitate eating. Cut a U piece out of the part of the cone under his jaw and chin so he can eat more easily , but leave a flap. Use some duct tape to tape the cut piece back when he’s done eating. Glad the surgery is over. He’ll be fine. Now, you relax!

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      • I meant to say (see below but of course I didn’t read it again before I hit Send) if you don’t want to risk removing the cone, you can cut a u-shaped piece out under the jaw and chin, but tape it back when he’s done. It’s easier just to remove it though….and chase him around to put it back on after he hides for 2 hours. I’ve had those cats and that’s where the cutout came in handy.

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        • 🙂 He is sequestered in a room without furniture to hide under. I can’t let him out in the population until he poops (or I can’t monitor that). Still a bit worried that it will be tough to medicate him once he’s out so he may stay in the room until the meds are done.

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  23. Poor sweet Gus……well, that fur will grow back before he/you knows it but the fact he’s not isolating and wants to be with you is a very good sign. I know some people resort to taking the cone off for eating purposes (but only if you can “snoopervise” him) then it goes back on. Two weeks will be like two years for Gus I’m sure. Main thing is he’s had the surgery and HOPEFULLY that’s the end of his infections – forever. Fingers crossed here and I know all his fans have theirs crossed too!!! We send POTP and hugs…..

    Love, Pam and Teddy too

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    • He’s doing very well (at least I think). He’s acting normal. Not slow or groggy. That’s the good news and the bad news. He would like to get out and have the whole house again and I can’t do that.

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  26. Shaving a big area is to make sure that they can properly clean/sterilize a wide area around the surgical site and not bring any infection into the area. Very much needed is my guess. I sometimes take cones off for a supervised feeding time – makes things easier for the cat and the clean up person after. Hopefully this will be the end of his infections and you all can enjoy not having to visit the ER often!

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