Sunday, February 15, 2009

Straight jacket

Anyone visiting for the first time is going to look at these pictures and think "What is that?" Come to think of it, even regulars are going to think "What is that?"





Chip got her stitches taken out yesterday and I got a little information about the mummy outfit she was wearing. I asked my vet if this was a normal Japanese way of tying up a cat or if it was his own invention. It was his father-in-law's invention (also a vet) and his mother-in-law still makes cat ties for their pet hospital. He was very pleased that many of my blog visitors had been impressed with Chip's outfit. He even showed me how they were made. Now I know not many blog visitors are ever going to need to know how to make a kitty straight-jacket but I took pictures so here they are.

The gauze cloth, which is as long as an average cat, has been folded in half and then cut at regular intervals. Holes are cut for four legs and a small V in the back that allows the fabric to give and doesn't get in the way of bathroom usage. My vet said he occasionally makes larger jackets for dogs but many dogs get don't like being wrapped so it doesn't always work well for them.

Chip didn't mind the jacket at all when she was wearing it but she seems to be happy she can do some serious grooming without now.

You have to admit my posts are diverse if nothing else.



12 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is pretty clever and better than the big plastic headgear used by vets here. Chip has the sweetest little face, what a cutie!
Kathy B
Northern CA

June said...

Dora has her surgery this Tues. I will mention to our Vet about your Dr's invention. Thanks for the photos about this!

mamaspark said...

Very clever and educational! I will share this with vet friends of mine also.

Anonymous said...

My dog has his surgery this Tuesday, too

LC, Ayla, and Iza said...

I did something similar. Iza (cat) had her spay operation Feb 3rd, and came home with a plactic neck cone. It was horrible.

So I took a T-Shirt and cut off the arms/neckand cut the bottom in half. I didn't think of the ties you used, but instead used duct tape folde over the edges on the cat's back and puched holes along the tape for a shoelace. I tied the top and bottom of the neck to her collar. It worked well for 4 days!

I tried a newborn baby onesie, too, but couldn't get her into it alone.

I really like the way you arranged the ties. I think that is better than my shoelace idea! I will try that next time I have a cat with belly stitches...

Mart Bright said...

I'm going to do this--the babies are going to have to have their surgery in a couple of months and if they're anything like Wabi, those stitches will not stay in.

lj_cox said...

Thank you very much for the photos and description! How cool is that? Especially since she didn't mind it; that's a huge advantage over those collars

Elaine Adair said...

hmmmm - it almost looks like you could fold it various ways and it might make Prairie Points !!! ROFOL

(Hey, I can't help it - still asleep!) 8-))

Christine Thresh said...

I'll say your posts are diverse -- straight jackets for cats, chopsticks for moving bones, bathing with strangers and "not seeing," walks in the woods, dogs and cats, interesting customs, quilts, fabric, etc.

Wow! One never knows what will be found on Tanya's blog.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Now, that's clever!

Betty (picture circa 1954) said...

My kitten was "fixed" around ten days ago and she didn't have external stitches. Somehow they were all underneath the skin and disolved. She never messed with the incision because the stitches weren't sticking out. That's the first time one of my cats was done that way and I thought it was a lot better.

My friend sent me over here the other day to see what your cat was wearing. We weren't sure if it was from the veterinarian or you dressed her up. :)

Sew Create It - Jane said...

I love reading your posts..always something different ;o)

Chip seems very comfortable...I'd say the vet was on to something.