Any tips to make extended cage rest bearable - for both Dcat and me?

[soddinghormones]

My cat has just had major orthopaedic surgery (hip broken in two places plus hopefully transient nerve damage after being hit by a car). He's recovering well and is coming home tonight but he needs a very long convalescence - one month cage-rest, one month confined to one room, last month allowed the run of the house but not to go outside

He's normally very fit, agile and sociable and is going to hate this. How can I make it more bearable for both of us?

Sorry, no advice we're really new to this too. Baggy is refusing to use his litter tray, so think we're going to have to go down the puppy pads route. He seems a bit happier today, except when he needs the toilet when he cries and climbs the walls. He was pretty sweet earlier chatting contentedly to ds (7 on Tuesday) while ds was reading his Pokémon book next to the cage.

Hi cozietoesie, she has settled down a bit and is eating some of her dry food. I tried disguising the anti-biotic in various foods but she wasn't having any of it so I am having to put it in her mouth which she hates. I am also having to squirt her pain killer in. It is supposed to go under her tongue but at the moment I am happy if I get it in her mouth while she struggles. At least this morning she ate some dry food after I had given her the meds, and hopefully that means it is not stressing her too much. I still feel horrible doing it to her, but I know I have to. We have a check up with the nurse tomorrow lunch time.

If it's the painkiller I'm thinking of, you don't need to get it under the tongue, precisely. (Which one is it?)

It never ends! I've just taken his buster collar off for a minute for cleaning and to groom him, and found a tick on his neck. Managed to get it off alive and intact, which is a relief, but that's the last thing he needs, I'm not sure how the vets missed it. His evening cuddle is definitely the highlight of both our days, he just snuggles up and falls asleep for up to 2 hours, we don't have to put him back in the cage until he starts to get down. His general attitude has improved no end after just two days, and I think his eye may even be improving, perhaps he will make a full recovery and not need it taking out. Eye check is on Wednesday, fingers crossed.