Cat tail detachment and euthanizing?

[Gingeydoo]

My cat got hit by a car yesterday, xray shows complete tail detachment. Vet says he will need his tail amputated at some point but for now they're keeping him in to keep an eye on him to see if he can pee by himself. The tail has completely died so he won't regain any feeling in it, they're worried he will be unable to wee and poo on his own.

I asked what happens if he can't wee by himself and they said it's a question of how long they can keep helping him like that and he may need euthanized?? For not being able to pee? I don't mind helping my cat at home to massage and go to the toilet but I certainly won't be killing him for not being able to wee. Will the vets force me to euthanize my cat or am I allowed to take him home and help him myself??

He is completely himself, He was even purring at the vets and loving his strokes and was meowing. I really don't think he's in a state to be put down??

Oh, how awful for you and your poor cat.

I don't really have any advice - I think you'll have to make the difficult judgement as to how much quality of life he will have once he is as much recovered as he can be from his accident.

I think that it needs to be your decision whether poor cat has enough quality of life to carry on.

I worked as a student VN many moons ago and we had a regular patient much like your cat, RTC and could not empty bladder/bowels independently. The owners wanted to keep him going as he was still purring, eating, drinking, giving little head bumps etc. We taught the owners how to massage and help things along and he was fine apart from a visit once every few months to check over.

I agree that a human wouldn't be euthanised for loss of bladder function so why should a cat be. But this only stands if he still has quality of life. If you think he is suffering at all then it's time to make that decision I'm afraid.

Sending healing thoughts to Gingeycat

I don't think they could force you to PTS, but it is a quality of life question. If you and your cat are happy to proceed, then your vet should support you.

There's a nerve in the tail that helps control the bladder and bowel, and I'm guessing that they're waiting to see if there's nerve damage. It doesn't sound like you're at that point yet, so don't cross your bridges until you come to them.

I lived with a housemate whose cat came home one day with no tail 😳. She was fine and behaving as usual.

The purring can be a misleading signal, though. Cats also purr when very ill or in pain.

I think that not being able to pee means a cat could be much more prone to urine infections etc. It may not be easy to make the cat wee. And of course you can't leave the cat all day or go on holiday as it can't be left.

Gingey. Please be aware that a purring cat isn’t always a happy one. Cats purr when in pain and when stressed. They use it as a form of self-soothing. Tbh I would be guided by the vet. Thinking of you. 💐

@Gingeydoo any update on Gingeycat?

If she can't wee by herself there can be a whole load of problems underlying this issue. They're not saying oh if she can't wee pts they're saying if she can't wee there's a lot more internal problems.
You have to think about qol for your cat, just because you love her does not give you the right to keep her alive in pain.

My cat had its tail amputated following being hit by a car. She did have a little stump left mind you, an inch or so long. She had it done at about 12 and lived til she was 20, she got a bit bad at bladder control towards the end but that was her age not the tail. She wasn't as agile but ultimately was pretty much the same cat with no tail.

I really hope you have the same outcome. It might be a 'watch and wait' situation but many cats are fine with no tail.

Ginge is still in the vets, she said it seems harder to express his bladder but it could be a good thing as it could mean some muscles are returning and he is purposely not trying to pee when pressing and also his bum is twitching more! Need to ring this afternoon to see if he can come home

@bananarama12
I care very much for my cats and am leaving HIM in the best place possible where he is under 24 hour care and recieving regular meds. I am doing nothing but doing what is best for him. I just think it's too early to say put him down when many tail detachment injuries take a few weeks to see any progress. I am doing nothing but thinking of the qol for my cat so please don't tell me what I'm doing is wrong. I would never keep a cat alive in pain and no qol just because "I love it" that is ridiculous and I have never said that in my post.

I'd PTS.

Poor mite.

Im sorry this has happened. The ussue is if there is permanent nerve damage to the bladder. If he really can't urinate it is actually quite dangerous and toxins build up and it quickly becomes life threatening. Massage may or may nit work but there is continued risk of uti. In a human a catheter would be used and is often used short term in a cat but it is just not fair or practical in a cat. The good news is that we see many cats post rta and they often cant pee . Once the inflammation goes down there is no permanent damage . Often it then turns into a wont pee scenario and we try to get those cats home to momitor them. Have your vets been able to express his bladder so far?

I think you're doing the right thing, if there was hope I would also wait and see. I certainly didn't read your post and think you were doing what was right for you.

Sending positive thoughts to you and Ginge

Here's hoping it is inflammation that settles. Of course the vets is the right place for now. And it sometimes is a waiting game. You can't instantly have all the information you need to decide whether treatment is possible.
Wishing Ginge well.

How is he doing?

No one has suggested PTS NOW and no one is forcing you to euthanise your cat, so I think you’re jumping the gun a bit.

Your vets are very reasonably trying to prepare you for every eventuality as recovery from spinal injuries can be unpredictable.

It’s not the lack of ability to urinate that’s the problem - it’s the associated spinal nerve damage, the pain from an over-full bladder that the cat can’t empty and the increased risk of urinary tract infections. Having said that, urinary paralysis alone can sometimes be managed at home if you’re dedicated, but this is not practical for many owners and vets have to discuss all of the options. If the cat is not able to pass faeces it’s a different story and this has very severe welfare implications.

It sounds as if your cat has improved recently so fingers crossed for a positive outcome

Haven't updated for a few days but a lot has happened! And I'm not as emotional now.

Ginge is now cathetorised which is easier to empty at home and has made him calmer. He was getting distressed at going to the vets twice a day. His mobility has improved so much he can now clean his private parts again! He even escaped for a few hours a few days ago and hid under a neighbour's shed. He decided to come home at 3.30am and is now a lot happier at home.

Cathetor is to be taken out after the weekend so I'm guessing it will be a test to see if he feels he can pee on his own after then.

Fingers crossed for him.

Wishing him well. Sounding positive.

Sounding hopeful. As similar thing happened to a friends cat. It took over two weeks for her to start peeing by herself (once inflammation and bruising had subsided I guess). That was several years ago and she is as right as rain now.

Good luck and keep us posted x

A friends cat had a similar accident- he lost his tale & it was an anxious wait to see if his continence was ok.

Luckily he was fine.

Hope your cat will be too.