Kitten who has problems using his back legs, incontinent, help!

Hi All,

New here, and we have a 9 week old kitten called 'Charles', who when he was 4 weeks old wasn't really using his back legs like the other kits, then even less at 5, 6 and 7 weeks until he was just dragging his back legs around like little lifeless things.

At 8 weeks after many sessions of giving him kitty physiotherapy, he is now bending the back legs at the hock, and propelling himself forward, though still largely dragging them, but is improving...hopefully!

I think he may be incontinent as he just seems to go wherevere he is even though I keep picking him up when catch him and put him on the newspaper by the door (he cannot get in the litter tray and it would probably be  very uncomfortable for him to drag his little bits through).

I would like to get him some kitten diapers so he can spend more time with us in the living room and we know he is safe (I did take him to the vet at 6 weeks and they just wanted to put him down really).  So I brought him home as he doesn't seem to be in any pain and is a happy, playful, purring bundle of cuteness who deserves whatever we can give him.

I will find a vet who is more sympathetic and will show me how to express him, but until then and for safety, would love it if someone could point me in the direction of websites/companies that can help with the following:

Kitten diapers (or nappies as we know them in the UK)

Wheelchairs (just in case)

Any video links that show clearly expressing maybe?

Sorry I have gone on a bit, but could do with some help thanks x

To be honest if a kitten had this level of handicap I'd also be considering pts. 

He will need a very high level of care his whole life, he will be prone to a lot of extra health problems, and whilst he is happy now when he's a small kitten, his quality of life may well deteriorate as he grows.  If he doesn't have proper feeling in his paws and tail he will also be always liable to injure them.

Thank you for scooping up little Charles and keeping him safe.  This a great forum for cat health, the best I've found, but the best  for handicapped pets is:

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/

They have whole sections on caring for incontinent cats, paralyzed cats, etc. and you will find links to YouTube videos showing you how to express.  That's something  you need to start doing now, not only so he will get used to it but also because urine is already sitting in his bladder which could set up an environment ripe for infection.

I have a mature cat with a progressive neuromuscular disorder who has to wear disposable nappies/diapers all the time so he can enjoy living on my bed. He weighs about 6 pounds and I've found the newborn (under 10 pounds) fit him perfectly.  I cut an X near the waistband so I can poke his tail through and it works perfectly. However, he doesn't move around much. With your little fellow you might have to put suspenders on him to keep the diaper in place. Lots of that on the website above.

Have you tried putting a sling (a small towel, perhaps) under his tummy so you can "walk" him?

Good luck and keep us posted. I have a real soft spot for disabled cats.
 

Thank you for taking this little one. I am attaching a story I read on a cat blog I follow. It looks like it may be something similar here, but these people have found it very rewarding.http://lovemeow.com/2012/07/rescue-bengal-sketches-cant-walk-but-she-is-full-of-life/

OrientalSlave said:

To be honest if a kitten had this level of handicap I'd also be considering pts. 

He will need a very high level of care his whole life, he will be prone to a lot of extra health problems, and whilst he is happy now when he's a small kitten, his quality of life may well deteriorate as he grows.  If he doesn't have proper feeling in his paws and tail he will also be always liable to injure them.

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Aw...I hear what you're saying, OrientalSlave, but I too would be one of those that would care for a disabled kitty in a heartbeat. I think the OP is doing a wonderful job with rehabilitation, and who knows, Charles may recover quite a bit of his function with his/her care.

My Tuffy (today is his "rainbow bridge" day ) was rescued from a cemetery with Abby, his brother, as wee little kittens in the beginning of winter in 1996 (there was a blizzard that night that they both would not have survived as the were stuck to the headstone they were on). They both developed frostbite, with Tuffy having the worst of it--he lost half his fluffy tail and his back foot (vet thought we might have to amputate, but we didn't end up doing that). He lived life to the fullest with his disabilities (I had to remember to lift him and place him on the floor instead of just plopping him from a short drop or it would hurt his "little" leg and make other changes). Sadly, at around 2-years-old, he developed CRF, and had to leave us after a brave battle 5-1/2 years later.

I know Tuffy's disabilities weren't as severe as this little guy's, but I can not imagine life without my precious boy and the love and joy he brought to our lives. He could keep up with Abby even if he only had use of three limbs and his short tail made his balance a bit off at times. He had such a happy-go-lucky attitude! You could just see it beaming from him...I remember always calling him my 'little ray of sunshine' and not just because of his coloring.

Sorry to ramble here. I guess I'm just saying that in Charles' case, I would not give up. He is going to have a wonderful life--and any hurdles will be crossed by him and his mom or dad in due stride.

Simka said:

Thank you for scooping up little Charles and keeping him safe.  This a great forum for cat health, the best I've found, but the best  for handicapped pets is:

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/

They have whole sections on caring for incontinent cats, paralyzed cats, etc. and you will find links to YouTube videos showing you how to express.  That's something  you need to start doing now, not only so he will get used to it but also because urine is already sitting in his bladder which could set up an environment ripe for infection.

I have a mature cat with a progressive neuromuscular disorder who has to wear disposable nappies/diapers all the time so he can enjoy living on my bed. He weighs about 6 pounds and I've found the newborn (under 10 pounds) fit him perfectly.  I cut an X near the waistband so I can poke his tail through and it works perfectly. However, he doesn't move around much. With your little fellow you might have to put suspenders on him to keep the diaper in place. Lots of that on the website above.

Have you tried putting a sling (a small towel, perhaps) under his tummy so you can "walk" him?

Good luck and keep us posted. I have a real soft spot for disabled cats.
 

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Hi Simka,

Thank you for replying so kindly....and I have had a quick look at the site and will look into it in more depth later....thanks!

People nappies would be far too big for him at the moment as he is only a wee little thing, but will bear in mind...though you are right he may have to have them adapted for when he is scuttling around.  Nice to see there are other people out there who will go that extra mile for broken kits x

We did try a sling, but to be honest it seemed to not only be hampering him, it was uncomfortable for him.  I do get him over the newspaper and wipe his bits to encourage him to wee, this sometimes works, so maybe he does have some instinctual control??

He is currently as I type sitting on the sofa on his 'just in case' towel snoozing, after having a mad kitten 15 minutes of killing kitchen roll and pretend spider on a string...(he wears out quicker than the other kits used to).  His mum still washes him and helps out so that is good!

Thanks again for your help with the website and advice...hope all is ok with yours and I will certainly update on any improvements etc x

Today's big thing is he actually lifted his own tail up when I stroked him, normally he doesn't seem to have much control!

Revenwyn said:

Thank you for taking this little one. I am attaching a story I read on a cat blog I follow. It looks like it may be something similar here, but these people have found it very rewarding. http://lovemeow.com/2012/07/rescue-bengal-sketches-cant-walk-but-she-is-full-of-life/

Click to expand...

Thank you so much,, will go have a look right now! xxxx