How Patty Made Spaz A Helmet

In August, you met Spaz, Patty’s cerebellar hypoplasia cat — and today I’m sharing one way that Patty found to help her Spaz. Like a number of CH cat parents, Patty decided Spaz needed a helmet to protect his head. Since she couldn’t find one, she decided to make a helmet for him! Here’s her story:

“After multiple attempts to find my cat a kitty helmet, and being looked at like I was insane or at least disturbed, I decided to make him one.

I was artsy-crafty, I could do this. I sat down and started to think about my new project, Spaz’s helmet. What could I use that I could form to the shape of his head, how could I keep it on him, it would have to be comfortable? I happen to glance at a little paper mache kitty figurine that had been given to me. That was it, that would work and I could make it to fit the shape of his head. I was excited with the possibilities of what I was about to attempt.

I went to the store and purchased a package of balloons, a bottle of liquid starch, some sew in snaps, elastic, rubber cement, a newspaper and a small square of sheepskin. I was set! I was going to do this to protect my cat from hurting himself.

After a few attempts, quite a few days working on my project, letting it dry between layers, fitting and refitting, it had to be thick enough to protect and light enough so it wouldn’t be cumbersome to wear or make his head fall over.

I looked at it and thought what about his ears. I broke out my drumel tool and made ear holes. I trimmed around the edges making it a perfect fit. I glued in the sheepskin liner, attached the elastic strap and I was now ready to see if it worked and would he wear it?

To my surprise and relief it did work and the best part was he didn’t seem to mind wearing it. He wasn’t trying to remove this thing I had attached to his head. I stepped back and looked at my creation, how cute he was wearing his little helmet, but it needed something, some color.

Here’s an example of other helmets other CH cat parents have made.

I realize I got a little carried away but this was for my boy, my Spaz, I needed to keep him safe and we had to do it in style. I airbrushed it. I masked the design off and made flames down both sides. This was so cool; it had to be for such a cool cat.

He wore his little kitty helmet for about six months, as he got older he seemed to obtain more control of his involuntary movements,  he no longer had as many issues of bouncing off the walls with his head.  The helmet had done its job, no concussion.

When I showed the doctor what I had done he just started to laugh, he said only you Patty would think of this, good job!  I have to admit I had fun making it and the best part was it worked!”