4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cyber Chook]

I'm a bit worried. My darling rescue cat Molly's gone lame in her front left leg. She started limping on it, and I took her to the vet after a day or two as it was getting worse. The vet couldn't find anything wrong, after careful examination, pressure on paws and joints etc, and no odd smell or sign of injury. The vet gave her a painkilling injection and antibiotic injection, to cover all bases.

 

The next day Molly had improved, and the day after that she was running around the garden. However, the following day, she was worse than ever, and is completely non-weight bearing on that leg now.

 

We got her in March, and before that, Molly lived in one room for a year at the rescue centre, so she didn't run around at all. I'm wondering if she's pulled a ligament or strained a joint. She's eating okay, and I'm enforcing bed rest for the time being. She's a bit quieter than usual, and hisses at us (very unlike her, first time ever) if we bother her too much, so we're giving her lots of quiet time.

 

Any suggestions? I'm watching and waiting, and if she goes off colour or it carries on for days, I'll take her to the vet again.

 

Caroline

[Patricia W]

I think I'd take her back to the vet- something might have been missed. Hope she gets better soon

[Groovychook]

Poor Molly

 

Our cats have had unexplained bouts of limping from time to time... I wonder if they jar something when they land badly after jumping from a height. The only other thing I'm wondering is if she might have a thorn stuck in her pad?

 

I'd take her back to the vets tomorrow if she's still hissing when you fuss her...

 

Hope she's on the mend soon- I'd say give her a soothing stroke from me but I'm thinking she wouldn't appreciate that at the moment!

[Olly]

One of mine developed a limp - couldn't put that paw to the ground - and as soon as I'd made a vet's appointment, he recovered and was seen gambolling around the garden! So I think these things can come and go.

 

However, the fact that she's hissing at you, if this is uncharacteristic for her, suggests that she's in pain. I'd take her back to the vets again, it may be something that isn't obvious but she is clearly not herself and maybe on a second viewing they will find some reason.

[Aunty e]

Some kinds of cat flu can cause wandering and intermittent arthritis - your vet could try anti-inflammatories, but as it's caused by a virus, there's little they can do except treat the pain with painkillers and wait for it to clear up. Saffy had it as a young cat (she was fully vaccinated at the time) and it took a few days to get better after starting as an intermittent limp and at its worst she was a very unhappy, miserable cat who didn't want to move or do anything. I have kitty morphine in my medicine cupboard, which was the only thing that made her any more comfortable, mostly because it knocked her out

[Aunty e]

Oh but one of the side effects can be nasty stomach infections, was it a broad spectrum antibiotic she had? If so, she'd be fine if that was it. Maybe ask your vet about calicivirus.

[Cyber Chook]

Thank you so so much. I'm going to take her to the vet again today, and I'll ask about these things if they're not mentioned. Molly just lost her balance, fell off her blanket box and is lying where she fell. It's horrible

 

Caroline

[Aunty e]

She sounds a LOT like Saffy when she had calicivirus - it was horrible to see and she seemed desperately poorly. She wasn't really, just in a lot of pain and miserable. Hope poor Molly feels better soon

[Groovychook]

Molly just lost her balance, fell off her blanket box and is lying where she fell. It's horrible

 

Caroline

Poor thing ... you must be so worried- hoping the vet can get to the bottom of it... xx

[Cyber Chook]

Update - I took Molly to the vet just now. She'll have an x-ray, and the vet will have a bit more of a poke around with Molly under sedation on Thursday. The vet's thinking it could be nerve damage, possibly from a bite that's simmering somewhere. Molly has a temperature too, so she's had more antibiotics today.

 

My baby

 

At least she's still eating, and purring when we stroke her.

 

I'll let you know what Thursday brings (apart from a £250 bill - thank goodness we have pet insurance ).

 

Caroline

[Nutmeg]

Poor Molly and poor you. I bet Thursday can't come quick enough.

 

Hope she will soon be better.

 

Was she called Tabitha once or have I missed something?

[Olly]

Ooh, poor Molly. That makes sense though, if she's got a temperature - an abscess that's on her body (as opposed to on the face or tail or similar) can be quite hard to locate.

 

Hope they can sort it out, antibiotics will make her feel a bit brighter.

[Cyber Chook]

Was she called Tabitha once or have I missed something?

 

Yes, gosh, well-remembered!

 

She came from the rescue centre with the name Sadie, which I didn't like for her, because it put me in mind of German Shepherd dogs in the 1970's. (It then transpired that my niece in America actually knows a German Shepherd called Sadie - I rest my case). I tried to persuade Mr Cyber Chook and the Chookettes to call her Tabitha, which I thought was lovely for her, but they flatly refused .

 

Molly it is now.

 

Didn't you suggest Tabitha, Nutmeg??

 

Caroline

[Cyber Chook]

antibiotics will make her feel a bit brighter.

 

Thanks Olly, yes, you're quite right, she's perkier this evening already. The funny thing is we're meant to be in Australia now, but had to cancel last week, with hours to spare, because my youngest daughter developed swine flu. My oldest daughter's boyfriend was going to be looking after Molly, but it would've been difficult for him to deal with all of this, get her to the vet on the bus etc, so it's quite 'lucky' really. Strange how these things work out.

 

Caroline

[Nutmeg]

Didn't you suggest Tabitha, Nutmeg??

 

I did! She looks a Tabitha, but it sounds like you were out voted at home over the name.

Molly is a lovely name aswell.

 

Sorry to read about your cancelled holiday and really hope that your daughter is soon feeling better. Look forward to reading an update about Molly.

[Cyber Chook]

Molly had some x-rays and a more thorough examination under sedation today. Nothing's broken, and they think it's a soft tissue injury needing rest and anti-inflammatories. She's not allowed out for 10 days, and then I'll take her again.

 

Molly was so relieved and happy to be back home this evening, she purred and purred and PURRED, and rolled around on the living room floor for half an hour

 

My sis-in-law reckons I should go round to the Bengal cats' house and tell them about the problem of their cats coming and harrassing Molly. It could be other cats as well, of course, but I've never seen her having problems with any other cats. They sit outside our back door waiting to pounce on her. But I'm not sure what talking to the owners would achieve really - I don't know what they could do.

 

Thanks for your support and helpful stories and comments, they all helped. When animals get ill it can look so drastic and bad. It sounds so out of proportion now, but I was worried about losing her

 

Caroline

[mostin]

I'm so glad she is feeling better. After what she went through before she came to you she deserves some good times now. It's very hard to enforce rest times on a cat when they want to go out isn't it though .

 

Best of luck, and I hope she keeps improving xxxxxxxxxxx

[Cyber Chook]

Thanks Mostin and everyone. Molly's a lot brighter, still limping but now weight-bearing again and seems to have regained full movement in that leg/paw.

 

She's still being kept inside for another five days, so she's miaouwing pitifully at the back door to be let out, and looking really cross with her stupid humans who don't seem to understand simple cat language.

 

Caroline

[mostin]

Oh I know that look well , and the feeling they can put into those meows when they are sat at the door , it nearly breaks my heart .

 

Stay strong though, it's for her own good. I'm glad she's doing so much better and feeling perkier. Is she letting you touch her again? That will be a sign that the pain is easing.

[Cyber Chook]

Yes, it's so true, Molly knows full well how to break my heart, the madam. I love the violin smilie you used. I hadn't noticed that one before, but it's perfect for the constant tugging on my poor old heartstrings.

 

She's letting us stroke her now, but really is very grumpy indeed about not being allowed out. She's barely limping, so you're quite right, the enforced rest is doing her the world of good, but how to convince her...

 

We go back to the vet next Monday for a check-up and freedom

 

Caroline

[mostin]

So glad she's feeling better. Being grumpy is one thing, but if she was still in pain that would be so upsetting for you . Fingers crossed for monday. You're in for a fun weekend trying to keep her in .