Aleph has a wound on his right front leg. It started as a patch of fur that the veterinarian shaved off in order to provide Aleph with fluids through an IV so he didn't get dehydrated during his teeth cleaning, for which he had to receive general anesthesia because cats don't generally like to get their teeth cleaned.
I'm not sure why exactly, but Aleph hasn't left the little shaven patch alone since we've gotten him back home. I suspect that it itches, but he's been licking it for the last few days. It's gotten to the point where he's gotten through most of the fur and has irritated the skin.
On Tuesday, I took him back to the vet and they gave me some antibiotics to help the skin heal, and a plastic cone to keep him from licking at the wound. The antibiotics are fine—certainly, Aleph doesn't enjoy taking them very much, but I can handle that. They're helping to clean him out and that's a good thing.
But the cone is something which brings me nearly to tears every time I see Aleph stuck inside it. Besides scratch an itch, there's really nothing he's done wrong—but the cone is heart-breakingly degrading. I certainly wish there was something I could do make his big plastic mantle a little easier to bear.
Sorry, little guy.
I know, he is such a sad little boy right now.
I still want to try taking it off and putting foil on his arm — maybe he won't bite on it.