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

Original poster

Potato Cat hiding away after amputation

30 replies

FrustratoPotato · 05/11/2020 09:39

Wondering if anyone can give me advice. Our beautiful 9yo male siamese was hit by a car in August and had multiple surgeries to fix broken pelvis, punctured bladder and shattered hip joint. The hip joint couldn't be saved and eventually it became clear that his sciatic nerve was severed and he wouldn't regain use of his leg so it had to be amputated.
The surgery went well, his incision is healing nicely, he can pee/poo/eat/groom with no problems. However, he won't move unless it's to get food or use his litter tray. He's in a large cage because he's been on restricted movement since September but I leave it open when I'm in the room and we take him out for cuddles all the time. It's been 10 days since his surgery and he just lays wherever he is put down. Prior to the amputation he was champing at the bit to get out and run around despite dragging a dead leg behind him. Is it his meds? (loxicom and gabapentin + lactulose) Is he depressed? Can we do anything to help?
I'm waiting on a call from the vet hospital but wanted to hear what the good denizens of mumsnet think.
He's been through so much and I just want him to get his quality of life back.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 05/11/2020 09:43

Give him time and be careful with the cuddles. If you're not in the same room all the time, how do you know he's not moving? They sleep for around 16 hours a day anyway.

BreathyVoix · 05/11/2020 13:31

Why haven't you put the poor soul to sleep already? Totally selfish to inflict all this on him.

Allergictoironing · 05/11/2020 13:48

@BreathyVoix

Why haven't you put the poor soul to sleep already? Totally selfish to inflict all this on him.
The vast majority of cats who need a leg amputated cope perfectly well, some within days. The cat is still in his prime at 9yo. The OP is talking to the vet, and I don't know of any vet who won't tell the owner if they feel the welfare of the animal would be served by having them put down.
BreathyVoix · 05/11/2020 14:16

Ok sorry. Sad

Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 05/11/2020 14:21

Thanks @wowfudge, we're not far away from him and walk past his cage often. When we're in the room he rarely moves. This is very not in keeping with his usual self. It may just be patience that's needed, I hear you. And we're very careful with him. He usually just sleeps on our laps.

@BreathyVoix, not that I need to justify our decision to you but it wasn't clear when it first happened that he would need so much intervention. At first it was just his hip. The pelvis and bladder showed up later. We were hoping that he would recover use of his leg with restricted rest as is often the case with cats. The amputation was to salvage his quality of life going forward. He's got a lot of years left, it's not like he's on death's door. If I could go back with what I know now I might make different choices but we did the best we could with the info we had.

I'm still waiting on a call from the vet. I'm really hoping he's just zonked out by painkillers but DH is worried about internal problems.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 05/11/2020 14:24

Thanks @BreathyVoix

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/11/2020 14:33

Do the other legs need time for the muscles to get stronger so he can walk better?.

Didntgetmydiamondring · 05/11/2020 15:16

Gabapentin makes me sleepy! Didn’t know animals took it too.
10 days isn’t vey long ago, he’s got a lot of adjusting to do. I hope he will soon be back to his old self.

wowfudge · 05/11/2020 15:18

We had a dog who had an amputation and it gave him several more years.

He may be sensitive to the meds so it could be worth asking whether there is anything else he could have instead - have you had a look at possible side effects of what he's being given?

Gooseygoosey12345 · 05/11/2020 18:27

Probably a mix of the medication, adapting to his new body and recovering from surgery. I'd say he just needs some time as long as he's well in himself re eating, drinking, toileting and grooming. Hope he feels better soon!

Bargebill19 · 05/11/2020 18:29

Oh poor boy. I would also guess meds. As he can move for food, litter tray, to groom does he show any signs of being a bit wobbly? - eg doopy from the meds?
Fwiw I would have done the same as you have so far!

Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 05/11/2020 18:34

Thanks everyone, the vet said that if the gabapentin is no longer being utilised by his body for pain then it will likely be sedating him. I'm to taper off his dosage gradually starting tonight so he doesn't get the DTs. I'm hoping it's a good sign because we think he was in alot of pain before and that this has stopped it. He's the loveliest, cleverest, cuddliest and most social cat I've ever had. We all just love him so much!

OP posts:
Cattermole · 05/11/2020 18:43

DH's late cat had three legs and lived a full and happy life for about 12 years afterwards. The only thing he struggled with was scratching his ears....
Apparently he was very sad and just sat on the bottom of the stairs for days, and then one afternoon he forgot that he wasn't supposed to be able to get upstairs and went thundering up.

Obelix, our rescue cat, was hit by a car before we got him and his tail had to be amputated. They were worried about his pelvis and the nerves in his back, too, but after a week or so of extreme feline grumpiness here we are.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 05/11/2020 18:55

(((Gentle Hugs))) for Potato Cat.

Of course you made the best decisions you could at each stage. 🌷

Years ago our big boy cat came up the steep driveway, dragging his leg along. We (obviously) took him to the vets & it was determined it was either PTS or amputate. We elected to have the amputation. He ended up staying at the vets for longer than initially expected, but once he came home he made a good recovery. We were living at my MIL's at the time & previous to his accudent she used to allow/encourage him onto the dining table (bleurgh!!) and I was astounded how quickly the little bugger regained the ability to do that. It didn't seem to hold him back from anything!!

I'm sure your boy will be back to himself once you get him off the meds. Xx

stella1know · 05/11/2020 19:37

I can only add that our neighbours have a weird-looking half-siamese, who had a road accident aged 6 and had a hind leg amputated. It was awful to see it at first but he’s as right as rain now, 2 years later. Limps when he walks but he can run really fast. He comes over and poos in our soil, also hunts birds, mice, and left a dead stoat in the middle of the lawn. I think he has a good life and we are extra kind to him when the owners have loud parties, he comes round for some nibbles and quiet on the terrace. Also encounters our badgers who don’t harm him at all (caught on camera).

Wishing your cat a good recovery and a long and happy life.

persistentwoman · 05/11/2020 19:59

I had a cat with three legs after an amputation for a cancerous paw. Obviously he didn't have any other injuries like yours OP. It took him about a week to get his balance - initially he did a good bit of falling over but he learnt to cope brilliantly. Climbed fences, jumped, still played with the other cat. He lived a good life until for another 4 years until the cancer returned.

Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 05/11/2020 20:35

So nice to read all the lovely 'stumpycat' (what DS has started calling ours) stories. Persistent so sorry to hear about your wee guy.
Potatocat is currently cowering from fireworks in the furthest corner of the living room. That got him out of his cage at least... poor wee sausage.

OP posts:
firedragon101 · 05/11/2020 21:31

C'mon op you know the rules....photo please! Or maybe once he's feeling up to posing for the camera?!
It's still early days, poor boy has been through a lot, give him time, I'm sure he'll be fine soon. 🐾🐾🐾

Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 06/11/2020 14:17

Here he is sitting on my lap. You can see his scar and the place where his leg should be. He's a bit brighter today.

Potato Cat hiding away after amputation
OP posts:
wowfudge · 06/11/2020 19:40

He looks very dignified and a cutie. Glad he seems to be recovering well.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/11/2020 19:43

It’s a shock to the system for any animal. Hatefully his other hind leg will adapt to being on its own.

bjjgirl · 06/11/2020 19:47

My Dcat has been 3 legged and happy for the past 8 years! Give him time the medication and scar will need time to heal, lots of strokes and cuddles.
Thin about little ramps for when he comes out of the cage just until he builds his strength up

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2020 07:20

How is he?.

Original poster
FrustratoPotato · 09/11/2020 10:40

I'm just waiting at the vet for the stitches to be removed. He's started moving around a wee bit more since stopping his gabapentin. He even jumped up on a dining room chair this morning. Vet says we can stop all painkillers and let him roam the house freely! I think he'll start being a bit more adventurous now. We'll keep the cage for a week or so just in case we go out but hopefully it will be gone before December.
Thanks for all your kind words everyone.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 09/11/2020 10:42

He’s doing so well already. Is he Happier?.