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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cage for convalescing cat

27 replies

ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 10:20

Hi all

Our young boy cat broke his back leg this weekend so he is awaiting an op followed by three to four weeks of cage confinement.

Does anyone know how large the cage should be? He's a small cat but obviously we want him to have as much space as necessary for him to be comfy for that long. Argos have a few that look promising.

I mentioned this on another thread but if anyone reading this is looking for a reason to insure their pet, we're looking at £1k to fix his leg and we have a baby due in 8 weeks! Next on my list is insurance for him and his sister, who is thankfully more sensible.

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 27/05/2014 10:30

I'd get a dog cage, myself. You need to have one that will accommodate a tray, food and bed easily.

As an aside, have you checked with your vet on the cage? Many vets have cages that they will lend you or rent cheaply.

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 10:37

That's a good idea, I'll check with the vet. Can't think puss will enjoy having to spend all his time next to his loo but needs must.

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MrsLettuce · 27/05/2014 10:47

We had similar with one of out cats - used a large dog cage and he really didn't mind much at all. I think it was about 1 meter 10 cm by about 75 cm.

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 11:34

Dog bed, it is, great. The vet doesn't lend them out but that's OK.

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MrsLettuce · 27/05/2014 12:00

Ours was also tall enough that we could squish in to visit him - he liked that.

Cage for convalescing cat
Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 12:55

I love how you've made it look quite decoratively appealing! We've got ours arriving tomorrow so now all we need to do is make it comfy and add a litter tray. Think if I tried to squeeze in in my condition I might end up being a permanent resident!

I'd love to know how he managed to break his leg - it's a mystery, as is so much of cat life.

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cozietoesie · 27/05/2014 13:03

Lone was talking briefly, at the weekend I think, about cats getting their legs wedged behind radiators as a quite common cause of domestic mishaps. I should imagine there could be lots of indoor and outdoor scenarios where a cat could get part trapped in something and wrench itself free but causing a fracture. Even falling awkwardly in a confined space could do it - they're good at falling but by no means perfect.

Little blighter. Are you investigating insurance for the two of them?

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 13:15

I sure am, I'll be having a good look through that insurance thread from the weekend now the two year old is down for his nap.

The cat is 18 months old and has really begun to expand his territory recently, staying away for up to a couple of days at a time and returning absolutely pooped. The vet said this is normal for a youngster in the recent nice weather, though his sister is content in the garden. Apparently the injury looks like the result of an awkward fall, but definitely not a car accident, as his claws show no signs of being scuffed - found that quite interesting. Young bones not yet at full strength, maybe.

Anyway, it's a cost we could have done without but it's manageable, and with a bit of luck he'll be out of confinement and off the sick list before baby arrives. All in all it could have been a lot worse - I was fearing thousands of pounds and some difficult decisions.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 27/05/2014 13:32

Good luck with him then - and let us know how it goes. He's young enough that his bones should heal quite quickly I would have thought.

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 27/05/2014 13:54

Thanks, I will. The vet seems to think he'll be fine post op with youth on his side.

It's nice to be back in this section of MN, I was here a lot under a different guise when the cats were kittens researching food and various equipment.

Must now resist the temptation to spoil him. A Zooplus raid for premium brand food would go down like a lead balloon around here at the moment!

OP posts:
Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 28/05/2014 19:01

The patient will be home tomorrow. I visited tonight - think the vet wanted a bit of a pat on the back for his efforts, he was very excited to show me the xrays of the leg. He thinks it was a car accident because although the first vet missed it, the cat's front class are all but gone. Cat himself is in rude health, if half bald! We could have brought him home today but the 24 hour delivery of the new cage let us down, so tomorrow it will be.

We've had a gorgeous little brood of baby bluetits coming to the garden today. I hope girl cat decides she can do better after this morning's mutilated rabbit. I am still not over that sight!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 28/05/2014 19:17

Sounds very positive. Keep us up to date with his progress?

Smile
Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 30/05/2014 08:13

He is home - pic later. Not impressed with his confinement but his sister is pleased to have him home and has been sleeping next to the cage. He's got the radio on (I realise that makes me sound a bit mad but it's better than listening to him yowling). Wonder how else I'll stop him getting bored. He's not meant to be up and about so most toys seem out of the question.

Any ideas or will family comings and goings be enough to keep him amused?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 30/05/2014 16:35

The radio doesn't sound mad at all - I'm a great believer in having a radio or TV on at lowish volume because I think it can act as a soothing thing. I've seen it work with a couple of cats including Seniorboy.

He is going to get a bit bored and there's no way round that, I'm afraid, given that he's got to stay not fully active. Trouble is that with his leg fixed (subject to healing), he won't be in such pain anymore and you can't sit him down and reason with him.

Nice that his sis is sleeping next to the cage. Is it placed where he can observe the family in action?

cozietoesie · 30/05/2014 16:50

I think I was maybe being a bit defeatist there. Has he any small soft toys that he could have in the cage with him? All my boys have had little teddy/dog mini soft toys (usually ex kiddy toys from ebay or charity shop boxes) that they've liked to chew, carry around and dip in their food bowls.

(Luckily, kiddy toys can be put in the washing machine for a quick rinse through and they're virtually dry when they come out.)

One or two of those in rotation might be comforting to him and wouldn't necessarily give rise to leaping about

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/05/2014 17:43

Prop an ipad up with youtube videos for cats.

He has his own ipad I assume? Wink

cozietoesie · 30/05/2014 17:50
Grin
Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 30/05/2014 22:00

An iPad and Radio 4...imagine. He'd probably start sending me emails detailing his thoughts around foreign policy before long.

Looking into his eyes I see no remorse for the fact he's just cost us £1k.

Here he is - it looks like he's wearing a tiny Ugg boot!

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cozietoesie · 30/05/2014 22:23

Nope - no signs of penitence at all!

Has his yowling diminished?

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 30/05/2014 22:32

Yes, he's slept all day, though he gets fairly vocal when we make a fuss of him and he realises he's not allowed out. He's obviously a bit knocked out by the medication he's come home with and it doesn't take him long to realise his limits when he tries to hobble about.

Girl cat seems to have gone on hunger strike now he's back. They are mysterious creatures.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 30/05/2014 22:38

Her routine and environment are all to pot but she should adjust after a sulk.

Best of luck and let us know how things go.

cozietoesie · 01/06/2014 23:16

How is the patient doing, ImA ?

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 07/06/2014 07:29

Thanks for asking, sorry - haven't popped back for a while. He is becoming increasingly livid with cage life and removed some of his staples himself, but he needn't have bothered as the vet promptly put them back in. Vet is very pleased with his progress so he's permitted the odd stroll now. Silly bugger will insist on jumping on and off things, though. He's also chewed his cardboard bed all the way around the extent that it looks like a frilly girls' one - not at all befitting his manly catness!

I remember from that C4 documentary that cats seem not to have any particular bond with their owners, but I'm sure he looked up at me with something like a look of gratitude as he laid against my leg. Then again...

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cozietoesie · 07/06/2014 09:45

No particular bond with their owners? Poppycock.

Well it depends on the cat of course. Some could see you no further than the nearest plate of food and, of course, there's little or no reason why any sensible animal should continue to like a person who doesn't much care for them - which some people don't.

Others, however, bond so very closely.

I'm glad he's coming on even though he's going a little stir crazy. It should all be for the best.

How is girlcat reacting to this still-caged brother?

Original poster
ImAMonkeyMess · 10/06/2014 19:05

Girlcat's sympathy ran out days ago, she just gets on with her stuff and pokes her nose through the cage bars sometimes, probably to mock.

Back to the vet this evening... staples out but another month in confinement! Nightmare. Can't help but wonder if six weeks locked up in a cage in the house will change his behaviour. He'll certainly need to rebuild his territory from scratch, I would think.

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