Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

cat at emergency vet - handholding needed please

46 replies

soddinghormones · 20/09/2014 02:11

Got woken up at 1am by our ex-Dubai street cat yowling at the front door. My first thought was 'bloody hell Shuri - what's wrong with the cat flap' but he was being really insistent so I went downstairs to let him in. It was immediately obvious something was badly wrong - he was trailing his back leg and had a big cut on his head. Rushed him to the emergency vet which thankfully is only ten minutes away. It looks like there's some neurological damage and the vet needs to check for internal injuries. He's having x-rays and ultrasound and they'll call me first thing with the results. He's such a fabulously lovely and loving cat I'm keeping everything crossed he's OK. He never normally goes out at night - I thought he was upstairs with one of the children. Thankfully he is insured so we won't be faced with making decisions about his care based on cost. I'm knackered but can't sleep.

OP posts:

Pipbin · 20/09/2014 20:55

I can recommend the Sureflap pet door which you can set a curfew timer on. Invaluable to us as our cat flap isn't in the house and involves going outside for us to lock it.

So glad he is doing better. I remember when shameless baby substitute cat had to go to the emergency vets and stay overnight, I just stood there and cried.

It's funny how cats from other countries look different. Friends have had three Spanish cats. They are all legs and tails.

cozietoesie · 20/09/2014 20:59

All the best to the lad and let us know how he is tomorrow.

hiddenhome · 21/09/2014 00:09

Gosh, what a beautiful kitty.

Hope he makes a swift recovery. He sounds like he's doing well so far.

Original poster

soddinghormones · 21/09/2014 11:08

He's still in a lot of pain so staying in overnight and will be transferred to regular vet first thing tomorrow. We're going to visit him now to see if that cheers him up

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 21/09/2014 11:15

Positive thoughts to him then. I remember you bringing him across so I feel like I know him especially.

Gileswithachainsaw · 21/09/2014 11:24

Aw hope he comes home tomorrow. Big cuddles

Labrat72 · 21/09/2014 11:29

Aww. He's lovely. Such a handsome boy. Hope he's feeling better soon. He'll hopefully feel much better when he's seen you.

Original poster

soddinghormones · 21/09/2014 16:58

Poor little thing was looking very miserable when we got there but as soon as he saw dd and me he started purring really loudly and then ate the food he'd spurned before. We had a long cuddle and stroking session and the vet said he'd obviously been terribly homesick.

He's on heavy duty pain relief as his head injury is worse than originally thought - he has a dent in his skull underneath where the skin had split open but amazingly no swelling and no sign of brain damage. The vet said he'd been incredibly lucky as he'd never seen a cat with a similar head injury who hadn't also suffered from a broken jaw.

He's being transferred by ambulance tomorrow morning to our regular vet so we'll find out more about the longterm plan then

OP posts:

Pipbin · 21/09/2014 20:49

Poor boy. Thank goodness he is insured so you needn't worry about the cost.

If he's eating then that has to be a good sign.

cozietoesie · 21/09/2014 22:19

Poor lad - in fact poor all of you. Let us know how he is tomorrow.

cozietoesie · 22/09/2014 13:34

How is he doing?

Original poster

soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 14:39

He's home now and can't stop purring - unfortunately our vet's just called to say he's been sent the x-rays from the emergency vet and he's been misdiagnosed. He's actually fractured his hip so will need surgery after all. We've been referred to an orthopaedic specialist who is very good but eye-wateringly expensive so that's our holiday down the drain as insurance won't cover all of it. It's a good thing in one way that I'm not working at the moment as he needs quite a bit of nursing

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 22/09/2014 14:48

How soon shall he have to go in again for surgery? (And I'm guessing he'll need cage rest afterwards?) A long chat with your vet is on the cards I'm guessing.

One good thing though - imagine if this or something similar had happened to him in Dubai before he met your DH ? He'd likely have been headed to the nearest wheelie bin I'm afraid. Even here, the average life of street cats is nowhere near as long as those living with humans.

Is he getting taste treats along with cuddles right now?

Original poster

soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 14:54

I've not heard from the specialist yet but our vet said it should be done ASAP - and yes, prolonged crate rest afterwards

He's having a snooze now but has had many Dreamies and a whole tin of chicken Applaws (nom nom nom says Shuri )

Yes I know he's incredibly lucky really - he's about 4.5 now and the chances of him still being alive if he were still on the streets are pretty slim I suspect

OP posts:

Original poster

soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 21:17

He's going in for an assessment first thing tomorrow and will probably have surgery straight away as long as everything else is ok. It's going to cost about £4000 - eek! Insurance won't cover it all

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/09/2014 21:24

Which insurance company are you with? Why won't they cover it?

cozietoesie · 22/09/2014 21:25

What? Have you told the vet that your insurance won't cover it all?

Original poster

soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 21:31

We're with pet protect - the maximum payout in any one year for his policy is £4000 and we've already spent £1200 at the emergency vet . I've told the specialist our insurance won't cover the whole bill so hope he can 'tailor' it to be a bit closer to our budget ...

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 22/09/2014 21:35

That's very difficult. Being a cynical soul, I would always like some reassurance that the prices weren't at the 'golden' end of the scale just because you had insurance but you can get yourself so locked in to a process and a veterinary route that it's not always easy to withdraw at any one point.

Do you think there's any mileage in negotiation on the earlier misdiagnosis that you mentioned? I'd be inclined to give them hell for it - or to get someone else who wasn't emotionally involved to give them hell while I cried gently into my handkerchief. That is a lot of money.

Original poster

soddinghormones · 23/09/2014 23:07

Well he's had his operation and come through very well - it turned out there were two fractures in the end (which made it even more expensive ) but at least he's now on the road to recovery

He has to have THREE MONTHS convalescence - one month total crate rest, one month staying in one room and the last month having the run of the house but he's not allowed outside until Christmas Eve - not sure who'll go mad first, him or me?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 23/09/2014 23:20

Yikes. You better buy something soothing for your throat because I suspect you're going to have to do a lot of talking.

There are at least a couple of posters around who've had to have cats on extended cage rest so they may be able to give you tips.

Glad he came through the op well anyway.

Flip

1 2