help my cat will lose his tail on Monday :(

butler_helen

morning all- good news! He's up and about his tail still isn't working and he won't sit on his bum - he just lyes out with his tail and legs stretched but he's still ventured out from under the bed:)

His litter does clump but it doesn't reek so much and he does a good job of burying his messes... although in emptying the tray it was clear he's used it. We watched last night as he put his tail outside the tray and his bottom in the tray and did his business against the wall - result was a clean cat and proof he'd used it:) I've never been so happy at such a gross event!

his tail still isn't moving and he can't walk upstairs - lots of grumping and growling whilst it takes him a minute to do the 10second journey, so we're going back tomorrow morning. I'd rather see the vet once a week and know I'm doing the right thing than not see the vet and it be getting worse.

I do hope we get told to wait a few weeks, administer pain killers and come back in march for a check up!

thank you for all your stories- it makes me feel better than it isn't going to affect his life in a bad way

(we've had our usual cuddles today and when I was lying on the floor he seemed pleased to be able to tag my new shoes as 'his', so signs are good!).

clancy

Awww thats excellent news am really pleased he seems to be improving

rita-rabbit

personally I would insist the vet do something sooner - imagine walking around with an unset broken limb

clancy

How did it go at the vets today?? Did he also give him some pain relief??

picklepick

rita, i can understand what you're saying but its not an unset broken limb. its nerve damage. he wont be able to feel his tail but the base will be sore where it was crushed or the vertebrae stretched.

surely its better to wait and manage his pain rather than prematurely amputate it. thats what i feel anyway.

helen, im glad hes feeling better today!

butler_helen

Morning all! Good news!

Yesterday morning we took a very grumpy boots to the vets where they asked about toilet habits which i said were ok but he was straining and not eating. The vet asked about his ability to wee and I said it seemed ok but that seemed a strain too. Therefore she's giving him an xray on Monday to check he's not got a fractured pelvis and to investigate the tail without the chance of boots biting her (he's 'volatile'!). All this is good news as we can rule out 'real' injuries and perhaps just prescribe 'time' to wait and see. However if he has done damage which will eventually make him
incontenant we will have a tough decision to make.

Anyways... We went in with a cat who wouldn't lift his tail off the floor and this morning he can get it horizontal! He's had antibiotics and painkillers and will get more today- but it's still a great sign.

Even better we had our usual purring wake up call (he even rubbed my nose) and he's eaten a whole pouch:)

I'm daring to dream that my title should read 'how to cope when a cat crushes their tail'.

(he's spent £260 Inc the xrays so thank god for pet insurance!)

Thank you guys for your lovely posts

foreign_correspondent

Glad to hear he sounds happier - still cannot understand why the vet has waited so long before x rays though...

butler_helen

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Glad to hear he sounds happier - still cannot understand why the vet has waited so long before x rays though...

Yes I completely agree, but their answer is that an aneasthetic is an unnecessary risk if there was nothing wrong. I was totally going to demand one if they hadn't offered on yesterday. He's just starting to jump now- the pain killers are clearly helping him!

clancy

Glad to hear that Boots is improving so much, i kept on about pain relief as i knew this would make him feel so much better and start moving about more...
(((((hugs))))) for Boots

butler_helen

Morning, more good news. I dropped boots off at 8:15 for his xrays and shaving and I've just heard back from the vets - all is fine and it's a wait and see job!

wahooooooo so excited to hear he's done no real damage to his body, well nothing we can't fix or amputate. Therefore he's coming home with a load of pain killers and antibiotics with instructions to wait a few weeks and see how he progresses. I'm so excited as this morning he was so loving and happily received all the cuddles I had to offer (including yours clancy).

None of this has been cheap though - I can't express enough how vital pet insurance is, for £12.93 per month (PetPlan) he's had over £800 worth of veterinary care with this tail shenanigans costing over £300 (could be more if his tail doesn't improve). Luckily the vet will do a direct claim where the insurance pays them so I'm on my £80 down (which I was saving for Uggs which I'm not glad I hadn't bought!).

Hugs and thanks to everyone especially Clancy for your thoughts and stories :dance: