Cat with broken leg

[tryingtoimprove]

My cat has broken his leg, and is currently at the vets. Over the weekend he is going to have the leg pinned with screws sticking out the side.

My question is how can I make life comfortable for him when he comes home - he loves being outside so is going to hate the confines of the house.

Should I get a large animal crate for him to sleep in so he doesn't come to mischief at night?

Should I get him a scratching post/climbing thing?

Any other advice

TIA

It is best if he is not too active and I usually advise clients to use a large cage for them and allow only supervised time out of it. You will need to be quite careful however using a cage that the sides are smooth. Something like thick cardboard lining the inside held on with cable ties so that he can not catch the metal work from his leg in the wire of the cage. It should have a lid to it so he is not tempted to jump - most cages will come with one already, the problems come if people try and adapt a childs playpen type of thing usually. The crate should be big enough for a comfy bed, a food and water bowl and a litter tray.

Once the leg it pinned and therefore immobilised he should be a much happier cat. To us looking at pins sticking out of a leg it is quite emotional and certainly looks painful but these little animals just do so well in most cases it is amazing to see. Your vet will quite possible send him home on some pain killers for the first while after surgery anyway, and should give you full advice about how to care for him at home too. The level of activity/confinement needed will depend on the nature of the fracture and fixation too.

Thank you very much beautifulgirls.

This may be a how long is a piece of string question but I forgot to ask the vet how long the metal frame will be on for - is that weeks or months? He's 10 months old.

It is a straight fracture (as in straight line, not at an angle).

Will I have to keep him separated from his brother?

Also will he require any special food?

Sorry for all the questions.

Depends how quickly he heals but in a 10 month old all being well perhaps 6-8 weeks might be a good average guess. His brother is only likely to be an issue with him if they get playful (or fight?!) with the activity levels. For food - a little light food for a few days not a bad idea as stress etc can sometimes lead to a tummy upset so have some chicken and/or white fish to hand, but otherwise normal cat food should be fine.

I have a patient currently wearing her External fixator she has adapted very well to her 'strange metal work' we have a special fixator cage that we can lend to clients it is actually a very large wooden box so nothing for it to catch on too.

Everything as beautiful girls has said before.

Thank you both very much.

I will ask vet if they have a large wooden box special fixator cage we can borrow.