Kaspar’s collar

A couple of weeks ago, Kaspar, one of my cats, acquired a small cut on the top of his head above his right eye, probably the result of a playful fight with his siblings or mad head rubbing on an unsuitable object. Both possibilities are equally likely.

Two days later, Kaspar had scratched his hair and a patch of skin around his cut off. Initially – and after two trips to the vet – the wound seemed to heal well. “If it itches it is a sign that it is getting better”, parents tell their children.

With cats, if it itches, the treatment is a good scratch, which re-opened the wound. Kaspar is wearing a collar now, after a third visit to the vet’s.

I was surprised how willing he was to give it a try and how easily he adapted to performing his chores with a funnel-shaped piece of plastic around his neck. He has even been in one of his “high spots”, on top of the kitchen cupboards.

Before we first put the collar on, I sat down with him and explained. When I uttered the usual “it will make it better” and “only good for you”, I could hear my parents using the same, lame phrases when I was a child and I remembered not believing them.

Kaspar just sat there, did not try to move away and did not struggle. Can it be that he understood and that he appreciated my choice of semi-transparent material over the pink alternative?

His siblings, Camillo and Domino, are behaving admirably. They are very supportive and sweet with him. Kaspar seems a little subdued and depressed because he is somewhat disabled.

The only strange thing is that I caught him getting his Christmas card list out and crossing the vet’s name out. If you are reading this, Kate, I am sure it is nothing personal. I will talk to him about it.

Kaspar cannot wait to get the collar off. Neither can I.

After a minor cut on his head, Kaspar has to wear a collar.

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