I started a thread a few weeks ago looking for advice and support after my cat’s RTA (and my mini mental breakdown) but it didn’t really get any responses.
We have now completed 11 weeks of crate rest (x-rays at 6 weeks showed very minimal healing) which were extremely stressful and resulted in him chewing half his tail off out of frustration and having to have the remainder amputated.
Ideally repeat x-rays would have been carried out last week but I have literally exhausted all funds at this point so decisions at his assessment on Friday were based solely on physical exam - palpation of the pelvic area which he was not bothered about, how well he appeared to be walking around, no presence of a limp, and rectal exam to feel the bones. Based upon this assessment the vet was happy to sign him off. Advice was to remove crate rest but restrict to a single room for a few days, then indoors only for at least 2 weeks. They only need to see him again if I have concerns.
I have noticed since he has been loose in the living room that his ability to jump up onto things is quite impaired. He really has to think about it, positions his front legs quite wide and uses his front legs & claws as an anchor to pull himself up as he jumps. Anything much higher is a no go, I had to remove a scratching post with shelves from the room just because the reliance on his front legs meant that he just pulled it over.
I suspect this is probably down to muscle wastage from the extended crate rest, yet also worry this could be something else. I guess I’m just looking to see if anyone else has experienced similar with their cats after being confined for prolonged periods and wondering how long it took for your cats to regain full mobility? Based on how he currently is I’m too worried to even extend his access to the whole house in case he does himself a mischief never-mind him being fit to go out in two weeks, which mentally he is more than ready for, he’s dying to get out, throwing little paddys!