weird leg injury

[jenny]

My 4 year old cat Ebony has hurt her legs. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but I think the mean dog that lives next door but one has something to do with it. I heard the dog barking and when I came outside to investigate I found ebony sat on my next door neighbour's garage roof crying piteously. It took us about an hour to convince her to get down from there, and when she eventually did she was very distressed, limping and not putting weight on her back left leg. We made her a vet's appointment, but we had to wait until the afternoon cause it was all booked up.

Pretty much all morning she lay still, and when she eventually did move she seemed reluctant to put weight on either of her back legs, not just the left. When I tried to pick her up to carry her to her food bowl I couldn't because it seemed like it was hurting her a lot to be touched, and she was making an awful lot of noise, which is extremely uncharacteristic of her since she's usually very quiet.

Weirdly though, when we took her to the vets late in the afternoon, she shut up completely and started walking perfectly normally. He examined her, said he could see absolutely nothing wrong so she was probably just a little sore, and gave her an anti-inflammatory injection.

When we got her back from the vets she was still sitting still and not moving very much, but when she did move she walked perfectly normally except for maybe a little stiffness in the left leg. However, after a few hours the injury mysteriously reappeared, she started not putting weight on her back legs again and now for some strange reason she's taken to walking backwards.

She's eating perfectly normally. One point though, her claws on all four paws are quite split and worn down. I think she must have done it trying to climb up the garage wall to escape the dog.

When she's grooming herself she's just as flexible as normal, and doesn't seem to have any problems bending or moving her back legs around when there isn't any weight on them. Also the walking backwards thing seems to be an attempt to avoid putting pressure on the legs, as normally when walking forwards the force would come from the back legs, but when walking backwards she's pushing herself along with her front legs.

As I'm writing this, she's gone back to walking pretty much normally.

Erm. So this is an injury which seems to come and go at random. Any insights?

Thanks.

[jason]

i cant offer any advice to injury at hand, but this kitty needs to stay indoors...for many reasons...not just the mean old dirty dog next door (ok, so i am assuming dirty).

im sure someone here will be able to offer some advice to the potential injury.

[jenny]

I've always tried to keep her in doors ever since she was a little kitten. I used to just take her out on a kitty leash, but a few months ago, after years and years of trying to keep her in against her will, I gave up and decided she'd be happier if I let her out. She was always trying to get out through open windows, or sitting at the back door crying to go outside.

Some cats are better suited to the indoor life than others, I suppose. My other cat, her brother, has never shown any interest in going out. It depends on their tempement, and in Ebony's case I do think it's best for her.

I'm not really happy about her going out, but I can't think of a better alternative. And of course, I'll keep her in until she's completely recovered.

[Traci]

Get her back to a NEW vet or preferrably an ER vet clinic ASAP. The damage to the nails may indicate hit by car rather than a dog attack, and if your vet never shaved the area to look for puncture wounds, you're missing vital information in the exam. I would also strongly suggest an x-ray to determine any potential internal damage, which can occur with both a dog attack and by being hit by a car, left undetected, you're taking risks with her health.

What you describe is not normal. Anytime there is obvious pain and weakness in the legs, indicates there is something truly wrong. She could be developing a severe abcess from a bite wound, or from a fracture or break if hit by a car. Can't determine anything until she's seen by a competent vet, x-rayed for injuries, thoroughly examined for any signs of puncture wounds inflicted by dog or other, and to determine potential nerve damage caused by such injuries.

And, I'm sorry, but you won't find anyone here who will advocate outdoor living for cats. As you've witnessed, your kitty is not very happy now, is she? What you have witnessed is only one of many outdoor hazards. Next time might not be so easy, nor treatable.

Please don't equate her happiness with your own perception. Her happiness will be better garanteed if she is acclimated strictly indoors and kept safe from such mishaps.

Again, get her to a new vet or ER vet ASAP, you can't risk letting potential internal injuries going undetected.

[Guest]

I did take her back to the vets (same surgery, different person) this morning as soon as it opened, but again when she got in there she started walking normally. The vet examined her, said there are no wounds on her and that it's probably just bruising. He said the fact that she can walk fine when she has to (like when she's trying to escape the vet, who she hates with a passion) indicates that it's just soreness stopping her rather than any physical damage, but he's giving her an x-ray anyway just to be sure.

And I'm now certain it was the mean dog who caused this, because I talked to the neighbour and she said she'd seen it happen and dragged the dog away.

I do understand your point about not letting cats out, and I did try to keep her in for as long as I could, but it just didn't work. She was always jumping out of open windows or sitting by the door meowing to get out. You can't make a blanket statement that all cats are better off inside, surely it depends on the temperament of the animal? I know that if I were to keep her in she'd be genuinely unhappy. I don't like her going outside and I do worry about her, but I really can't think of a better solution.

[Traci]

Did your vet find anything upon the x-ray and did he thoroughly examine her for puncture wounds? If a dog gets ahold of a cat, not only the puncture wounds can be damaging and life-threatening, but a dog also can shake a cat in the grip of their deadly jaws and cause internal damage, like perforations and diaphragmatic hernias. It is paramount your vet rule these out. Just because she is not showing signs of internal injuries now, doesn't mean she won't in a few days or longer. Just want you to be informed.

As for acclimating cats indoors, it is relatively simple to do, as long as you remain committed to the task. There are others here who can give you excellent pointers and tips. A couple I can think of directly is diverting her attention away from the door, and getting your windows safe with screens and latches she can't pry open.

Temperament has little to do with it. Cats can and are safely acclimated indoors on a daily basis. It's not only for her safety, well being, health and longevity, but once she is acclimated and you provide for her time well spent with her, interactive toys, scratching posts, kitty tree, etc, then yes, she can be happy indefinately, indoors.

[Guest]

We went back to the vets to get her yesterday afternoon, he examined her again and showed us the x-ray, said there's no sign of broken or fractured bones. He was a little worried about the walking backwards thing because he said cats sometimes scrunch up backwards if they have kidney or bladder or intestinal pain, but she's eating and using the litter tray perfectly normally and not overgrooming any areas or showing any signs of internal injury. He gave us a 5 day course of oral anti-inflamatory drops for her and told us to take her back if she doesn't seem to be getting better.

She does seems a lot better today though. She's still not putting much weight on her her back left leg, but she's walking less stiffly and moving around a lot more.

Like I've said, I have tried the not letting her outside thing. I've had her 4 years and for the first 3 I never let her outside on her own. And I think temperament has a lot to do with it. My other cat Hugo is her brother, I got them both at the same time and treated them both in the same way, yet he's content to say in all the time and she isn't. There's no other explanation for it other than temperament.

Lucky though, Ebony's a bit of a wuss, she hates getting wet and never wants to go outside when it's really cold or ranining, so since I live in England it's not a problem for most of the year.

[jason]

He gave us a 5 day course of oral anti-inflamatory drops for her and told us to take her back if she doesn't seem to be getting better.

do keep an eye out and let us know about the progress. keep in mind, these symptoms should not get worse if you are doing the right thing, so if you notice more symptoms or the meds do not appear to be helping then call the vet and be seen before the 5-day course is finished.

Like I've said, I have tried the not letting her outside thing. I've had her 4 years and for the first 3 I never let her outside on her own. And I think temperament has a lot to do with it. My other cat Hugo is her brother, I got them both at the same time and treated them both in the same way, yet he's content to say in all the time and she isn't. There's no other explanation for it other than temperament.

here at cho, we dont call it the "not letting her outside thing"...instead its the only safe way of insuring your cats complete health and happiness for many years. many people on the board have had their fair share of difficult kitties (like extra energy and trying to get out, etc)...you cannot protect her if you let her outside. if you allow her out and are aware of all the dangers, it would appear that its your temperment that has given in. cant save her from other animals, may pickup a disease, you could miss an odd stool/urine characterstic (for spotting health problems), etc etc.

some people are not fully aware of the dangers of having an outdoor or indoor/outdoor kitty, please checkout this link. more reasons than even explained there of course.

do let us know about the progress of Ebony's leg.

[Traci]

Ditto, Jason, excellent post!!

[Mona]

Jason I agree all my thoughts exactly and you said it so eloquently!!

I hope your kitty gets well soon!! A suggestion would be to get her a cat tree, and a lookout at a window. My two girls watch birds and squirrels from inside atop a kitty condo.

Mona, HOneybun and Chloe