How to protect myself from my cats after surgery? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

caribbea · 05-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Surely this isn't that odd of a problem. Maybe someone here has solved it.

I have two cats who enjoy sitting on me and even pouncing on me. After my surgery I either have to go spend a few days at a hotel or figure out how to protect myself from them. I can't shut them out of the room for reasons that I won't go into, but trust me, I can't. I guess I could board them somewhere for a few days but they would be way miserable.

I thought about getting a big trash can and cutting it short and then cutting off one side. I could put that over my abdomen while I am in bed. Of course, they'll spend every waking minute trying to dig under it, but that's preferable to having them pounce on me. I thought I could go to the Ace Hardware store where there's a very helpful fellow and see if he has any ideas.

I don't suppose anyone here tried to do anything like this, or has any other ideas.

Mz_Desz · 05-19-2009, 07:31 PM

ummm ok....it will be longer than just a couple days after surgery that you don't want your cats poucning on you. This is major surgery. You will be in pain and experiencing tenderness for awhile. Send your cats to a boarding house. They will get over thier misery while you are healing.

sherry7 · 05-19-2009, 07:34 PM

I had this same problem, as I have 3 cats. We put them in a spare bedroom (with food and litter of course) for the first several days. They meowed like crazy for the first 2 days, and then settled down after that.

I didn't like doing it, but I really didn't see any other option.

Ummm, I don't think the trash can thing would work, lol.

I can't imagine you contorting your body to get into it. You're going to be pretty sore from the surgery. I did lay a pillow on my stomach after we let the cats out of the spare bedroom...just as a little extra cushioning.

FatButNotHappy · 05-19-2009, 09:42 PM

Oh my. I never thought of this! I have two cats and two BOUNCING boxers (if any of you have them, you know what I am talking about!)

I think I may need to recover in a hotel in sunny, beautiful Aruba--by myself!

I wonder if you can just use a bed tray (the breakfast in bed type of try) that may be able to keep them off of your lap when you are laying down?

hexx2003 · 05-20-2009, 08:18 AM

Yea, i have 4 little monsters that have to be with mommy allllllll the time. After my surgery and i was confined to the recliner, i always laid with my arms accross my belly and a pillow over that. it worked well. they went for the legs instead of the belly. Even after my gallbladder surgery last week i did the same thing. worked well.

Time4me · 05-20-2009, 10:12 AM

I have 2 fat mini schnauzers and a hairy pomerianian. None of them can breathe unless they are laying on me. I was worried about them jumping on me, in the bed, in the chair, etc.

I didnt board them, I recovered at home with them and was fine. the day i came home from the hospital i was able to lay on my sides and that made it easier on the bed. they dont spring onto me if im on my side.
In the chair I was just extra aware of who was ready to pounce on me and just pulled a blocking manuaver with my arms. if i sat on the couch, I would just push them to the side and they would sit next to me. (like a second skin of course)

I'm 3 months out now and everynight I have 30 lbs of mini schnauzer plus 2 lbs of pom on my stomach everynight.
the plus side....my lap is getting bigger as I lose weight so it makes for more prime puppy pillow.

A pillow on your stomach might detour a cat. Not sure about cats I dont have any. (my dogs eat them) but they seem more sensitive than a dog.

caribbea · 05-20-2009, 05:13 PM

I don't have the option of putting them in another room, and the last time I boarded anyone they got horrible respiratory infections. I did come up with an idea though: get a long cardboard box and cut out room for me to fit under it. It'll cover my abdomen when I'm lying on my back.

I can handle keeping them off me when they just try to insinuate themselves, but they've both young and playful and I can't tell you how many times totally out of the blue they are chasing each other and Mom becomes a spring board with no warning at all.

I need something 24" wide and 10" high, and I guess about 12" deep to cover the necessary area. But, would I need something that could cover me while I'm lying on my side? If so, it would need to be higher. I might just go buy some wood and nail something together. I can sleep under it and they'll stay off me.

Where exactly are the incisions? I assume they're frontish? It is difficult to lie on one's side? I hope not because I'm a side-sleeper.

hexx2003 · 05-20-2009, 05:18 PM

i had 6 incisions, one near the belly button, two higher toward the sides, 2 above those and one pretty much inbetween my breasts. I slept in a recliner for 2 days and the rest of the time i slept on my side in my bed. I took a pillow and put it between my legs to keep me from going to my tummy. I took another pillow and hugged it. So with that in mind it protected me from head to toe.. other than the back which wasnt an issue. I think you'd be fine. If you didnt wanna put a pillow on your tummy or worry that isnt enough.. you may beable to get a lap board and lay it on your stomach with the blankie over it. Its something you'll have to figure out. I know i couldnt have locked my 4 up.. no way.. and my youngests sound like yours.. crazy ass!! good luck!

Crimson Kittie · 05-21-2009, 01:41 PM

I have lots of cats and I have to say I shut them out of my room. End of story. They didn't like it .. but I wasn't taking chances of them pouncing on me. When I was awake and alert I would let them in and they could come curl around me but they didn't get near my tummy. They actually learned pretty quickly they would get a pillow knocked into them if they got too close.

AmityA · 05-21-2009, 07:31 PM

I have a 15 pound butterball of a cat who has slept on my stomach since we got him at 4 weeks of age 5 years ago. After surgery and even still sometimes now (1 yr 1 mo out) he "knows"when i dont want him on my tummy and he will lay on my legs or pelvis. Early pre-op -- i put a body pillow on my body while i slept on my back. Never had any issues with him laying on the pillow on my stomach. Now that I have lost my weight, he is preferring to lay on my pelvis or legs since my ribs poke into him now. LOL I also had 2 high energy German Shepherds and a chinese crested dog who slept in bed with us.