Head Injury in kitten

mildew

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Hello everyone,
I have a few questions I'm hoping someone here can answer.
Last night I was playing with my kitten (she gets pretty psycho while playing), and she ran full speed right into the corner of my lizard enclosure doors. She hit the corner HARD on the side of her head, right above her eye. Immediately afterwards, she seemed pretty dazed and her body shook slightly for a second or two. After this she just sat there with her head tilted to the side a bit and one eye closed. I picked her right up and brought her somewhere lighter so I could take a good look and noticed one of her pupils was huge, and the other one was significantly smaller- couldn't find any visible injuries.
I tried calling around to get someone to watch the kids (as they were asleep in bed), but everyone I called said 'it was just a cat and it'll be fine' !! I figured I'd keep a close eye on her and if things got worse I'd wake the kids up and bring her to the e-vet. She was pretty sleepy for a bit, but after a few hours she ate some treats and was walking around normally so I decided to keep her home and monitor her.
This morning, her pupils are still inequal, however not as bad as last night and she is still occasionally closing that one eye. Other than that she seems ok, is eating fine, and seems to be able to see ok. Does this sound like something I should take her in to the vets for? Is it possible she has a concussion or some sort of head injury (fractured skull or such)?
I know I'm probably over-reacting, but I was so scared yesterday and I thought she was going to die. It was a very scary sight seeing her in pain and confused :(.
 

miss mew

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
13,668
Purraise
36
Location
Canada
I would get her into the vet as soon as you can.  She could have a head injury or an eye injury.  The unequal pupils is a big concern to me.
 

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,547
Purraise
22,888
Location
Nebraska, USA
I, too think she needs a vet, but at the very least call one and ask them what they think. At the very least they will ask you to monitor her and bring her in at the first sign of a change. She could very well have a concussion. As for those friends who said it's 'just a cat' I myself would have a hard time letting them be around my kids, they are not very caring!
 
Last edited:

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Of course she really should be seen and examined.

Basically they are the only ones who can tell you if there is significant swelling inside her skull and in need of an anti-inflammatory med or not.

This past summer one of my fosters had a foster kitten who was slammed shut into a recliner chair. The kitty, Zubie had a serious brain injury, same spot as yours, but it knocked him into a complete daze, unable to function, just limp. Pupil was huge and unresponsive.

Big knot right about his eye and his eyeball itself. Thought for sure if he made it at all, and it was touch and go, he would at least lose that eye.

48 hours later they released him to me. He was awake now but they kept him lightly sedated, he had no balance at all.

I had to keep him in a small carrier covered, they explained how, when they can see things, or walk around, etc their brain has to work, and what you want is for the brain to have no/very minimal activity, which is a big help in the inflammation going down as the brain, at rest can recover alot faster/better.

BTW, Zubie made a full recovery, much to all of our amazement, and has been adopted :) Both eyes intact and fine!
 

elise1030

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Messages
322
Purraise
55
Location
Victoria, Australia
Absolutely get the kitten to the vet. Head tilting and pupils of uneven size indicates possible swelling on the brain. It might just be a bruise or it could be fluid. Either way, I do hope you got her seen to. Let us know what the outcome was.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

mildew

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
34
Purraise
1
Thank you all for the help! Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but my internet was down most of the day.

I called up the vet this morning and he said to keep a close eye on her, try to keep her from running and jumping too much, and bring her in right away if she starts vomiting, gets a fever, her pupils become unequal again, she won't eat, seems unstable, or her eye keeps closing. He said it's basically a wait and see since she appears to be feeling much better.

As of now she seems to be doing very well. Her pupils are equal now, she responds normally with both eyes, and ate most of her dinner. She's also walking perfectly normal and her eye isn't shutting anymore. For now she's in my room to limit activity until I get the all clear from the vet and is being closely watched.

I forgot to ask the vet, but what are the chances that she will get worse? She seems almost back to normal this evening, but I don't know how head injuries work? The vet seemed slightly concerned, but didn't feel she needed to come in this instant. I have an apt this weekend to have her checked out.
 

elise1030

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Messages
322
Purraise
55
Location
Victoria, Australia
Oh i think with head injuries, it's much the same as it is in humans.  I'd be stupid if i said that there is zero chance of her becoming worse again in the short term but the fact she is almost back to normal so quickly is a good sign. It sounds like the swelling and pressure has subsided but I guess there is a chance there of it inflaming again. Let's hope she will be fine though!
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
It sounds like she will be just fine, although being a kitten and very active, doesn't mean her rough-housing can't do her harm at this point.

My vet was telling me how amazing a kitten's body is to bounce back fast after trauma. 

I think somewhat restricting rowdy behavior for a day or two is best, and of course watch for other signs to appear or reappear too, and she will likely be just fine.

Good thing she doesn't weigh more or the force of her smacking in to the enclosure could have been so much worse.
 
Top