Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: c130 on July 01, 2008, 14:03:10 PM

Title: Run-in with a car
Post by: c130 on July 01, 2008, 14:03:10 PM
Dante came in last night, limping and very poorly; we took him to the vet today. They X-rayed him and found that both his legs and his pelvis are broken, which they said is really rare.

I'm just wondering what the healing procedure and future prospects are for a cat who's taken so much damage.

If only I knew whos car it was. :censored:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Canterbury_cats (Sharon) on July 01, 2008, 14:20:19 PM
Any one who remembers Jesiri last year will know he was a rescue cat with one broken leg (front) broken pelvis (back leg, which is why it was so bad, no stability on either front or back), broken tail and broken jaw..

With lots and lots and lots of TLC, vets, money and foster care, he recovered after 10wks in a kitten pen.. He ended up losing his tail but is now a full member of the fosterers home as they took him on after pulling him through..

Its not easy with two broken legs and the important thing is that they can still use the litter tray.. but i wouldnt give up at all.. It may cost a fortune but rest and time is whats is needed, if he is young them even more so...

Good luck..

BTW we are lucky to have a vet who specilises in bones etc locally to us.. You could ask your vet for a referral if the op is difficult.. He works in Faversham and is suppose to be one of the best in the country!
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Millys Mum on July 01, 2008, 16:22:48 PM
Just to add that if he has trouble with controlling his toilets dont give up, iv ready many cases of cats who have managed to heal their nerve damage it just takes a good dose of time  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on July 01, 2008, 17:28:35 PM
Poor Dante, hope he makes a full recovery  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on July 01, 2008, 18:06:24 PM
Ahhh poor Dante ..... sounds like he did well to get home poor baby.

Sending lots and lots of love and healing vibes  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Maddiesmum on July 01, 2008, 18:21:26 PM
Get well soon Dante
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Puffball (Louise) on July 01, 2008, 19:15:55 PM
Poor little baby  :'(
How heart breaking for you. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on July 01, 2008, 23:24:33 PM
Lots of good wishes to Dante  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on July 02, 2008, 08:30:37 AM
Fingers crossed for him.
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Bazsmum on July 02, 2008, 11:13:27 AM
Sending positive vibes for Dante~~~~~Good Luck!  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Liz on July 02, 2008, 13:14:25 PM
We have Tiger who did Pelvis, back legs and full tail amputation - he is now a happy 13 y.o. diabetic former feral and we had issues with the bbladder but my one advice is make sure the vets use his type of litter - tiger was on compost at the time as a feral on the tame down route - it took him nearly 4 days but he persevered

We also have Puma - Major back leg and pelvis injury - 10 weeks in a kitten pen and some serious steel work - now a juvilie delinquent and only when its cold does he limp

I would say if the vets advise cage rest do it don't think the cat knows better they don't as they are usually drugged to the eyeballs and think they are supercat!
 :Crazy:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: c130 on July 02, 2008, 13:50:05 PM
He's off with the surgeons at the vet college today to get mended. They reckon it might not actually have been a car accident, but a bone problem of some kind. The bits broken are the ball joints that connect his legs to his hips and a fracture in the pelvis.

Even so, he clambered out of his cage, pretending it didn't hurt, and wandered around the floor a little, in front of three gobsmacked vets.  :wow:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on July 02, 2008, 14:17:18 PM
Ahhh what a big brave boy .... fingers crossed the surgeons will sort him out and he will be bouncing about again very soon.  :)
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on July 03, 2008, 01:19:28 AM
I do hope they can sort Dante out  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: alisonandarchie on July 03, 2008, 15:56:41 PM
He sounds full  of spirit which is wonderful.

Wishing Dante all the best :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: c130 on July 04, 2008, 12:53:55 PM
He's home now, shaved and stitched up, with four weeks in a cage ahead of him... Seems it was a car after all; they saw no problems with his bones when they put pins in, and he's got massive bruises on his tummy and bum from being hit from behind.


I want to keep him as an indoor cat from now on; he has no road sense whatsoever. Our other cat is very sensible though, and it'd be a shame to keep her inside too. Any ideas on how to let one out, but not the other?
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Millys Mum on July 04, 2008, 18:43:10 PM
Glad you have got him home  :hug:

Is it possible to catproof the garden? That way they both get some freedom but cant get into trouble with a car again.
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on July 04, 2008, 22:26:58 PM
So pleased he is home  ;D
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Gwen on July 04, 2008, 22:31:34 PM
 :yayyy: :yayyy: :yayyy: :yayyy:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: c130 on July 05, 2008, 15:13:53 PM
Glad you have got him home  :hug:

Is it possible to catproof the garden? That way they both get some freedom but cant get into trouble with a car again.

Unfortunately, no. :( Too much stuff - trees, hedge, climbable fences, etc. - that they could use to escape.

Btw. He's going to be in that cage for quite a while, and he's already looking unhappy and bored. Is there anything I could do to keep him entertained? His cage is next to a window atm so he can look out.
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on July 05, 2008, 15:40:55 PM
Can't offer any advice re: the cage rest I'm afraid (thankfully I've never to had to confine my lot)

If you are unable to catproof would it be possible to build a outdoor enclosure / run?

Get well soon Dante  :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Millys Mum on July 05, 2008, 19:36:48 PM
Hedges can be trimmed, trees can have collars and be cut back and fences cant be climbed once the angled netting is up.
If you do a search from the home page for catproofing you will find loads of posts with pics, once you see the system you see how flexible it can be  ;D
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: c130 on July 06, 2008, 01:06:48 AM
Here's a pic... Garden's honestly too wild to catproof.  :doh: We'd need to be able to get in behind all those bushes to put up fencing, but can't. Also, the other cat needs to be allowed to roam freely.

(http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/3198/dantewindowwz1.jpg)
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Maddiesmum on July 06, 2008, 08:14:19 AM
So glad the vets have been able to help Dante, he is beautiful and so is your garden.  An outdoor run would seem the best solution if you really can't catproof.
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on July 06, 2008, 15:01:14 PM
These threads may be of interest re: outdoor enclosures - they have pics of what can be done  ;)

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,4802.0.html

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,16025.0.html

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,7354.0.html
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Bazsmum on July 06, 2008, 20:13:05 PM
Aw bless him....must be so frustrating to the patient being able to look out and not get out!  :( Hope his cage time goes quickly for him!  :Luv: :hug:
Title: Re: Run-in with a car
Post by: Gillian Harvey on July 06, 2008, 23:15:16 PM
I want to keep him as an indoor cat from now on; he has no road sense whatsoever. Our other cat is very sensible though, and it'd be a shame to keep her inside too. Any ideas on how to let one out, but not the other?

I don't think that would be fair on him, especially as he has been used to going out - your garden looks as though it could be catproofed with a bit of work as MM said, cutting back trees, pruning shrubs etc. I can't see if you have existing fencing behind the shrubs, if you have then its easy enough to fix the angled netting to the top of the fence. If you havent, the purrfect fence system might be an option as it doesnt require existing fencing. http://www.purrfectfence.co.uk/

Hope Dante is on the mend soon.  :hug: