The collars are named after the ruffs worn in Elizabethan times. The first U.S. patent was filed by Frank L. Johnson in 1959.

The vets usually suggest them in order to prevent the animal from irritating a wound or removing stitches while self-grooming. The cones of shame are used to either prevent the animal from licking or biting its wound or using its limbs to scratch its head, eyes, or ears. The collar is sometimes also used to stop animals with self-destructing habits from hurting themselves. Also, the cones of shame help animals that suffer from allergies. For example, it can prevent the critter from ingesting any of the medicine that's applied on its skin.

Despite their regular use, relatively little is known about the effects of these collars. One survey, aimed at owners whose pets wore the cone of shame during the past 12 months, showed that 77.4% of their respondents reported a poorer quality of life in their companion animals while the collar was on.

The poorer owner-perceived quality of life score was mostly due to the way the collar interfered with the animal's ability to drink, play, or caused irritation. So, animal healthcare professionals suggest pet owners do their research when choosing the right design for their little buddy.