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

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

The litter tray

FieldCat vs the car, didn't go well

37 replies

FieldRose · 03/07/2014 13:16

FieldCat got hit yesterday afternoon by a car. I saw it happen right outside our house. The car wasn't even going that fast - FieldCat just seemed to walk straight out into its rear wheel.

He's had a load of Xrays. His pelvis is broken, and his spine isn't lining up right. They're bringing in an orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow to operate. Long-term he should be ok, but obviously they can't guarantee it. There could be neurological complications, the surgery might not work, there's one broken bone in his hip that they definitely can't fix but he should be ok with that once they've removed it...

Cost £500 for the Xrays and care so far. The surgery will cost £2-£2.5K. We're insured with Petplan for £4K for the policy year and I've been trying to get the insurance people to pay the vet directly. The vet's happy with this, and Petplan have said that whilst they can't guarantee any claim would be paid until it is actually claimed, they couldn't see any reason why it wouldn't be paid.

Please reassure me that a) FieldCat will be ok and b) that the insurance will pay.

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cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 13:19

There's a fair to good chance on both, I think?

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FieldRose · 03/07/2014 13:27

I hope so. I just feel completely downheartened after spending 10 minutes on the phone to the vet whilst they explain everything bad that could happen in the run up to the surgery, during surgery and after...

And not really able to get a definitive answer from the insurance people is frustrating. I'm not sure we could afford the surgery without the insurance paying out.

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cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 13:37

Neither lot can give you 'for definites', FieldRose, because there are clearly risks associated with the surgery - and I never knew an insurance company to guarantee on any claim until they had it in front of them.

I know there are posters here who have had as bad situations, though, and their cats and ccs have come out the other side fine. Keep us up to date with how it goes.

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chockbic · 03/07/2014 13:48

Its the vets duty to inform you of all the possible risks, however small.

Sort of like when you go for an operation. There's a small chance you might die under anaesthetic. There you are a few hours later, eating a mangy bit of dry toast. Supping a brew that tastes of Satan's bathwater.

Fingers crossed for your boy.

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FieldRose · 03/07/2014 21:16

Saw him this afternoon. He looked very forlorn, poor thing.

We're all shattered from the past two days. Operation is tomorrow.

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timtam23 · 03/07/2014 21:25

sorry to hear about FieldCat. Good luck for tomorrow.

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cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:52

The best of luck to him tomorrow. Let us know how he's doing once you hear.

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VeganCow · 04/07/2014 10:22

Just read this, hope the op goes ok today.

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FieldRose · 04/07/2014 16:04

The op went well!

He's all pinned and back in place. Should be home next week.

And... The insurers are covering it and after costs started escalating, the vets agreed to cap the cost so it wouldn't go over the policy maximum (without compromising on his care).

He's got 6 weeks in a cage. Any top tips on how best to look after a normally feisty energetic cat who hates to poo in litter trays very much appreciated. We're borrowing a cage and some vetbed blankets...

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FieldRose · 04/07/2014 16:09

Energetic is the wrong word. Hates to be given rules, hates being kept inside. Very entitled is probably the best way to describe him!

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cozietoesie · 04/07/2014 16:51

Oh that is good news.

As to the cage - I'm sort of stumped given that he's in there to restrict his movement so shouldn't be lively inside it. He'll doubtless hate it.

Whereabouts are you planning to place it - shall it be somewhere where he'll still be able to see what's going on and feel part of the family ?

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charleybarley · 04/07/2014 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VeganCow · 04/07/2014 17:09

glad went ok :)
Having had to crate rest a Jack Russell for 6 weeks and only managing 2 days, I can tell you its hard. My dog was damaging herself trying to get out so I had to not crate rest.
I think I would ask for some natural calmer like Zylkene, also plug in a Feliway diffuser next to the crate.
You could put soil in the litter tray instead of litter?

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Lovethesea · 04/07/2014 18:00

When mine was on cage rest for orthopaedic post car fight surgery last year I took the cage in th garden a lot. Made sure it was shaded and had lots of water etc but I think he loved the breeze and listening and watching it all.

We were told initially 6 weeks but he needed caging for 16 in the end so be aware it might take a lot longer. Our cat had smashed his front leg to pieces so it was pinned externally with a frame. When that came off he still needed to be caged so he didn't jump down onto it from height until it had adjusted to not having the pins in anymore. He's absolutely fine now. No sign of injury and still bringing us rabbits. A lot.

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FieldRose · 04/07/2014 18:49

Thanks everyone. All excellent ideas. I shall start making a list.

I think he'll probably be in the lounge in the day and then maybe we can try and take him upstairs at night. If he's really loud at night (complaining), we might have to rethink and bring him back downstairs. It's not a big house, the lounge and our room are probably the only places the crate will fit.

Good idea to take him outside in it though. It's sad that he's going to miss the summer. At least that way he might get a little bit of it.

Good to hear others' stories though. He'll be sorting out those rabbits again before long.

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cozietoesie · 04/07/2014 19:41

The trick with complaining is to ignore it - cats are pretty pragmatic so if it doesn't work, he'll likely give up. I think he'd probably like to be upstairs with you at night.

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FieldRose · 05/07/2014 20:17

We'll give it our best shot.

DH went to see him this evening, and he's doing really well. So well, he might be home tomorrow! Surgeon had originally said Tuesday so we weren't expecting anything so soon.

So I've got my bum in gear and ordered some cardboard litter trays, some zylkene and a refill for our feliway. And we've checked up on the arrival of the cage and vetbeds we are being leant. Soil, I will grab from the garden.

We're as ready as we can be for the big arrival : )

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demolitionduo · 05/07/2014 20:22

Wishing FieldCat a speedy recovery.

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timtam23 · 05/07/2014 23:09

I have no words of wisdom about crates etc but am glad he is recovering well

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Rhubarbgarden · 05/07/2014 23:33

Rhubarbcat had to spend two weeks in a crate after cancer surgery. I thought she would go berserk, but she settled pretty quickly. At first we put her somewhere quiet, thinking that would help her rest, but then moved her to the playroom which sounds mad, but she was much happier there. She was by the French doors so got some sunshine and could watch the birds outside when she wasn't watching two small children. We were told we could take her out for cuddles, which we did every evening as soon as the kids were in bed, and it was obvious that she looked forward to this bit of the new routine.

I was surprised how well she dealt with it all actually.

Hope he recovers quickly.

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Rhubarbgarden · 05/07/2014 23:34

Oh - one thing that definitely cheered her up was a heat pad popped in her bed.

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FieldRose · 06/07/2014 21:04

Oooh heat pad.

Our other cat would have absolutely loved that. He was a heat fiend. FieldCat has never been as fussed.

He's home though. In his box. Very wobbly and sleeping lots. So far so good!

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cozietoesie · 06/07/2014 21:09

What temperature was it in the house, Rhubarb? I've had to switch off Seniorboy's blanket here - and he's even snoozing on top of the bed, unheard of in normal times. Maybe it's not quite the right season for a pad?

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NCISaddict · 06/07/2014 21:14

Glad to hear he's doing well but it made me smile when you described him as 'entitled'. Doesn't that apply to every cat? It does to everyone that's ever allowed me to live with it.

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Rhubarbgarden · 06/07/2014 21:16

It wasn't particularly cold, as it was late May, but most of her back had been shaved and she usually sleeps under the duvet with us, so she was definitely feeling chilly.

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