Ferel needed amputation, now terrified in the house.

Hi all, been a long while since I've been on here. No news is good news I suppose. Now, "Trooper" showed up in my barn in December. He was food driven and just starting to accept touch when we tried to capture him for neuter. We didn't realize he was already neutered although his ear was tipped off. The TNR people said they didn't take so much off so we werent sure if it was an injury or TNR. 

The capture was a fail and he dissappeared until Tuesday. Only this time, not only was he starving, his right rear leg was mangled with bone sticking out. A very traumatizing capture with biting and scratching occured, but he needed medical attention and fast (bless my daughter for going through all that) His leg was amputated on Wednesday and he is now in my house in a safe room with his own cubby, food,water and litter box. He is so traumatized, in pain and confused. 

He will come out to eat and use the litter box when no one is around.  

I worry that he may never come around after all of this. 

And there is NO way he will be going in for a stitch removal next week.  I'm following the taming process found on "theluckyfew" site.  Other than providing him the basics, is there something else I should do?  What about the stitches?

Thanks for any suggestions

Terri

First, bless you for caring for Trooper, you are definitely going the extra mile. I know what you mean about not further traumatising him, but unless they are self dissolving ( you might call and check) you'll have to take them out. This involves snipping the knots and pulling them out. Maybe you can get something like benadryl to calm him down and take him in? Or this might calm him down enough for you to do it. Either way I would call the vet and get their opinion on what to do. Greenie pill hiders work great on my cats! I wish you the very best of luck, sending healing vibes Troopers way!

Di and Bob said:

I wish you the very best of luck, sending healing vibes Troopers way!

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Sending also healing vibes to your brave daughter!

Stitches is one thing, you will surely solve this problem.  At worst you can try and wrap him in a towel...

My reaction is, if he ates and drinks, even if only when alone, it is going OK.

I believe he will let himself be socialized quicker now, when you helped him when he was dying, and now is one-leggen, then at the earlier occasion, when he was healthy.

Tx a lot, and

Good luck!

Thanks! I will be happy to remove the stitches. I know the vet wants to see him though. I'd rather do it than put him through going in a cage...etc..they won't be able to touch him anyway! They had to tranq him just to look at him. I'm discouraged with them that they think I can just load him up and go get the stitches removed like its nothing! It will be hard to hold back my attitude when I call them to tell them he won't let me near him and he wont be coming back anytime soon. Why didnt they just use dissolvables?Grrrr...

I love your attitude! My old vet didn't understand either, I told him my 12 year old would almost have a heart attack when I brought him in, it just wasn't worth it. The last time he was x-rayed they had to put him under he was so scared, and he came back with a blown pupil in his eye, they acted like it was no big deal, but to ME it was! My NEW vet is much more understanding, we do a lot of diagnosing over the phone.

Di and Bob said:

I love your attitude! My old vet didn't understand either, I told him my 12 year old would almost have a heart attack when I brought him in, it just wasn't worth it. The last time he was x-rayed they had to put him under he was so scared, and he came back with a blown pupil in his eye, they acted like it was no big deal, but to ME it was! My NEW vet is much more understanding, we do a lot of diagnosing over the phone.

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So sorry about your kitty...wow I would have been mad at them for sure. I wish I could find a vet that was like that. I think my horse vet may be like that but I don't know how they are with small animals. To make matters worse he is FIV+ and stress is NOT what this guy needs. All I can do is wait him out. My husband has a way with him and can lure him all the way out by tossing food to him closer and closer and then wala...he is out eating but retreats quickly like a turtle, then comes back out...he won't come out like that for me. I'm patient, I can wait. If waiting is all I need to do....I've heard of indoor ferel cats. I hope he doesn't get comfortable with his current arrangement.

Bless you for helping this poor kitty!   Your vet can prescribe a heavy duty tranquilizer like acepromazine that you can put in a pill pocket of a small amount of very tasty food that should help for putting him in a carrier or holding him down to remove stitches (though you are braver than me to try it!).    Also if he's not familiar with what a humane trap looks like you can borrow one from a local rescue group to trap him in - then the vet can tranqulize him with a shot through the bars.    Wishing him lots of healing vibes    and lots of safety vibes for you and your daughter!

Bastfriend said:

Bless you for helping this poor kitty!   Your vet can prescribe a heavy duty tranquilizer like acepromazine that you can put in a pill pocket of a small amount of very tasty food that should help for putting him in a carrier or holding him down to remove stitches (though you are braver than me to try it!).    Also if he's not familiar with what a humane trap looks like you can borrow one from a local rescue group to trap him in - then the vet can tranqulize him with a shot through the bars.    Wishing him lots of healing vibes

   and lots of safety vibes for you and your daughter!

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Loving the healing vibes.   I'll call them this week and ask about the tranquilizer. thanks!

Your cat may be more comfortable around men, I've seen a lot of them comfortable around one sex or the other. But hey, whatever works to get him fed! I feel so sorry for him, he's been through so much! Good luck to you, keep us posted on how he is doing. Bless you and may you get through this!  More vibes sent your way -