Category: Cats

Surgery wrap

On By CarynIn Cats, dog, Life Hack

Missy went in for her spay, and rather than a cone of shame or donut of doom, I made her a surgery wrap from knit fabric. The wrap keeps her from licking the incision site, and a little shaping keeps it clean and dry when she has to do her outside business.

Missy wearing her surgery wrap (I know, black fabric on a black dog!)

To make the wrap, I measured her back from neck to tail (16”) and around her chest (18”). I cut a rectangle from knit fabric that was 16” x 19” (the extra inch around makes it easier to pin). I measured between her front legs, across her chest (4”), and made 4 slits 4” apart at the top and bottom of the wrap for her legs. I cut a curve out between the back legs so the wrap wouldn’t get wet or dirty when she eliminated.

Knit wrap with slits and toiletry cut out

I tried a version with velcro, but it didn’t fit as well as when I just used three safety pins to pin along the back (and velcro is loud!) I put her legs in the four holes, pulled the fabric snug but not tight, and the pinned the fabrics at the back of the neck, mid back, and near the tail.

Wrap showing pin locations along the back

Missy is surprisingly OK about wearing her little vest! Is it as fancy as the surgery wraps you can buy? No, but I’ve made them out of old t-shirt material, so they can be free to make. For something that you only need for 10-14 days, free is good. They work for cats too! At least female ones. When Sophie had her spay, we used a similar surgery wrap.

Sophie in a surgery wrap made from an old T-shirt and safety pins

Things to consider

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft
Cat on my lap as seen through the warp

I’m trying some slightly thinner yarn on my frame loom and it is working much better with the sett (how far apart the warp strings are). I’m also experimenting with hatching (as seen in the picture above where the blue and white mix). As I consider buying or making a loom that is heddle bar friendly and has adjustable tension, I also need to consider lap space. My cat has started to reclaim lap time after the arrival of the puppy, and she doesn’t much care what I am doing as long as she can lounge!

Cat hammock

On By CarynIn Cats
Izzy enjoying the outside cat hammock

We have a few cat hammocks up in the catio, both inside and outside. Izzy loves the inside nap spots, and recently jumped up to the outside sling, probably just to establish that she can. She only gets free roaming of the back yard under supervision, mainly because she runs up trees and gets stuck. The hammocks are made of a double layer of outdoor fabric, with ties on each corner and a grommet in the center. We learned early that the fabric will hold water, so the grommet lets the rain drain and the bed dry out faster. (Side note, an easy way to sew in the ties is to tuck them inside when sewing the two layers with right sides together, like you would for a pillow with lace or piping. Leave a gap, turn the hammock right side out, then reinforce the edge and ties by stitching around again.)

Will you be my buddy?

On By CarynIn Cats, dog

Little Missy needs a buddy. All the time, poor wee thing. When I’m busy and the kids are at school, she will even sidle up to the cats, as close as they will allow! Today is a good day for cute puppy pictures. If you haven’t voted, today’s the day! If you have voted, well done! Now look at puppy pictures, and be kind to one another.

Missy hanging out with Griffin
Missy getting as close to Izzy as possible for a nap
This is the shocker, that Sophie let Missy get this close, and that Missy maintained her manners!

Growing

On By CarynIn Cats, dog
Little Miss is bigger than Izzy!

Missy the puppy has reached 11.6 pounds. This makes her officially heavier than Izzy the cat. Not longer, just with more weight. They take up my whole lap. The cat still rules the house, though, which is as it should be.