Broken tail or something worse?

First of all let me say that kitty is going to the vets first thing in the morning!

Ok so today when i got up (i work nights so got up at 5.30pm) i noticed one of my kittens was holding her Right back leg up against her side. This was whether she was sitting or laying down.

Her tail is down and i noticed her bottom is all swollen and looks like its sticking out. There is also a bump/lump about a centimetre up from the base of her tail but on her back.

I tried to lift her tail to have a better look and she let out such a loud cry! I immediately stopped touching her tail and put her down.

She is carrying herself very stiff when walking (back end) and i also noticed she is constantly trembling. It feels like she is vibrating, like she is shivering with cold.

I filled up a hot water bottle and put a fleecy cover on it for her. She sat on it and then awkwardly laid down.

Her mum tried to clean her bottom and she cried and had tears!

I have phoned the vet and am taking her in the morning but i just wondered, does this sound like a dislocated or broken tail to you?

Does anyone have experience of this?

Yikes............well something happened that's for sure, she is in terrible pain too, but the biggest issue would be nerve damage.

At this point it's impossible to say exactly what the extent of the injury is, but am glad to hear she is able to walk.

The stiffness in her walk and shaking is from pain. 

Her tail is too traumatized to tell whether she has control over it or not since she will leave it hanging due to the pain now.

Has she gone potty since? 

The fear as I mentioned is nerve damage, the nerve runs down the spine and tail, and when damaged causes incontinence which is clearly a very big deal/problem, and whether or not she can move her tail or it hangs like a rope behind her.

Hoping for the best here, any idea how this happened?

I have no clue how it happened. She was fine and playing when i went to bed this morning but when i got up she was like this.
She has been to the toilet a few times and is peeing and pooping ok.

I have noticed that her entire back end looks odd. Kind of pointy, its hard to explain. Its like instead of her back end being straight and flat, it kind of slope down and with her anus sticking out.
Its really hard to describe.
I have tried googling and looking at photos of other cats but so far i have found nothing.

She can move her tail as she keeps curling around herself. She just can't hold it up like a cat does when they greet you.
Bless her she is vocalising a lot but just now, she has finally asleep.

Can you post photos?

It sounds more like an injury to her butt area, gosh this is nearly impossible to know without seeing/feeling her.

Poor little thing must be hurting terribly.

Something may be out of place perhaps.

I do hope she is okay! Let us know what the vet says x

If she can't hold her tail high at any given point, it means her tail is broken. But about the swollen part, I don't have any idea what could be happening but maybe it's an infection. Only a vet can give you the right answers.

SO we went to the vets this morning and her tail is fine!
Sadly she has a rectal prolapse due to straining.
She is apparently constipated. The vet has kept her in overnight as he has put a little stitch in her bottom because when he tried to "push" her rectum back in it just popped straight back out.
So he has stitched back in place and given her medicine.
He tells me this is very common.

Her little bum is VERY red and sore. Even just having a wee causes her so much distress. It was heartbreaking to hear her yowl.

Still, hopefully now she is all sorted and it is just a matter of healing.

Poor thing! Add some olive oil to her food to help her go. She also needs to get plenty of water/formula. You can add some to her wet food or soak some of her kibble.

You can also put olive oil on her bum to soothe.

Well the poor little girl!

Great news though, WHEW!

SO much easier to fix than tail issues...........

Sad news

I have just noticed one of the other kittens sitting with her foot raised up off of the floor. 

I picked her up and low and behold her bum is also poking out like the other kitten.

She has always been smaller than the rest and had goopy eyes and could not meow. She kind of makes a raspy screeching sound. Occasionally she will make a very loud toot sound.

I am wondering if mum cat caused the bottom issues by over grooming them? She is quite aggressive with her grooming, not purposely but she will knock them over while washing them.

So its back to the vets i go in the morning.

This little one doesn't seem as upset by it as her sister did so i'm assuming that it has only just happened? 

Poor little things, only 5 and a half weeks old and already been through so much.

No, it's not the mother.

What are you feeding them? You need to add olive oil so they are not straining to go. They are likely dehydrated and definitely constipated.

talkingpeanut said:

No, it's not the mother.

What are you feeding them? You need to add olive oil so they are not straining to go. They are likely dehydrated and definitely constipated.

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Hi,

I have been feeding them whiskers wet kitten food and occasionally tiny bits of freshly cooked chicken breast.

At the moment the little one that is currently at the vets won't eat anything but chicken. The vet said that was fine as she was refusing all other food including mums milk, however he said not to give it on a longterm basis as an only food as (obviously) it doesnt offer a proper balanced diet.

The other kittens are all eating the exact same and have been fine. 

Shall i buy organic olive oil?

OH! I forgot!

Also the little one i have at home has loose stools, like water!

She also cries after she has been as (i am guessing) she is sore down there. 

I have taken to getting a cotton wool pad, dousing in it in cooled boiled water and dabbing her bum to try and ease the stinging. Is that okay?

Put olive oil on her bum and also mix some into her food. Warm water might briefly feel soothing but won't help to moisturize or long term.

She may actually have diarrhea because she's so constipated. I hope you plan to bring her in ASAP tomorrow!

Can you see any signs of this with the others?

Would you happen to be talking about Whiskas canned food?

If so, can you maybe switch to fancy feast kitten or friskies classics even if ff isn't affordable?

I say this because whiskas adds a bunch of artificial coloring, red etc. 

This is not easily digested canned food for babies this young.

They are clearly not getting enough water either, so I would go with one of the 2 canned I mentioned and add water to it as well as a couple spoons of either olive or mineral oil to it and mush it up.

This way you won't be dealing with constipation anymore.

I highly recommend fancy feast kitten in the turkey rather than the fish flavor. If you must go with friskies then use the chicken or turkey classic variety. Classic doesn't have all the grains and crap that the sliced/chunked/bits do so it's much better for them and digests easier too.

catwoman707 said:

 
Would you happen to be talking about Whiskas canned food?

If so, can you maybe switch to fancy feast kitten or friskies classics even if ff isn't affordable?

I say this because whiskas adds a bunch of artificial coloring, red etc. 

This is not easily digested canned food for babies this young.

They are clearly not getting enough water either, so I would go with one of the 2 canned I mentioned and add water to it as well as a couple spoons of either olive or mineral oil to it and mush it up.

This way you won't be dealing with constipation anymore.

I highly recommend fancy feast kitten in the turkey rather than the fish flavor. If you must go with friskies then use the chicken or turkey classic variety. Classic doesn't have all the grains and crap that the sliced/chunked/bits do so it's much better for them and digests easier too.

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Hi, I have never seen Fancy feast food in shops here? Or Friskies?

I feed them pouches of whiskers kitten food and they drink cooled boiled water. I change their water three times a day. They are also still feeding from mum occasionally.

None of the other 4 are poorly at all. They have all been fine and are thriving as were the other two until the day before yesterday.

The little one at the vets has picked up alittle bit but is still on a drip and having medication.

The little one that became ill last night was taken to the vets this morning and is doing well. She was  given medicine for the constipation and had an ointment put on her bum and seems to be a lot better.

Im worried about the first little one though as she seems to be taking much longer to perk up. The vet did say though that it was touch and go.

Can you tell me what state or country you are in?

The little one at the vets, is she touch and go due to prolonged dehydration?

catwoman707 said:

 
Can you tell me what state or country you are in?

The little one at the vets, is she touch and go due to prolonged dehydration?

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I am in England, Uk.

I have looked at our local pet superstore and they don't stock those brands.

The vet said thinks the 2 kittens have picked up an infection from mum that has caused they to dehydrate, Surely if that was the case, all the kittens would be ill?

They actually rang me about 10 minutes ago to say that its not looking good for kitten 1. 

Kitten 2 is doing ok but kitten 1, they don't think she will make it through the night x

Yes they should all have it if from mom.

That's terrible news! I'm assuming they're giving IV antibiotics and fluids/nutrition?

I am very surprised at this, unless they know more than what they explain to you and you posting here.

Hmm. Still hoping!!