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The litter tray

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

Original poster

Cat - Fractured leg

25 replies

Feelingfree · 25/04/2021 13:49

My DCat has fractured her femur and chipped a bit off the head off the femur. Vet thinks she has been clipped by a car/bike. She is just over 1 1/2 years old.

She is now at vets awaiting surgery which will be in the next couple of days. Vet is hopeful of repair with a pin but cannot rule out amputation.

Has anyone else been through this ? If so what what was the outcome / recovery time etc.

OP posts:
Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 25/04/2021 16:36

Poor thing. I hope she will be okay Flowers no experience just wanted to bump in case someone else has been through the same.

Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong · 26/04/2021 09:19

I'm so sorry. Ours recently had a leg fracture and dislocated his hip, had to have the femoral head removed (2 operations). He seems to be recovering well (3 weeks in, estimated recovery time 5 - 8 weeks). He's 10 months old. I will keep my fingers crossed for you but vets are amazing with what they know, and cats seem to respond well to treatments.

Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong · 26/04/2021 12:09

I think we need another bump here!

Original poster
Feelingfree · 26/04/2021 13:22

Thanks for replies. Vet is planning on crosspining - part of the femoral head broke off but they are fairly hopeful pinning will fix it. It will then be 6-8 weeks in a dog crate.

@Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong - can’t imagine the price of 2 operations. This one will be in excess of £4K and will use up my insurance limit for this year. Hope your cat is on the mend.

OP posts:
Schknickerl · 26/04/2021 19:51

Big hand hold Flowers I found my 18mth old on Friday in the garden, with what I know now know to be afractured femur. I thank god he made it home. Picked him up Saturday after surgery, steel rod and wires to repair.

I'm super proud of him but not going to lie, I've only had 5 hrs sleep combined over weekend to keep an eye on him every hour. The cone of shame was stressing him very badly he wouldn't eat or drink. I've made the decision to take it off and touch wood wound ok and he is eating and drinking now. He not used his litter yet though, he hasn't been in the house in last 10mths even though litter never removed. I'm ringing the vets tomorrow to see if going so long is normal when confined.

Keep us updated it's good to know we not alone.

Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong · 27/04/2021 08:25

Ooh yes the costs! Two operations about £4,500 which has almost used up our £5,000 allocation for the year. Thank goodness the policy renews on 10 August so we only have to keep him out of trouble for a relatively short term!

Schknickerl - I'm so sorry and offer a big hand hold. You are so right to be absolutely proud of him that he made it home (exactly the same as ours did) - it's a homage to their determination and also that they know where their true sanctuary lies. Don't worry about the litter, the medications may have slowed down his digestion and take comfort that he is eating and drinking - always a good sign.

Please keep us updated, as you say, it's a comfort to know we're not alone.

Schknickerl · 27/04/2021 11:53

Thanks @Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong

It's hard isn't it. Only got 2hrs sleep last night keeping an eye on him. He finally used his litter for a 💩 at 130am this morning after spending an hour at the living room door yowling to go out. Yey Smile I had 3 different litter trays down with different types of litter.

He sleepy today though so not sure if it took it out of him bending his leg to get in position. Caught him tugging at one of his stitches as well so I've got 2 different soft protective collars coming today. Not sure how we'll get on with that, must be better than the extreme reaction to the cone if shame.

Schknickerl · 27/04/2021 11:56

@Feelingfree

How your DCat doing?

Original poster
Feelingfree · 27/04/2021 11:59

Thanks for asking, it is good to speak to others who have been through this.

She was due to have surgery this morning so I’m waiting (not patiently) for an update but I’ll update here when I know.

OP posts:
Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong · 27/04/2021 18:24

Yes it is tiring, looking after convalescing cats. I feel like I'm sleep deprived a lot of the time and have just woken up from a (excuse the pun) cat nap.

Ours is doing really well but when your back is turned he will do things such as jump onto the bed. We are going to get him checked out early next week to make sure the vet is happy with his recovery.

Great news re the litter tray, good nutrition and digestion I'm sure will help with the healing process.

Original poster
Feelingfree · 27/04/2021 18:43

My cat has had her surgery. Now has a pin and screws in her leg. They want to keep her in at least 2 days.

@Schknickerl, glad your cat is using the litter tray now. I’ve got all this to come. Interested to know how the collar works out for him. I hate seeing them in a cone.

Hope you both get some sleep 💤 tonight

OP posts:
Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong · 27/04/2021 20:48

Bless you, that's kind.

Schknickerl · 02/05/2021 05:38

@Feelingfree has your DCat come home yet? Hope you both ok. The soft cat collars came, luckily I haven't had to use them as he has left his stitches alone since thankfully.

Last few days with my DCat have been hectic, it's like having a baby whos just learned to walk, I have to have eyes in back if my head. He's feeling a lot better, it was I'm turning into a 3 man job getting his litter out the crate as he kept jumping out. I mentioned it to vet at his 1 week checkup and she said it was fine to allow him out the crate if we could minimise the risk of him jumping. So that's what we've done, he seems a little happier now he has more freedom. I'm off to buy some interactive cat toys and a feliway diffuser later to see if that helps also.

@Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong how's your DCat doing?

Original poster
Feelingfree · 02/05/2021 08:37

@Schknickerl - sounds like you cat is on the mend nicely. Cats do make tricky patients 😀

I brought her home Wednesday. I have two medium crates joined together so she can sleep in one and food and litter tray in the other with a gap in the middle so food is not too near tray. I have been walking her on a lead around the front room 4-5 times a day as vet suggested.

I’m amazed how quickly they can walk, she’s not even limping. Had a few issues with keeping the cone on but it has now stayed on a couple of days so I’m hopeful. She can had stitches out next Friday, I think it will get easier then. It’s going to be a long 6 weeks.

OP posts:
Lozzie51 · 02/05/2021 08:48

My dcat was also hit by a car and had similar injuries to yours. Fracture could be easily felt through skin. Vet pinned him back together - thank goodness for insurance and he spent a long 6 weeks in cage rest. Like you I had a double cage so his food and litter tray were separate from his sleeping area. He was very frustrated and became difficult to handle as he had been a stray and became quite feral again. At times I did wonder if I had made the right decision but he was only 3 yrs old. Once out of his cage he spent a few more weeks housebound and was then let out again. Within a couple of weeks one of the pins protruded through his skin so he had an op to remove the pins. He is now 13 and still active, full of beans and a happy cat. The only thing is if the weather is wet / cold he sometimes has a slight limp but does not seem in pain or slowed down by it. X-rays have shown arthritis but he is happy. He was knocked over in torrential rain and our vet told us cats are often bought in when it's raining. He said he was because they tend to focus on straight ahead and so their vision is impacted. As a result of this I do try to keep him in if it's raining heavily. Good luck with your cat. You do have a difficult few weeks ahead of you but it will be worth it.

Original poster
Feelingfree · 02/05/2021 14:00

Thanks @Lozzie51 it’s good to hear a success story. I didn’t know the fact about rain/vision, something to bear in mind for the future

OP posts:
DeanImpala67 · 02/05/2021 14:09

Our cat was 2 when she jumped off a single storey roof and caught her leg in the slats of the outside table she landed on, snapped her front leg right across it. She ended up with pins in it and is still going strong on it 12 years later. You can feel the pins in the leg when you stroke her leg but they have never bothered her since. It's fab what the vets can do, we thought it was the end for her when it happened but gladly we were wrong. I hope everything goes well for your cat and they live a long and happy life too.

Tempusfudgeit · 02/05/2021 14:20

I had a fabulous 3-legged cat, he could clear a 6ft fence. He couldn't hunt real animals so he used to bring me back other tribute - crisp packets, cigarette boxes etc. Fondly missed, he is. Lived a long, happy life 😀

IHaveBrilloHair · 02/05/2021 14:22

I have a 3 legged cat, she rules the other 2 in our house and cuddles up next to me in my bed every night.

NeurologicallySpeaking · 03/05/2021 20:22

How is your cat now @Feelingfree ?

My 9 month old kitten was run over on Thursday and has had a femoral neck fracture pinned this afternoon (had to have life-saving abdominal surgery first before the weekend and then recover from that). Hoping to get him home in a couple of days for the 6 weeks cage rest.

Original poster
Feelingfree · 03/05/2021 22:26

@NeurologicallySpeaking - sorry to hear about your cat. Mine is 17 months. We are 6 days in and she is getting better by the day. Being young has it’s advantages. We walk her around the front room on a lead 4/5 times a day and she’s not even limping now.

Keep us updated when he is home

OP posts:
Original poster
Feelingfree · 08/05/2021 21:56

@NeurologicallySpeaking , @Schknickerl , @Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong. How are cats doing ?

Mine had her stitches out today. We are nearly 2 weeks post op and another 4 to go before x ray. She’s desperate to go out poor thing.

OP posts:
Alissicca17 · 09/05/2021 00:22

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NeurologicallySpeaking · 10/05/2021 20:50

Yeah he isn't too bad since we bought an XL cage so at least he has enough space. He is so grateful for a cuddle but then cries when we lock him back in. Have to be cruel to be kind though. He soon falls asleep which is all for the best as more rest.

Schknickerl · 12/05/2021 09:02

Hi all, sorry for lack of update. We are 3 weeks in and he was doing g really well until yesterday.

He refused his food and spent all day hidden and when Jen over he was slinking on all fours so I think he is pain. The spot where the pin is visible under the skin is very swollen so I think it's something to do with that. We're at the vets this morning so will keep you posted.

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