What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Guest]

My cat Honey is hurt! She was laying on my sofa this morning and didn't even try to move when I put frontline on her. Mind you she often goes out a lot at night and sleeps all days so nothing really odd there. A while later I heard a lot of meowing, a little distressed but thought nothing of it as I knew there was a mouse in the house (was seen eating the cat biscuits this morning!) and one of the cats makes that sort of noise when she brings a mouse in.

 

When I went upstairs later I found Honey laying on my bedroom floor - in the middle of the floor. I thought that was most odd as she would normally be on the bed or snuggled up against a wall. I stroked her and she didn't seem right so I picked her up and she seemed wrong then when I put her down she wouldn't put one leg down at all. All that miowing must have been her getting upstairs, in pain. We've made her comfortable in one of her favorite spots upstairs now and got an appointment with the vet for 6pm.

 

Her Sister had a leg problem just after we moved in here - she ruptured a cruciate ligament and we were told she would need tablets for the rest of her life but after 2 weeks she refused them. She's totally fine although she does find climbing trees harder than she used to! I'm hoping for something like this with Honey. She was fine yesterday, someone delivered something and we had to chase her out of his van (we let our cats have free range of the front garden as there is no road there).

Edited September 9, 2008 by Guest

[Gamebird]

Poor Honey

 

Good luck at the vet's tonight.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about poor Honey . Hope it's not too serious.

[lisa33]

Poor Honey. I hope she's OK.

[Karen & co.]

I hope she is alright

 

Karen x

[bellekatz]

Poor Honey - hope she is Ok - let us know how she gets on.

[Guest]

Thank you all. Unfortunately its not good news - her leg is broken. We have to take her tomorrow for an x-ray and bloods to get a clearer picture. If it's been broken in an accident then they should be able to operate and one of the vets is an orthopedic specialist.

 

Of course it could be something else, a bone tumor or osteosporsis (sp) that has caused the break. She is 14 so quite elderly.

 

There is also the option of amputation which Mum hates.

 

The second bit of the bad news is that of course we don't have pet insurance. And the rough estimate is for £1800 but having said that I just got a quote to see if it would have cost more and it would be costing near on £60 a month to insure the three cats so its only 3 years premiums.

 

We had the option of bringing her home and keeping her confined until we take her back tomorrow or leaving her there to travel with the vet to the other branch. She's lying in my broody cage (which was COVERED in mud and chicken poo!) on a quilt in front of a roaring fire. The vet injected her for pain and swelling and she is allowed some food but feels too rough to even touch her favourite tuna which is in her cage.

[Omletina Kyckling]

Oh, poor Honey! I hope you can get her sorted out soon. It'd be so much easier if they could just tell us what the problem is, rather than us having to second guess what a particular miaow means. Fingers crossed for her.

[bellekatz]

poor baby One of my cats had his leg pinned about 7 years ago after an accident. He has been fine since then. He saw an orthopaedic specialist whow as brilliant so lets hope it is that rather than a bone tumour which is not as easily treated. Hope she feels better and manages to eat something and that the news tomorrow is better rather than worse

 

Love

jayne

[Emma Tarpey]

Poor honey Hope she gets better soon fingers crossed Hope you get good news

[Gamebird]

Oh dear, probably not the diagnosis you would have wanted.

 

Maybe the further tests will prove more hopeful.

 

Good luck.

[Couperwife]

oh poor Honey

 

I remember when Piper Kit broke her foot, she used to cry every time she jumped down or up anywhere (she looked sooo cute with a big blue foot bandage though )

 

hope Honey feels better soon.

 

lots of love and pussycat snuggles from me, kev and Piper Kit

 

cathy

x

[Cinnamon]

Oh how horrible for you all.

Any news yet Pengy?

[Guest]

Well it's not good news really nothing has changed but her leg isn't broken, he knee is completely dislocated.

 

The bloods showed nothing except an indication of infection so she is now on antibiotics. The vet thinks this type of injury can only have happend as the result of a blow so I am stumped. This happened overnight. She hasn't been hit by a car - vet said no sign of any other trauma so has ruled that out. She can't have been kicked by an ASBO kid - we live in the middle of nowhere and it's pitch black out there after dark. We only have 2 lots of neighbors, all of the industrial units were closed. The only thing I'm wondering is if she got kicked somehow by next doors horse.

 

Regarding surgery, nothing really changes, it will need pinning or a plate and she can't tell me more until she speaks to the orthopedic specialist, who fortunately is one of ttheir own practice - otherwise the costs would be even higher.

 

I must say it seems odd that she's not here with me in front of the fire, I've been able to leave my warm blanket out without fear that she'll sleep on it (she's a proper little hairy mary!)

 

I'll have more news tomorrow I guess.

[Couperwife]

oh no

 

poor puss, and poor you

 

((hugs))

 

cathy

x

[Cooks]

oh no, only just seen this, wishing her well.

[Olly]

oh, poor puss - still, it sounds as if it's something that can be sorted out.

 

I'm with you on the insurance, I prefer to take the risk and pay the bills when they come in. All insurance is a gamble, and if she's got to 14 without costing you too much then you have done quite well. Hoping she'll soon be back with you.

[Egluntyne]

Poor Honey. I hope she is soon sorted.

[Guest]

Well Honey had her op today - it took 2 hours and 50 mins! She has nylon pins in the leg and we can bring her home tomorrow. The vet is marvellous - she has phoned us and kept us up to date every step of the way. She didn't do the op herself as the orthopedic specialist within the practice did it. But she has clearly spent a little time wiht Honey as she mentions what a lovely friendly cat she is.

 

Honey will have to have 3 weeks cage rest when she comes home - I hope none of the chickens go broody as its our broody cage she'll be in! She will have to return to have her dressing removed in a week and her staples removed in 2.

 

Tomorrow I'll light a lovely fire for her and make her as comfy as possible (I might even buy her some chicken!).

 

We'll never know what has happend to her. The vet says its the result of a massive trauma, it can't have happend jumping. She hasn't been hit by a car. We live in the middle of nowwhere and this has happed overnight so "Ooops, word censored!"ody was around (it's PITCH black out there, no street lighting, only 4 houses). There is a possiblity she got trapped somewhere and did it trying to escape.

 

James did her a lovely get well card today - if I get time I'll scan it in and upload it, such a good picture of Honey!

[deejmum]

Glad to hear it's all over and honey is OK.

 

You must be relieved.

[lisa33]

Glad to hear the Op was a success.

[bellekatz]

Glad to hear it all went well and that Honey is recovering. The three weeks will soon pass. Weird that you cant work out what happened - if only Honey could talk!

[Olly]

phew - glad it went well.

[Aunty e]

YAY! Go Honey! Poor puss cat though, bet she'll be glad to be home.

[Guest]

She came home this evening and is now sleeping in the cage. She has to have cage rest for 3 weeks although she could sit on a lap providing she doesn't run around. Now she loves sitting on my lap but just didn't want to stay put! So I had to put her back in the cage where she has just curled up and slept.

 

She has a fire going, a new pet fleece (Mum got it for a couple of quid!) and has a tummy full of free range chicken!

 

As well has her leg being shaved, her front leg was shaved for the injections/drip but also she's been shaved under her chin, not sure why really.

 

She has tablets and medicine to take and has to return to the vets next week to have her staples out. She isn't wearinga bandage as the et said she wasn't having any of that!