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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

Can you help?

34 replies

thegreylady · 27/07/2014 09:34

On Thurday we we were out for the day leaving our cats with access in and out of the house and with lots of water indoors.
When we returned at 5.30 after going out at about 11.30 we found our 16 year old cat had managed to somehow trap her back legs in the handle of a duspan and wedge said dustpan behind a ladder in the garage. Her back legs were very deeply wounded where she had tried to get free and she couldn't stand.
We took her straight to the vet who said she was very dehydrated and she was an in patient on a drip until Saturday morning. We got her home yesterday. The vet said she was still a bit wobbly but otherwise ok. She is eating (sardines only) and drinking and peeing in a tray by her bed however she will not stand or attempt to walk. If we hold her up she will wobble about a foot forward then lie down again. She is back at the vet tomorrow morning but what should I do to help her in the meantime?
She wont walk to her food I have to put the dish right by her.

Can you help?

Can you help?

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TillyWithercoat · 27/07/2014 10:18

I guess like any very eldery lady who has has a nasty injury she's scared and pained, and frightened to test her boundaries in case it resuts in more pain.

I think lots of patience and TLC is what's needed.

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 10:31

Thanks Tilly. She just got into the litter tray for a wee which is good. Should we encourage her to move or let her be?

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 11:37

I'd let her be, physically, but do lots of talking to her.

Having a pee is indeed good because it will relieve her. It also shows that she's still capable of it. (If she's anything like Seniorboy, she'll have wriggled to Kingdom Come to try to get out of her bad situation and could well have strained some muscles or something in the attempts - they'll take time to recover.)

Poor old girl. Has the vet given her any pain or other meds to be going on with?

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 13:00

She has anti inflammatories and has been given a 14 day antibiotic jab. She has had a very small poo. She doesnt want to be held but responds to stroking or talking. She will struggle to the litter tray if she needs to. Unfortunately her brother, who really fretted when she was at the vets, wont go near her now which is very sad.

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 13:44

Even a small poo is good - although check with the vet tomorrow morning about maybe giving her something to ease poo passage in case it's difficult. (She may say No for the time being.)

It's really a case of letting her rest physically to recover although keep on talking to her so that she still feels loved. Siamese are sometimes prone to going into a despond so you need to prevent that and talking should help. (If she'll take the odd gentle stroke, even better.)

Neither would I worry too much about her brother at this stage. Not only will she likely still have a smell of vet but she's probably giving off vibes (which another cat would pick up) of 'Come near me and you're dead meat' - so he would be sensible to stay out of her way. Leave it for a few days or until she's more mobile and see how they get on then.

Awful for you to have a much loved one upset or in pain. Taste treats and love will help - but also so will going about your normal household business which will reassure her and him both.

Best of luck to her and let us know how she gets on tomorrow?

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 14:03

PS - might be a good idea to keep an occasional weather eye on her nether regions. If she's sore and not too mobile, she may not be able to clean herself so well and with cats loving to be clean, it's just possible ('possible') that a quick bit of help with a damp cloth would be welcome.

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 16:00

That's a good idea cozie :)
We brought her basket into the living room for a while but she wasn't happy. She purrs a bit if I stroke her. If she tries to walk her back legs sort of cross over and she falls. She managed about 4 steps without falling. I can't bear to watch!

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 16:32

Best to just let her rest and dictate her own speed about things, I think. It sounds as if she wants to be fairly private - so be it - but does she like a low volume radio or similar sound source on? She might like that for company and normality.

She was darned lucky she didn't break a bone during her incident.

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 16:51

To be honest I am beginning to worry about a possible fracture.
We lifted her basket between us on the sofa so we could just stroke her and she was very happy, butting her head against my hand and purring but she can't walk. I havent lifted her up again, I am just carrying the basket with her in it. I think she likes us near by, but just wants to be left in her bed. I feel so helpless, poor old girl :(

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 16:56

Surely the vet checked for a fracture? (It's so easily done when they get themselves wedged and struggle to free themselves.)

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 17:14

I don't know. There is no mention of an Xray on the receipt. There are just various medications and the drip and the hospitalisation. Surely he must have checked. We are there at 9.30 tomorrow morning so I will ask, they have such little bones.

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SecretWitch · 27/07/2014 17:25

I feel so terrible for your sweet old girl. Must have been such an upsetting experience for her (and you too!) I am hoping she will begin to feel better as the days pass. Sending hugs to you all..

Ps. She is a lovely looking girl.

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 17:33

Yes - check everything with the vet tomorrow morning. It's possible that she really is that sore and tetchy with just some muscle trauma and - bad gashes I think you said? (Although you have to remember the Siamese 'Dying Duck in a Thunderstorm' thing as well: they're sometimes given to playing up to a role for more attention from their person.)

Let us know how things go in the morning.

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thegreylady · 27/07/2014 20:06

Yes she is a bit of a prima donna but it isn't like her to stay in her bed all day. She has twice got out to lie on the cool floor instead of her blanket and she will go to a small tray beside her bed.
There are quite nasty deep wounds on the lower part of both legs and the worst one is swollen as well. Just given her tea and she ate one sardine and about 6 little biscuits. She also accepted the anti inflammatory. We will see what tomorrow brings and I will let you know. I really value your support.
Fwiw she is a Tonkinese which is a cross between Siamese and Burmese but recognised as a breed. I took her to a couple of shows as a kitten and she did well but I didn't like the experience much.

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cozietoesie · 27/07/2014 22:19

Ah - a Tonk! That makes sense now. My head was saying probably an older Siamese but there was 'just something' about her that didn't look quite as ......I don't know ......... posy, say, as a Siamese can manage in front of a camera.

Ask away when you get to the vet with her tomorrow but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she mainly needs a good long rest after her ordeal. Shoot - I need a rest in this heat and I haven't been through what she did!

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RubbishMantra · 27/07/2014 23:00

Oh, your poor girl. What an awful thing for you to come home to.

I agree with you about checking your vet x-rayed her, to set your mind at rest if nothing else.

I hope she has a speedy recovery.

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thegreylady · 28/07/2014 08:52

Off to the vet shortly. She seems steadier this morning and the best news is that she and her brother were having a mutual grooming session when I lifted her onto our bed this morning.

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cozietoesie · 28/07/2014 08:58

That will raise both their spirits. Good news anyway in general and best of luck at the vets this morning.

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MaryMarigold · 28/07/2014 09:48

My much younger cat got her hind legs stuck between a wall and a fence recently (and had to be rescued by 5 firemen!!). It took her a good fortnight to recover despite having no fractures or other injuries and her behaviour was exactly what you describe in your cat. She's absolutely fine now though.

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thegreylady · 28/07/2014 10:16

Just back from vet who was definite that there were no fracures...phewww! He says he is very pleased with her progress and says there should just be steady improvement from now on. He said it had been a very nasty injury especially for an old cat and we should just carry on as we are. She will now totter a few steps using all four legs but is obviously keen for room service to be maintained :)

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cozietoesie · 28/07/2014 10:30

She rather looks from that picture as if she's starting to enjoy the room service despite her troubles!

(Good news at the vets.)

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cozietoesie · 28/07/2014 13:28

I must say that 5 firemen was rather greedy of you MaryMarigold !

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thegreylady · 28/07/2014 14:23

Yes MM firemen are always a welcome addition. I have found that the guaranteed way to get Madam to try her legs is to move her a few feet from her home comforts but in sight of them. After a few plaintive mews she will get up and stagger back to bed :)
I refuse to lift her sardine plate to her lips tonight she will have to get to it...maybe :)

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timtam23 · 28/07/2014 20:08

Sorry to hear about your cat's injury greylady. She's very beautiful. Glad that she's showing signs of improvement & the vet is pleased with her. Until recently I had 2 elderly cats and it did definitely take them longer to bounce back from illness etc.

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cozietoesie · 29/07/2014 12:05

How is she today?

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