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Should I bathe my cat after surgery before or after cone removal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Longhair | Male | neutered | 10 lbs

A few weeks ago I rescued a cat that needed emergency surgery. It has had the cone on for about 20 days and the wound is fully healed (with an OK from the vet to take the cone off). The cat is very dirty though. Should I try to give him a bath before or after I remove the cone? Should I be worried about him ingesting the dirt and old blood on his fur?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Kristin DVM

Answered By Dr. Kristin DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 10th, 2018

While I don't consider it dangerous to allow Camoo to clean himself, it would be a much faster process to bathe him. That being said, many cats will fight bathing, and if he has just recovered from a serious wound, it isn't worth fighting with him to accomplish the bath. If he will calmly tolerate the bath, then it is worth trying that route. If he is used to the cone at this point, you might leave it on during the bath, just in case he gets upset, as this can protect your hands from bites. It all depends on his temperament and reaction to water. I recommend offering lots of treats through the bath to try and make it a positive experience. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
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