Kitty cat has broken jaw in two places

Was wondering how he was doing ... thanks for the update. It was in the mid 70s when my cat had his jaw broken. The healing took a while, but I can't remember how long exactly. I was young and what I remember mostly is fighting big time with my parents about taking the cat to the vet in the first place. (They never took any animal to the vet.)

It's only been three weeks - broken bones take time to heal and only two of the four fractures were properly set. Also, it could be that like having a tooth pulled, eating feels strange at the beginning because you're so used to that tooth being there. It's good that your cat is making chewing motions and slowly getting used to his new jaw.

What I do remember is very gradually cutting a bit off the tip of the syringe so that we could slowly begin giving him a chunkier mix of food, and always offering soupy wet food on a plate first to see if he'd go for it. Before you try this, you should ask the vet check the alignment first and also ask for approximation of healing time. It could be too early. The last thing you want to do is stress the fractures.

TomTom (TT) definitely likes the petting and holding.  Seems like he laps milk or food slurries but stops when it comes to picking up solid food.  Last night I fed him with the syringe and then put down a slurry with A/D and he lapped a little bit of that.  I hope his mouth wasn't too broken up that he will eventually eat.  He was scratching litter onto the floor so last night I made him a litter box out of a 30 gallon storage container (Found the instructions on the computer) and I just set his regular litter pan over in it.  Haven't checked yet but hope he will still use it.  I have been aggravated more than once with syringes.  I am going to try Vaseline on  the o ring today since the oil didn't seem to work.  I need syringes with a bigger opening but afraid cutting them off might make them rough and hurt his mouth.  Will get new ones one day this week.  Thank you all for your thoughts and replies.  SO glad I found this forum. 

You are being a wonderful cat mom, and I think cocheezie's advice from what they tried when gradually introducing more textured food sounds really sensible.  Take your time, as everyone is assuring you, this will take time to heal.  TomTom has every chance to get back to eating with you taking good care of him.  The new litter pan sounds like a real treat too!

Tonight TomTom ate about 1/4 can A/D off my finger and actually picked up any from the floor that was dropped.  When he stopped eating I gave him the other 1/4 of the can by syringe.  He loves the syringe (maybe a little too much) and is actually trying to get the food out of the syringe before I am ready to feed him.  In all he ate 1/2 can (filled a 60cc syringe) BUT he still won't eat from his dish. He has no trouble picking the dropped food off the floor but will not pick up food from the dish. Go figure.  Could this cat be smart enough to be playing me?

Great news that he's starting to eat on his own (even if it's with the help of your finger). A new dish? A new feeding place? Sometimes it just a small thing that will create enough curiosity that a cat will go for it.

Maybe try a plate, or a piece of paper? So glad to hear he is eating some!

Great to hear he's picking up and eating more!    Don't worry about him likeing the syringe, it can be a very useful thing!  After I had to Give Mouse meds by syringe that he liked I kept using it to give him water so he'd have positive associations should I have to use the syringe for not so nice stuff.....  he loves to drink water like this and gets it as a treat.  You can do that with food and if TomTom needs syringe feeding in future he will be much less distressed and that would be wonderful.  He will eat on his own too as he will get too impatient when he is better, it is nice to be able to treat them sometimes though esp when it has uses later!

It could be he is anxious of knocking his chin / jaw on the edges of the bowl.  @Di and Bob's idea of a plate or some paper is a good idea.

Tom Tom is really lucky to have you and I hope he feels better, poor thing.

TomTom is eating on his own now.  Its a little difficult for him and I assist a little with a small plastic spoon but I'm having trouble filling him up.  He gets excited when I pick up his dish or little spoon and acts like he cant wait for the food.  When he started eating he started making up for lost time.  Tonight he ate a can of Fancy Feast and a Vienna sausage,  In a little while all was gone and he was meowing for more.  I opened a larger can of his canned food from Wal-mart and pureed the chunks and he ate a good half of that.  I am astonished...can hardly believe my eyes.  Thank you Lord! lol  Never been a cat person and didn't know what to do with him. 

That's great news!

Fantastic!

                Wonderful news.   Thank you for the update. I remember your first post and how distressed you were for your little furbaby.  I am so happy that he has made this recovery, and is now wolfing down his food to make up for lost time.    He is a little star for pulling through this, and you are wonderful for taking such patient care throuhgout his recovery.  Very happy for you.  May you now enjoy some more peaceful and healthier times together.

This is such a great update from such a terrifying ordeal. I had to go back to your original thread to refresh my memory. TomTom is a trooper and you are an angel for helping him on the road to recovery. 

Just curious...did the vet say anything about needing long-term pain management for TomTom? Not sure if this injury has the potential to cause a constant dull pain. 

I asked about pain med early on in the ordeal but vet said he didn't need anything...said he gave him a long acting pain shot.  Did say his protein and glucose was a little elevated but never suggested even a follow up visit to check his jaw.  Told me he had AIDS and nothing further about AIDS.  He seems to be doing okay.  He can lap water, and is still learning to eat with some of his teeth pulled.  He eats baby food, some pate food and will also eat his regular food if I puree it.  Getting stronger everyday.  Thank you for asking.

Glad your cat is improving.