Worldwide medical and scientific journal for animal health professionals
Veterinary Focus

Issue number 31.1 Other Scientific

Elizabethan collars for cats

Published 23/09/2021

Written by Anne Quain

Also available in Français , Deutsch , Italiano , Español , ภาษาไทย , 한국어 and Українська

An Elizabethan collar is often used when a cat is itchy, but they can also be detrimental to an animal’s wellbeing; this short paper considers the pros and cons of the “plastic cone”.

Cat with Elizabethan Collar

Key points

Elizabethan collars are an important non-pharmacological means of preventing self-trauma in feline patients, but they may negatively impact a cat’s behavior and welfare.


Suitable alternative or adjunctive interventions may be an option for some cats, but comprehensive communication with the owners can help mitigate a collar’s negative effects.


Introduction

Elizabethan collars are a commonly used, non-pharmacological intervention employed to prevent self-trauma and overgrooming in feline patients. However, they may also cause distress to both cats and their owners 1; understanding the potential negative impacts of such collars may help veterinarians minimize this distress while maximizing the benefits of the collars when they are used.

What are the benefits?

Because cats are fastidious groomers, they are prone to removing sutures and traumatizing surgical sites, particularly on the body, limbs and tail. Moreover, the presence of pruritus because of a dermatological problem can lead to self-trauma and exacerbation of the condition (Figure 1). A well-fitted Elizabethan collar can often help, by allowing skin lesions to heal, wounds to repair and preventing the need for additional surgery; Box 1 offers a detailed list of indications for their use. In addition, the collars are inexpensive and may be applied by owners at home as well as members of the veterinary team at the clinic. 

 

Box 1. Indications for Elizabethan collars in cats.
  • Prevention of removal of topical medication or patches
  • Prevention of over-grooming or self-trauma due to pruritis or anxiety 
  • Prevention of suture removal following surgery
  • Protection of wounds to facilitate healing
  • Protection of catheters, dressings or bandages 

 

What are the downsides?

Many owners, and cat owners in particular, report that their pet dislikes wearing an Elizabethan collar. This was confirmed in a recent global survey involving the owners of dogs and cats that had worn an Elizabethan collar during the previous 12 months (n=434), with 77% of owners reporting that their companion animal had a worse quality of life when wearing the collar 2. To compound the problem, some pets may be required to wear a collar for extended periods of time. In a case series of 13 cats medically managed for deep ulcerative keratitis, the mean duration of Elizabethan collar use was 28 days, with a range of 13 to 73 days 3. Owners reported that some animals seemed to acclimatize to the collar over time, while others apparently did not.

It can be challenging to determine whether the behavioral changes seen in cats wearing Elizabethan collars are due to the collars themselves, or the underlying reasons for cats being required to wear them. For example, in one study looking at behavioral changes and severity of pain in cats recovering from elective neutering, wearing an Elizabethan collar significantly affected the overall extent of behavior changes in female cats 4. The most commonly reported alterations in this study included overall activity level, amount of time sleeping, playfulness and movement, but it can be argued that major surgery such as neutering could directly lead to these changes in behavior anyway.

Although many cats will wear Elizabethan collars without any apparent adverse effects, the welfare of some individuals can be negatively impacted by the collars. Another study noted that owners reported Elizabethan collars interfered with various daily feline activities including drinking (60.2%), playing (67.5%), and other actions such as toileting, grooming and being fitted for a harness or lead 2. Some owners also noted dramatic changes in their cat’s behavior, including agitation, altered posture or gait, or “freezing”. Other problems have also been reported; in some cases, the Elizabethan collar increased antagonism between cats in multi-cat households, and a collar may prohibit a cat from entering or leaving their house via the cat flap, interfering with their normal routine. Indeed, collars can interfere with an animal’s mobility in general, which may increase the risks to cats that have outdoor access while wearing one. 

Elizabethan collars should therefore be the smallest size needed to shield the site requiring protection in order to minimize the impact on movement and daily activities.

Importantly, if the underlying cause of self-trauma is not addressed (for example, if a dermatological problem is not resolved) the cat may continue to suffer from the negative feelings of pruritus or pain, with self-trauma recurring once the collar is removed 5

An Elizabethan collar may be useful to prevent a cat from inflicting self-trauma due to pruritus resulting from a skin problem.

Figure 1. An Elizabethan collar may be useful to prevent a cat from inflicting self-trauma due to pruritus resulting from a skin problem. © Shutterstock

Anne Quain

Many cats wear Elizabethan collars without any adverse effects, but the welfare of some individuals can be negatively impacted, interfering with daily activities such as drinking, playing, toileting and grooming

Anne Quain

What can be done?

Although Elizabethan collars are often deemed to be necessary to protect cats from themselves, there is no guarantee that some cats (and their owners) will accept the collar within a reasonable time frame once applied. Because of this, veterinarians can and should consider alternative or adjunctive methods of preventing self-trauma (Box 2), which may eliminate the need for an Elizabethan collar entirely, or at least reduce the duration for which they are required to be worn.

 

Box 2. Alternative or adjunctive means of preventing self-trauma in cats.
Anti-pruritic medication
Wound dressing
Topical (non-toxic) bitterants 
Pre-, peri- and post-operative analgesia
Multi-modal analgesia, extending into at-home care
Sedation
Anxiolytic medication

 

If an Elizabethan collar is to be worn, discussion with the cat’s owners is essential, as they play an important role in minimizing the negative impacts and maximizing the benefits of the collar (Figure 2). It is therefore essential to communicate the following information.

The reason their cat needs to wear the Elizabethan collar and the potential implications if this is removed prematurely (such as worsening of the skin problem, wound breakdown, or requirements for additional surgery and the associated risks and costs).

The fact that some cats may have trouble performing certain activities, and may require some assistance (for example, elevating food and water bowls to make these accessible while the collar is on, removing the hood from a hooded litter tray, or providing alternative access if the collar makes use of a cat flap impossible).

The potential risks of misadventure during unsupervised outdoor access for cats wearing a collar.

How to remove, replace and adjust the collar (in case the owner removes the collar to help their cat eat or drink).

The importance of contacting the veterinary hospital if they feel that their cat is not coping well with the collar. 

The veterinary team should carefully discuss the use of a collar when the patient is initially fitted with one in order to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the benefits.

Figure 2. The veterinary team should carefully discuss the use of a collar when the patient is initially fitted with one in order to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the benefits. © Shutterstock

Conclusion

Elizabethan collars are currently a necessary means of preventing self-trauma in some feline patients. The veterinary team can assist both cats and their owners by providing clear advice about the purpose of the collar, and the potential complications that can arise whilst in use, including transient impacts on feline behavior. Clinic staff can also help owners troubleshoot problems with collars and advise on strategies to maximize the comfort of cats whilst wearing them. Finally, veterinarians can consider alternative or adjunctive means of preventing self-trauma in cats, which may eliminate the need for an Elizabethan collar altogether, or at least reduce the duration of wear.

References

  1. Noli C, Borio S, Varina A, et al. Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of cats with skin disease and their owners, and its use in 185 cats with skin disease. Vet Dermatol 2016;27:247-e58.

  2. Shenoda Y, Ward MP, McKeegan D, et al. “The Cone of Shame”: Welfare implications of Elizabethan collar use on dogs and cats as reported by their owners. Animals 2020;10:333.

  3. Martin De Bustamante MG, Good KL, Leonard BC, et al. Medical management of deep ulcerative keratitis in cats: 13 cases. J Feline Med Surg 2019;21:387-393.

  4. Väisänen MA, Tuomikoski SK, Vainio OM. Behavioral alterations and severity of pain in cats recovering at home following elective ovariohysterectomy or castration. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:236-242.

  5. Titeux E, Gilbert C, Briand A, et al. From feline idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis to feline behavioral ulcerative dermatitis: grooming repetitive behaviors indicators of poor welfare in cats. Frontiers Vet Sci 2018;5:81-81.

Anne Quain

Anne Quain

School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Australia Read more

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