Cat done something painful to her leg :(

[catsofa]

My cat is 15 and has been losing muscle tone and getting floppy and doddery for a while now.

This evening I was asleep on the sofa and she jumped on me to wake me up to feed her and slid off and landed not right. She howled and howled and has obviously really hurt a back leg, holding it up and won't put any weight on it, went to hide under the bed and creep about and howl some more for ages.

The vets were only open for another 10 mins so I couldn't get her there in time but we've got an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. She settled for a nap on the bed for an hour or so but every time she moves it obviously really really hurts again and she does more howling and crying. I'm wondering if she's broken it, although it still looks straight as far as I can see, there's possibly a bump down low quite near her paw.

She's eaten a bit when I brought her dinner to her in bed. I just feel terrible, she's got so frail I'm scared I'll lose her. My mum died three years ago and I couldn't let anyone near me apart from the cat, she's so cuddly and affectionate, I dread the day I have to lose her.

Should I try to make a tiny ice pack for her leg? Could this do any harm?

[spanky2]

Can you afford an out of hours visit? Insist on an appointment in the morning if not. Put the dirt tray and food near her. She may have just strained it. Wanting food is a really good sign.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

If she is still in this must pain tomorrow I would insist on a morning appointment and don't give any breakfast in case she needs an X-ray.

[catsofa]

Good point about the litter tray, she'll probably sleep in my bed as usual but I'll have to try to make some sort of cat staircase to the floor so she'll attempt to get on and off the bed to pee.

I'm pregnant, I have a disintegrating tooth and it's taken months for me to get a dentist appointment which is tomorrow morning, so I think I'm going to have to do that first. I'll see how early the vets open to see if I could take her in before that, but without my own transport it's a bit tricky to get back in time, the taxis always take ages and ages to pick me up.

I'll feed her as much as I can tonight and then give nothing until after they've seen her tomorrow. Yes at least she is eating and has been sleeping a bit, so hopefully she'll get through the night without too much pain. Poor little mite!

[spanky2]

How did you both get on?

[catsofa]

Missed the dentist 'cos I felt so ill myself this morning, so we both just stayed in bed til nearly 1pm! She was curled up next to me snoring and purring happily so I just thought I'd leave her for as long as I could. Pretended to cuddle her then suddenly tipped her in the cat carrier where she howled and howled, I always feel so guilty about that bit!

Vet doesn't think it's broken and has given her an anti inflammatory to help it heal, it's still really sore and cat keeps complaining to me about it asking me to please sort it out. She also had bloods taken again as she's lost weight since last vets visit so we're going to have her thyroid checked again.

I think I need to construct cat staircases up from the floor to her favourite chair and the bed now so she doesn't have to jump too far. Hope it heals up quickly, poor little thing. Full two pouches of dinner have been wolfed down so I guess that's a good sign.

Is there anything I can do to get the smell of vets/disinfectant off her? Neither of us like it very much - it's that hospital smell I associate with Bad Things happening, and she probably does too now!

[spanky2]

My cat had over active thyroid. There are two types of medication that are available. It is a case of finding the one that suits the cat best. Pets at home sell moist wipes for cats. I hope you feel better today. Thank you for the update.

[catsofa]

Vet called with blood results this morning and sure enough her thyroid levels are now too high. Might actually be lucky that she had the accident she did, otherwise I'd not have taken her back for a while having been told her levels were fine last time we went. I knew there was something wrong though.

Apparently we can choose between one tablet twice a day, or special food. I've ordered loads of the special food since not only can I not get pills down her but I'd have to ask my neighbour to do it whenever I'm away, which would be really difficult and stressful for both him and the cat.

So, she'll be costing me a fortune but at least this means her weight loss and floppiness of the last year or so might get sorted out, which would be brilliant.

She now has a special miaow which means "Pick me up and put me on this chair please so I don't have to jump". I just do as I'm told

[BlackWings]

When my cat's got old I built them little ramps upto their beds, even nailed old carpet cuttings onto them for grip (spoiled rotten). They slept in a sort of deep high shelving unit though, bit like a makeshift cattery. Not sure it would work on soft furnishings

[Lonecatwithkitten]

A word of warning the special food only works if your cat eats absolutely nothing else, if it eats nothing else even tiny amounts of other food the special food will be ineffective.

[spanky2]

Yes that is true. We went for the tablets as we had another cat. Also he loved fish and chicken. Another very indulged spoiled cat, but he deserved it!

[spanky2]

We stopped stays away from home because of the medication he was on!

[catsofa]

Thank you yes the vet did warn me about that. My cat was overweight when I got her so I started out being very strict about no treats, and have just kept up the habit so she rarely gets anything else anyway. Occasionally a bite of whatever I'm having, so that'll have to stop. But apart from the very occasional mouse she doesn't get much else anyway so I doubt she'll notice.

She was sitting on the back of the sofa when I got in earlier, so she obviously can clamber all the way up there ok, she's just exploiting my sympathy and enjoying bossing me around.

[catsofa]

Other people looking after her was part of the reason I went with the food option, I absolutely have to go away for a few days at a time sometimes and it would be so stressy to ask someone else to give tablets. The food I don't think either herself or her other carers will really notice, provided she actually likes the taste of the food.

[spanky2]

Why would she do it herself when she can get you to?! I honestly think they view us as their servants. I am constantly opening doors for cats that don't want to use the cat flap.

[spanky2]

Our cat was elderly with other medications just in case I made you worry about going away! Our vet was astounded how he lasted so long with arthritis, heart murmur,dry eyes, hyperthyroidism and kidney failure. The kidney failure first presented as cystitis so watch out for that. All of these conditions were treated with medication. I was so glad I am a housewife as the eye drops were three times a day. I forgot he had an immflamatory mouth condition which needed steroids for! He was such a loving and wonderful boy. The thyroid condition was controlled for several years, not to panic you.

[catsofa]

Oh god, I bet that's what happens to us. Cat has almost never had any illness at all until this, is absolutely indispensable to the household and makes very clear that she's having a great time all the time apart from when anything actually hurts. So I expect she'll sail through her old age needing more and more drugs but then doing just fine on them, purring her head off and simply yowling for me whenever she can't be bothered to do something under her own steam. I hope so anyway, I need her cuddles for as long as possible.

Honestly though, she has apparently never figured out how to gently push a door open and just sits there quietly until someone comes and opens it for her. She's had fifteen years to figure out how to do it for herself, the door moves in the slightest gust of wind... OMG and come to think of it she can open the bathroom door to watch me using the loo! So no reason she can't do the kitchen one, she'd just rather make me come over in case I give her some food too. I can't believe I've only just worked this out!

[Fluffycloudland77]

She has you very well trained doesn't she?

[spanky2]

My elderly boy had his meals on the sofa. When he was ill with a sore mouth I blended his food and sometimes let him lick it off my fingers! Litter tray in front of the sofa, little stool to get on and off the sofa. But he was my eldest (furry,) child.
Why do cats like to watch you on the toilet? One of our other cats loves to. He also likes balls of toilet roll thrown in the air to catch!
Your girl sounds worth the extra effort with the pleasure she gives!

[catsofa]

Yeah this cat is my PFB cat, totally spoilt and indulged. When I first got her she was very clingy, and I nearly bought a baby sling so I could free up my hands to do stuff around the house while still carrying her around everywhere. No washing up got done for weeks because I was always holding a cat. She's a bit more secure now and mostly lies somewhere near me waiting for me to sit still so she can sit on me for cuddles. Allows me to wash up so that there is a bowl clean for her dinner.

[spanky2]

She sounds adorable.