Helping a cat with a femoral fracture who refuses to wear a cast.

Hello there, sorry to make my first post a request for advice, but i'm pretty distressed about our cat who's fractured his thigh bone.

The vet at first thought his ankle was sprained and had him rest for 5 days before xraying, discovering it was fractured. They attempted to cast it twice, but he removed one whilst in their care and another inside his carrier before we even got him home - including the elizebethan collar. We took him back and they tried a soft bandage and another cone and he seemed calmer but when we got home he completely freaked out and managed to half scrape it off on the floor.

We confined him to the bathroom (which is relatively small) with lots of blankets but he just kept thrashing around screaming trying to get the rest of the bandage off. He carried on like this for over an hour and half and we tried a number of ways to remove the bandage but he would not stop screaming, hissing and wriggling. Eventually we managed to calm him and were able to cut away the rest of the bandage over the night and the next day.

Vets told us to keep him crated so we've made a pen for him with a comfy den and room for food and litter tray and have so far managed to keep him calm by taking him out for cuddles whenever he shows signs of becoming worked up. We are back at the vets tomorrow and i'm really worried that if they decide to operate and cast again he is likely to damage it more and it may not be worth the high levels of stress - i have honestly never seen an animal in that state in my life!

So, after that little off-loading I suppose what I'm asking is if anyone has any advice on more care that we can give him to help his recovery? Any food supplements that might help? And things to keep him calm? - I also tried sprinkling valerian root around his pen which seems to be working ok.

I'm guessing the fracture is not too severe as vet decided not to operate despite having our permission to do so, and we will find out more on severity tomorrow. Has anyone experienced a fracture healing without being casted or operated on? Are there any other options?

I've not dealt with fractures personally, but have had luck with homepathic collars and sprays (which you can find at your local pet store) for helping keep a cat calm. There are also several on the market that mimic the pheromones given off by a mother cat which also come in spray or collar form. They may relax him enough to keep that leg in a cast.

This is something you need to discuss with the vet. I think your best bet is to splint the leg. Use about 10 layers of gauze. Confine your cat to a carrier just large enough to contain the cat, a litter box, food and water. Don't let the cat outside at all during his healing. You will want to check his bandage daily. To keep him from bothering with it, put an Elizabethan collar on him. Check the toes daily to make sure they are warm (cold toes = loss of blood flow). Use a litter box with low sides until your cat is healed.

Thank you for replies. Turns out it is a spiral fracture and needs support if it is to heal. Luckily the vet nurse tried a new approach today by strapping it up in a sling to his body. This is working out great as he'd already mastered hopping on three legs and doesn't seem phased by it at all, we just have to keep him from loosening the tape somehow and hope we won't  have to resort to the cone again. Thank you for bandage advice, will definitely keep a close eye on it n we already have him confined. Can't believe the difference in him today and just so happy they didn't insist on the cast

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, but I didn't know the severity of the fracture. A spiral fracture is fairly severe. A sling is a great idea! I'm so glad he is getting around better. I'm glad I was able to help at least a little bit. But, I'm just so happy to hear he is doing better!

Glucosamine supplements can be given to help ward off (or at least possibly delay) arthritis. 2 of our rescues are on glucosamine (both are 1.5 yrs old.) One cat came to us with a broken hind leg (tibial fracture with displacement) and the other had double luxating patellas. Our vets told us both would be susceptible to early on set arthritis (said the latter would develope arthritis, we're just trying to delay it.)

I recommend finding a supplement that contains glucosamine, MSM, Yucca Schidigera, chondroitin and Vitamin E. I give Lilly Only Natural Pet Lubri-Ease Liquid. She is 3-years-old, but I wanted to start her on a good joint supplement young. She has no arthritis or joint problems, but I think it's better to prevent than treat. My vet recommends joint supplements for all cats, even if they don't have joint problems.