How to Feed a Cat With a Cone Around Its Head

The collar, seen here on a dog, is also used for cats.

The collar a cat will wear when it's hurt or after an operation is called the Elizabethan collar. This collar is placed on the cat by a veterinarian after an operation or when there is a skin issue to keep your pet from biting or irritating the area with its mouth. The cat will not be able to turn its head around to the rest of its body and will have problems eating with this obstruction. Help your cat get the nutrients it needs with a few small feeding changes.

Things You'll Need

• Phone book
• Canned food

Instructions

1. Raise the food and water bowl by placing an old phone book under the bowls. Since cats are generally smaller than dogs, it will not be necessary to raise the bowls too high. Watch your cat eat to make sure it can reach the food bowls. Adjust, as necessary.

2. Feed the cat canned, soft food if the veterinarian approves the diet change. The soft food will be easier for the cat to pick up with its mouth and tongue, whereas dry food rolls around, making it harder for your pet to bring the food from the bowl to the mouth with the collar obstruction.

3. Remove the cat's collar so it can eat when options one and two fail. The collar will need to be replaced as soon as the cat is finished eating, so use a crate to feed the cat, if necessary. Cats are agile, quick and often small enough to escape to a hiding place fast, so crating the animal while it eats will help you keep track of what's happening.

Tips & Warnings

• Observe the cat at all times while it eats to make sure it's getting enough to eat and that it can reach the food with the collar. Be sure to discuss all feeding habits and care of the cat with the collar with your veterinarian. Discuss each of these options with the veterinarian to make sure they are safe for your cat's unique situation.

References

• Pet Eye Doctor: Living with Elizabethan Collar