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

Very subdued after being chased...

32 replies

Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 09:36

My very elderly boy was chased at high speed by a neighbour's terrier last night. Wasn't caught, but was very frightened, as were we (and the terrier's owner.....he was heading to the car and the dog just took off like a rocket). The cat was chased into our own garden and house (the back door was open) and so turned a few corners very quickly, as did the dog (the back path chips were scattered for several metres all over the lawn).

Anyway, he seems fine physically, has let us feel all his legs and feet, has been thoroughly checked for bites on his bum and tail etc, and there don't seem to be any injuries. He was a bit wobbly all last night and spent the evening under the blanket on our bed (normally he's a lap cat). Today he's moving fine, but he's totally silent (this one's a singer) and has gone straight to bed after eating.

Do you think I ought to take him to the vet, just to check? That's trauma I'd rather not put him through if I can avoid it. I may just be an overprotective (and very angry at the dog) "mama". He's just so subdued and not his usual chirpy self. I'm guessing he's still a bit shocked. OH thinks we should let him recover quietly today and see how he is tomorrow, and I'm inclined to agree. I'm also inclined to panic though, especially as he's so old. He's a fit old boy though - he still jumps up and down off beds and tables etc, and he can still clearly out-gallop a west highland terrier at full homicidal maniac speed.....thank crunchie.

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Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 09:38

I say old - he's 19 in the autumn.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/05/2019 10:20

WOW! What a champion! He can outrun a young fit terrier at 19!!!

I don't know about vet or not, but I do think he deserves extra pets, cuddles and treats until he has reached that stage where he is all

"yeah and that young whippersnapper of a terrier thought he could get me, silly lad. I showed him. They don't make dogs like they used to! Why when I was a young 'un..."

to an audience of appreciative kittens.

GarthFunkel · 14/05/2019 10:46

he can still clearly out-gallop a west highland terrier at full homicidal maniac speed At 19? He's probably bloody knackered Grin Give him the good food and all the cuddles and tell him how brave he is.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/05/2019 11:04

In all seriousness, my lungs ache and burn after I've run for it when I have been am unfit. I remember running like the clappers through the campus I was studying at once to a place of safety pursued by a man who got out of a car and chased me and I shook for ages, as well as felt actually sick from the shock and exertion. It took a couple of days before I stopped feeling achy and hoarse. I imagine puss feels much the same Flowers.

Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 11:06

I'm just being anxious aren't I? At the moment he's snuggled deep into a feather duvet on our bed, sound asleep. Poor knackered wee soul. The silence is just freaking me out. He is a noisy sod most of the time, belting out cat-opera and yodelling at full volume when he's awake. This silence is quite unnerving.

I'm just glad I didn't catch the dog. It would not have ended well.

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Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 11:07

Yetanotherspartacus, that's terrifying! No wonder your adrenaline was all going crazy for days. I know I didn't sleep well last night and it was just my (very special) cat who was chased. I need to drink less coffee....

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/05/2019 11:28

I reckon I'd see how he goes today ... I suspect his lungs are burning poor lad. Unless your spidey senses tell you he is unwell in which case maybe a vet visit is the way to go? I do get the dilemma here though because that might make him worse :(.

Yes, what happened to me was terrifying. The enormity didn't hit until after I was safe though. I knew the 'snickelways' between buildings and he didn't ...

Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 14:31

I'm glad you were able to escape. I bet it haunted you for years.

We appear to be on the road to recovery here - self included. He's eaten, had a wash, wandered round the garden for 10 minutes and has rediscovered his voice. A short cuddle on the bed and now he's under the blanket, snoring. He's a bit dainty on one of his back legs, but he's not limping or avoiding using it. He's just being a bit careful. Fingers crossed he's not going to need the stress of a vet visit.

Thank you for keeping me from worrying myself insane.

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FriarTuck · 14/05/2019 14:36

He's possibly pulled a muscle or strained his legs a bit with all that running and cornering, poor lad. It's the sort of thing a decent vet would recommend warm cuddles and special treats for Grin
Glad he's sounding more back to his usual self though.

SecretWitch · 14/05/2019 14:36

Oh poor boy💐 He’s had quite a shock, hasn’t he? I would let him be and give lots of cuddles when he wants them. Perhaps ring vet if he hasn’t recovered after today?

Jamsangwich · 14/05/2019 14:41

I think it's a wee muscle strain too. He's happy to have me massage his leg all up and down it, so it's not a bone injury. His claws are also still all intact so he's not split any of them. I'm stunned that he got away with it. I honestly thought he'd have a heart attack last night when we'd got him safe....and there I was, thinking he'd used up all his 9 lives already.

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Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 15/05/2019 09:11

How is he this morning? Hope he's back on form.

Jamsangwich · 15/05/2019 09:26

We ended up taking him to the vets last night. About 3pm he got up to eat and wander round the garden and the tender legs had developed into a distinct limp.

Vet checked him over thoroughly and found a torn toenail on one of his back paws (which I'd missed....feeling guilty here) and bruises coming up between his back toes. No permanent damage but he's going to be a bit sore and tender for a week or so.

He's now happily snoozing on our bed.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 15/05/2019 09:43

Poor brave darling! I hope that the vet told him he was a good and brave boy and gave him a treat and that he used his newly recovered voice to thank the vet?

I'm glad he is OK. Please give him a special smooch and treat for me.

FriarTuck · 15/05/2019 10:32

Big cuddles (for DCat, obviously!) from me too. He'll be fine - he's probably pulled the toenail himself for extra sympathy!!

Jamsangwich · 15/05/2019 10:39

It was worse....the poor sod had a blood test and his front toenails trimmed too, seeing as we were there and he was due both. Normally we do his front nails (he doesn't walk far enough any more to wear them down naturally) but his vet is quicker and he was there, so we lumped it in along with a blood test that was due soon. Poor honey didn't know what had hit him and needed lots of snuggles last night, and a couple of bits of naice ham to soothe the ruffled feathers.

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TheGrassIsSeveralShadesOfBlue · 15/05/2019 10:45

What an amazing cat! 19! Definitely lots of cuddles.

I think wariness is a natural reaction to things like that. I have a (much younger) cat who is bullied by the horrible cat down the road. Whenever he chases her, she won't go out of the back door the next day unless I come with her and stay with her for a bit to make sure she is OK Hmm

YetAnotherSpartacus · 15/05/2019 10:49

Oh no! He must feel so persecuted poor love. I do hope that the dog in question got grounded for his misdemeanor.

Jamsangwich · 15/05/2019 11:02

The owner grabbed the dog in our garden and took it home on its back (so it was being carried, held firmly in a submissive position), as OH saw it whilst I was trying to coax my boy out from under a chair so I could check him. It's a bit of a pest at the best of times, nipping posties and being very territorial and protective of its older brother, and the female owner just didn't assert herself, so he thought he was top dog. The man she's married has MUCH more control, and the dog behaves most of the time now. This time, it just happened so quickly we were all taken by surprise.

I want it on a lead before it leaves their house, if it can't be trusted. My boy could have died.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 15/05/2019 11:08

I want it on a lead before it leaves their house, if it can't be trusted. My boy could have died

Absolutely. I totally get that. We've all been a bit jokey, but that has been at the back of my mind as I am sure it has been others too.

I now live in dog central and when the time is right to get a cat I'm a bit resentful that I know I will have to cat proof the garden or decking because I can't trust the local dogs or the dogs that are walked in the park near me.

I am so glad that your boy is OK.

Do you have a picture btw?

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 15/05/2019 11:11

This sort of thing really does put your cat out of sorts.
Years ago when Basil was 2ish he was caught by an escaped terrier on our street. Managed to get them apart but there was a lot of blood and I took Basil to the emergency vet.
It turned out the blood belonged to the terrier, but Basil was very shaken (and also had to be bathed because he smelt so bad). It took him a good few days to recover his spirit.
The dog owner was hugely apologetic and paid for our emergency vet bill & the dog sent flowers to Basil the following day Grin.

Glad your cat sounds to be on the mend - despite the vet visit!

Jamsangwich · 15/05/2019 11:13

Just chillin'

Very subdued after being chased...
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YetAnotherSpartacus · 15/05/2019 11:27

Oh My! What a sweetheart! his face is clearly saying 'what did I do wrong?'.

Jamsangwich · 15/05/2019 11:40

This is a more recent photo, taken last summer.

Very subdued after being chased...
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FriarTuck · 15/05/2019 11:47

What a handsome fella!

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