I’m looking for some tips. My 6-month-old Maine Coon kitten has just been spayed and she won’t stop licking her stitches — she even tries to pull at them sometimes. I know it’s dangerous, so I put the cone the vet gave me on her, but she manages to get it off in 30 seconds (even when it’s as tight as it can go).
I really don't know what to do to stop her. Is it okay to put her in a bit of fabric or maybe a baby grow for a few days?
It’s all making me quite anxious! Plus, I’m in lectures during the day, so I can’t really keep an eye on her.
Thanks in advance, everyone! :D
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
I had my girl spayed at 6 months old. She started licking her incision site after the operation, and we did everything we could to stop her pulling her stitches out. Unfortunately, she managed to get them out herself after a week, and the wound hasn't healed yet. I’ve tried using gauze pads with a bandage, some antiseptic, and a recovery suit, but she keeps managing to rip through it. Is this serious? We’ve booked an appointment with the vet, but it's not for another 3 or 4 days – is that too long to wait?
It’s the least I can do when you see how much effort people put in and take time out of their day to help us! I’ve never been let down by the help I’ve received from the people on this forum! So, a huge thank you once again :)
I've just been to the vet and everything is fine! The vet said the scar is looking really good and very clean. We actually made her a sort of recovery suit out of a jumper sleeve, but she managed to wiggle out of it. In the end, a small bandage with a gauze pad and some antiseptic did the trick!
I’m so relieved.
It’s probably just as well she hasn’t got a heavy dressing on, as it makes it easier to keep an eye on how the scar is healing (though that does mean more worrying for me, as I’ve got no idea what I’m looking at!).
I think spaying is so important for pets; it really reduces the risk of cancers and tumours in female cats, and I just want my girl to have a happy, healthy life.
Here’s a photo of Meiko from last night ;)
Thanks again to everyone for all your comments and feedback!
I honestly don't understand why people get a pet just to have them spayed. Maybe I'm just too much of a nature lover to get it; thank goodness we don't treat women like that (at six months old, the poor thing). Anyway, she normally should have had a dressing because if she gets her cone off she's bound to lick the area, it’s just instinct, and that's not exactly great for the wound healing. You should mention it to your vet.
Hi there,
A female cat is spayed at 6 months old for the very simple reason of avoiding the risk of mammary tumours following her seasons! That's why you shouldn't wait for the first heat cycle before spaying (this goes for both cats and dogs).
As for the dressing, personally, I’m not a big fan!
At our practice, we never use them because if the cat licks the top of it or if the dressing gets wet (even just a few drops), you're looking at a nasty infection because of the moisture being trapped against the skin. There’s nothing better for a wound (no matter what kind) than letting it breathe!
Maybe we just have a different way of doing things... We don't use cones, dressings, or anything, and we’ve had zero cases coming back with infections from licking. So there you go :)
What might be a good idea is to get a smaller cone if possible and maybe make her a little recovery suit or "onesie" (to stop it from sliding up).
I don’t get why people get a pet just to have them spayed. Maybe I love nature too much to understand the logic—thankfully we don’t treat women like that (at six months old, the poor thing!). She really should have had a dressing on as well, because if she gets her cone off, she’ll inevitably start licking it. It’s just instinct, and it’s not exactly good for the wound to heal properly. You should have a word with your vet about it.
Thanks both :)
No, she didn't have a dressing, just a completely shaved belly and five very neat, clean stitches.
I called my vet who told me to try putting a bit of clothing on her or making a dressing. I'll definitely keep a regular eye on it to make sure the wound stays clean. She’s been doing it a bit less since this morning. I’m going to see about making her a little "outfit" with some fabric at lunchtime, but it's tricky to do on your own :(
As for the cone, even when I tighten it as much as I can, it already feels really tight and I'd be worried about hurting her if I went any further. It’s just that she fights like mad and eventually manages to slide it off over her fur. She pulls at it with her front paws.
I’ve got a check-up appointment on Friday morning.
Hi there,
It can be really tough to stop a cat from licking at a scar. However, it's vital that the wound is given enough time to heal properly before the stitches are removed.
I’d recommend asking your vet for a smaller cone that your cat might find harder to wiggle out of. They come in various sizes to suit different pets.
You could also try applying a dressing or ask your vet to do it, so your cat can't get to the wound itself. Another option is putting a T-shirt or some pet clothing on them, though there’s no guarantee they won’t manage to get that off as well.
Keep a regular eye on the wound to make sure it stays clean and look out for any discharge, pus, or redness. If you do notice anything like that, make sure to contact your vet.
Hope this helps!
Alexia
