How to Make a Soft Elizabethan Collar for Cats

An Elizabethan collar is a protective device, often used after surgeries. It is shaped like a shortened cone and prevents your cat from being able to lick his back and scratch his neck or head. These collars can be made out of hard plastic or softer materials, such as cardboard. Elizabethan collars can be purchased at your vet̵7;s office, your local pet store, or you can cheaply make your own at home. The benefit from making your own is the cost, as well as the ability to make one that fits your cat well.

Things You'll Need

  • Flexible measuring tape
  • Collar
  • Scissors
  • Poster board
  • Tape
  • Hole punch
  • Ribbon
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Use a flexible measuring tape to measure from the tip of your cat̵7;s nose to where her collar rests. Add 1 inch to this measurement. This is the measurement of the height of the Elizabethan collar.

    • 2

      Loosen the collar. You want the collar to easily slip on and off your cat̵7;s head without falling off on its own. Remove the collar and measure the length of the collar to determine the diameter you need for the opening of the Elizabethan collar. Add half an inch to this measurement.

    • 3

      Use scissors to cut a circle out of a piece of cardboard that is the circumference of the nose to collar measurement. Cut a line down the radius of the circle.

    • 4

      Cut a circle out of the center of the circle you made in step three that is the circumference of the collar measurement.

    • 5

      Fold the large circle into a cone shape and use tape to secure the cone in place. Alternatively, you can use brads to secure the cone. If you use brads, make sure the button side is inside the cone and that the arms of the brad are on the outside. This prevents the brads from possibly injuring the cat.

    • 6

      Use a hole punch to place four to five holes around the inner circle. The holes should be about a centimeter from the edge.

    • 7

      Use ribbon to attach your cat̵7;s collar to the Elizabethan collar you just made. Weave the ribbon through the holes you punched and the collar. The amount of ribbon you need depends on the size of your cat̵7;s neck. Tie the ends of the ribbon together to hold the collar in place.

    • 8

      Insert your cat̵7;s head through the hole at the bottom of the Elizabethan collar so that the cone shape sticks out toward your cat̵7;s nose.

    • 9

      Attach the collar to your cat̵7;s neck to keep the Elizabethan collar in place. Tighten the collar if necessary to keep it from slipping off.