Update on Tigger

Thank you, Elic. Just wish I had known about his injury sooner. He hid well and refused to come out. I had to move a very heavy bed to get him out from under it. Not easy when everyone is gone for the day.

Ugh! I know what that's like with small rooms. Fortunately, our bedroom is big even with all the furniture in it, I was still able to move it w/o moving other furniture.

My cat, The Doctor, only ever hurt me - that I didn't richly deserve - 3 times and 2 of those times I discovered he was hurt - never as seriously as Tigger. But, Yeah, I had to move a bed once and the room was so small it was like one of those sliding puzzles to get him. Move this piece so I could move that one to move the next one - annoying

Thank you, letsee. Yes, he has to be caged the entire time. You see, Tigger came to me feral and it took me quite a while to tame him but he will always retain a small part of when he was completely feral. That is why I didn't know how bad he was hurt. He hid the injury from me since that's his wild instinct. He will also hide until he gets better which isn't a good thing since where he hides at is very hard to get him out of. He has his own room which is where he'll be staying in the cage. It's a really big cage, though. Not like he'll be stuck in a small cat carrier.

Every since he was locked in a small cat carrier for at least 2wks. maybe longer, he's has a phobia about them. He can handle big cages but not the little carriers. He'll have plenty of room to walk around and for his litterbox and food/water dishes along with a comfy bed of old towels. He won't like it, regardless, but he'll have to bear with it till his leg is all better.

Oh ok I see, so he'll have some room to move about. I wasn't sure if he had to be kept in a smaller cage, like a cat carrier to prevent him from using his leg at all. But I was thinking then how awful would that be th have to be cooped up in a small area for such a long period of time. So he can move a bit around but has nothing to jump up on as I think this would be one of the worst things. I can understand cats like to hide when they are not feeling well, as my mothers cat had a very bad nasal infection and she hid herself between the wall and entertainment stand to keep from being bothered. He's a lucky boy to have such a caring mom that takes good care of him. I've seen so many people move and just throw their cats out leaving them behind like unwanted rubbish. It hurts me to see that. I try my best to do what I can to save them, but some get very feral and others make it down towards the highway. Everyone tells me, it's ok, you can't save them all. Still it makes me feel so horrid. Animals are members of our family, so why do people get them as if they are toys that they will eventually get bored with and toss aside. It's just not right to me. Hope you have a great day.

I really do understand and know you will take care of him to the best of your ability. The economy is hurting everyone so you aren't alone. That doesn't help your situation. I am so sorry you have to deal with a hurt kitty. Bless you.

Believe me, Carol. If I could, I would of gladly forked over the grand to pay for the surgery but, we are in dire straights with money and may lose our house in a few months if something doesn't come thru for us, so I can't. I'm on a permanent payment plan with our vet so if something like this does come up, least they will treat him. Wish the vet could do the surgery but he doesn't have the means to do it. Will have to take him to the University of Illinois, which is about 2hrs. south of us. That's where most major surgeries are done.

Thanks a bunch, pyewacket. Yes, the idea behind keeping him caged is to keep him from doing anything but walking a few steps or jumping. It's gonna drive him insane to stay caged up but he's going to have to understand it's to help his leg heal.

The one time I had to cage up Pyewacket in a large cage to prevent him possibly running out of th apt when I had my apt rewired, he was NOT a happy camper...it was for only a total of say eight hours...when the electricians left I opened up the cage so he could come out...he refused to move for two hours additional...when he finally did he would have nothing of me...he'd slink away from me and give me a nasty look...LOL. I kept telling him it was for his own good and safety...he tends to be more curious than Kissy and often when I come home from errands he's at the door, which is nice that he's "greeting" me but I panic sometimes thinking he'll run out. Bad boy!!

That's why we only use the side door to enter/exit the house. There are 2 doors between Tigger and the outside. He sneeks thru the one door, we can still herd him back into the house before the other door is opened. He slinks right out without anyone the wiser till you suddenly see him sitting outside staring at you. He hates being locked up since he was forced to live in a small cat carrier for at least 2 wks. with no litter box to speak of. I had to hold his paw the whole 1/2 hr. trip to vets. Let go and he would start howling. Big baby! lol

Tigger is shy of strangers so whenever someone comes over he doesn't know, he goes into hiding until they leave. You would never know he was there. He's very quiet when he wants to be and slinks alot. The vet asked me as well if maybe someone stepped on him. I know I didn't and once in a blue moon my daughter will accidently step on his tail when he's 'sweeping' the floor. But, there is a slight chance that he could of done this while playing. He is true to his namesake in that he bounces off everything, including the walls, when he's really happy and playful. He does back and front flips as well on his own. I can't help wondering if maybe he had stress fractures or something like that and the drop to the floor while he was tearing the heck out of my arms could of created the breaks.

I would have chosen the splint, too, by the way.

So glad Jet was able to clear out that blockage on her own, even though she lost alot of weight. Least she's healthy again and can gain it all back. Tigger is just shy till he gets to know ya and then is all over you to play or petting or to be held and snuggled. When I went to visit with Tigger this morning, the girl brought him out holding the scruff of his neck and he was throwing a major fit over that. I immediately took him into my arms and he calmed down but gave her dagger eyes for what she did to him. I explained to her that she just made an enemy doing that being he was badly abused as a kitten while he was feral and one of the things the guy did was grab him by the scruff and throw him against the wall or floor. Very reason why he hates being grabbed or picked up that way now. It took me forever to show him that picking him up isn't going to cause him more pain being that's all he knew from us humans. He still has some of his feral traits and will probably never lose them but least he knows not all people are out to do him harm.

Thank you, gabs. Yeah, Tigger is healthy so number 4 was totally not an option. I only put my babies down if they are suffering and no way to help ease it.

mmmmmmm....I don't think this has to do with nutrition, GardenGerty. Tigger plays really hard and he could very well of caused this while bouncing off the walls or furniture. I know I'm getting tired of hearing a lot of very loud thumps while trying to go to sleep at night. This morning before taking him to the vet, he was actually trying to bounce on 3 paws. Tigger is nuts!!

Thanks mcat. I hope he heals as well.