Kitten who can't move

Hello all I'm new here and found this site when doing some research. I rescued a kitten who had been attacked by a bobcat in my small town. I am an animal rescuer but typically pull from shelters so I haven't had a case like this before. He is 12 weeks old and very sweet and has a neck wound and some minor back wounds. He has been under the care of a vet since Wednesday and I took him home for the weekend. At first he could not move at all and after some steroids he could move his head and hold it up on his own as well as use one front leg. Since then he has shown no improvement though. He is still on steroids and his x-rays look fine they show no major damage to his spine so we thought it was nerve damage. I'm so conflicted because when he purrs I'm not sure if it's out of pain or happpiness. The vet said he wasn't in pain but he growls when I move him sometimes and it seems like he is. He can't use anything but one front let and move his head. He can't use the bathroom and I'm expressing his bladder for him. I know the vet wants me to decide what to do and I'm so conflicted. I don't want to prolong his sufferingand I know if he isn't better his quality of life would be bad, but if there's a chanice I don't want to give up on him either. He has so many people rooting for him and donating to his care. But I'm attached so it's hard to decide what to do. He has some feeling in his back legs because he responds to pain if you pinch them. Is there a chance he could get better or does anything have any similar experience or insight?

You say the vet wants you to make a decision, but you don't mention what the vet thinks of his odds of getting better.  Is this something you have been able to discuss with your vet in some detail? Has he given you some indication of what he thinks the odds of improvement are, what he views as a best case scenario, how long he thinks you should wait before it's pretty certain things won't improve? 

If not, I think it's time to have this difficult conversation with your vet. If you have had the discussion, I think you should listen to him and take him and his words and recommendations seriously.  Perhaps ask what he'd do if this was his own cat.

Bluntly, if chances of his improving are nonexistent or minimal, I don't see that this cat can ever have a good quality of life, and I would probably take steps to end his suffering. However, as I have already said, I think this is something you really have to discuss in detail with your vet to make an informed decision.

I am very sorry to hear your story and wish you and the kitten all the best. This must be very hard to deal with, and thank you for doing all you have for the kitten so far. Please do keep us updated.

All I know is that if this were my cat, I'd ask a second vet for another opinion (particularly of a different gender- even if that sounds mean or biased). Most of all, I would certainly ask what they would do if it were their cat.

What is the kitten eating? What does he weigh? Does he have any other body wounds besides his back? Is his stomach or organ area damaged? Does he appear to have any bruising in the organ area? Is he staying warm? Do you have a heating pad or rice baby?

These are just questions I'd like to know to better help you. I don't doubt your abilities or anything. I want to help you rule out his needs one by one. [emoji]128570[/emoji]

He doesn't look lethargic or emaciated- we certainly don't want him getting that way -so it looks like he's in good hands. I hope he turns around, and I hope you can get a second opinion! I'm rooting for you both! [emoji]128151[/emoji]

The kitten is in my prayers. I hope he pulls through.

MommaWolf said:

All I know is that if this were my cat, I'd ask a second vet for another opinion (particularly of a different gender- even if that sounds mean or biased). Most of all, I would certainly ask what they would do if it were their cat.

What is the kitten eating? What does he weigh? Does he have any other body wounds besides his back? Is his stomach or organ area damaged? Does he appear to have any bruising in the organ area? Is he staying warm? Do you have a heating pad or rice baby?

These are just questions I'd like to know to better help you. I don't doubt your abilities or anything. I want to help you rule out his needs one by one. [emoji]128570[/emoji]

He doesn't look lethargic or emaciated- we certainly don't want him getting that way -so it looks like he's in good hands. I hope he turns around, and I hope you can get a second opinion! I'm rooting for you both! [emoji]128151[/emoji]

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This is what I would do as well. The vet you're working with should be honest with you and give you some idea of what you're looking at recovery wise. If the kitten is unlikely to get better, you need to know that. Thank you for being there for this sweet baby. He's lucky to have you. 

tulosai said:

You say the vet wants you to make a decision, but you don't mention what the vet thinks of his odds of getting better.  Is this something you have been able to discuss with your vet in some detail? Has he given you some indication of what he thinks the odds of improvement are, what he views as a best case scenario, how long he thinks you should wait before it's pretty certain things won't improve? 

If not, I think it's time to have this difficult conversation with your vet. If you have had the discussion, I think you should listen to him and take him and his words and recommendations seriously.  Perhaps ask what he'd do if this was his own cat.

Bluntly, if chances of his improving are nonexistent or minimal, I don't see that this cat can ever have a good quality of life, and I would probably take steps to end his suffering. However, as I have already said, I think this is something you really have to discuss in detail with your vet to make an informed decision.

I am very sorry to hear your story and wish you and the kitten all the best. This must be very hard to deal with, and thank you for doing all you have for the kitten so far. Please do keep us updated.

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The vet hasn't really stated what she thought but she did say to give it a try. We go back to see her today. She said there's no way to know if he will get better and it's a 50/50 chance especially since we don't see any spine damage so we don't know what's actually causing the paralysis!

MommaWolf said:

All I know is that if this were my cat, I'd ask a second vet for another opinion (particularly of a different gender- even if that sounds mean or biased). Most of all, I would certainly ask what they would do if it were their cat.

What is the kitten eating? What does he weigh? Does he have any other body wounds besides his back? Is his stomach or organ area damaged? Does he appear to have any bruising in the organ area? Is he staying warm? Do you have a heating pad or rice baby?

These are just questions I'd like to know to better help you. I don't doubt your abilities or anything. I want to help you rule out his needs one by one. [emoji]128570[/emoji]

He doesn't look lethargic or emaciated- we certainly don't want him getting that way -so it looks like he's in good hands. I hope he turns around, and I hope you can get a second opinion! I'm rooting for you both! [emoji]128151[/emoji]

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He is eating baby food and lunch meat, he will sit up to eat if I stand him up, so he can hold himself up. He is on a heating pad with fuzzy blankets for comfort. He weighs about 2 or 3 pounds but he's not emaciated. No organ damage or any other damage that we can see just the neck and back wound. He has definitely improved from the first day he was rescued but hasn't improved since then. I have had two female vets opinions and they both told me to try it for the weekend and bring him back on Monday. I will update everyone on what the vet says today

Are you feeding him by way of syringe? He is a very cute little cat.

mazie said:

Are you feeding him by way of syringe? He is a very cute little cat.

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No he will sit up if I prop him up and eat out of my hand or from a spoon. He won't eat cat food though I think he was living outside of scraps and he's unsure if what cat food is. He isn't even interested in wet food, but will eat 3 pieces of lunch meat and a jar of baby food every few hours. The vet was feeding him baby food so I assumed it was okay to do as well. I am syringing him water and his medicine though. I tried kitten formula but he wasn't interested in that either.

Here is a photo of him when I first rescued him, you can see the wounds better in this picture. The vet said she thought the bobcat shook him by the neck.

He looks alert and healthy in spite of his injuries. How long has it been since you rescued him? I would want to give it more time to see if it is the inflammation from his wounds that is causing his paralysis; I know the steroids help with that. People & pets have had good luck with laser therapy, that might be worth a try. Thank you for doing what you do to help animals in need

Sending you vibes for a positive outcome for this sweet boy

LotsofFur said:

He looks alert and healthy in spite of his injuries. How long has it been since you rescued him? I would want to give it more time to see if it is the inflammation from his wounds that is causing his paralysis; I know the steroids help with that. People & pets have had good luck with laser therapy, that might be worth a try. Thank you for doing what you do to help animals in need

Sending you vibes for a positive outcome for this sweet boy

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Thank you so much! I rescued him Wednesday and he was attacked Tuesday night. He was at the vet until Saturday when I brought him home.

Sounds good, I guess at this point, let him eat whatever he will accept. Once you know he is going to make it, then be concerned about nutrition. You are doing a great job, he is lucky you have taken him on. With you, if he is meant to make it, he will. This is quite an undertaking you have assumed, a very humanitarian endeavor. I pray the little guy makes it, but please get a second opinion and have that serious conversation with a competent vet. Keep us informed.

How's everything going?

what a beautiful little  guy, hoping he makes it. And you are a  wonderful person for saving him

What a lovely person you truly are! Sending lots of and your and his way. I hope the little guy pulls through - he seems like a little trooper!

Fingers crossed for this little guy.

So we went back to the vet today and the vet said she felt as though there was some improvement but that she wasn't sure how it would go. He has moved his front arm that hasn't been moving a little bit. She gave him some pain medicine and said to keep the steroids until they run out and if he's not better by Friday she doesn't think he will get better. She said if it was her cat she would try that way we can say we did absolutely everything we can. We are going to try doing some therapy with his legs and see if it helps! At this point I don't think he will get better but I want to try everything I can

Would your vet be able to consult with a neurologist? Does he have feeling in his other limbs? Are his paws warm/cold to the touch?

As for food...
Yes, important that eat he something; but, he cannot stay on a baby food and lunch meat diet alone. As little as two weeks without proper nutrition (including the ever important Taurine) and lead to heart damage and retinal degeneration. I have a cat in my care that had such damage due to eating scraps before he came to me.

Have you tried mixing a bit of the baby food with a small amount of canned food? I was eventually able to wean my cat to Nature's Variety Instinct turkey and he was a major Gerber turkey addict!

You might also try one of the raw frozen diets (Nature's Variety, Rad Cat and Primal are the top 3 and are available in many stores, including big box pet stores.). These are balanced complete diets.

If the kitten will eat plain boiled chicken, there are supplements that can be added to make this balanced (U-Stew is one such supplement.) If you choose to go the home-cooked road, please check out the Raw and Home-cooked forum for tips and advice.

jennyrosalie said:

So we went back to the vet today and the vet said she felt as though there was some improvement but that she wasn't sure how it would go. He has moved his front arm that hasn't been moving a little bit. She gave him some pain medicine and said to keep the steroids until they run out and if he's not better by Friday she doesn't think he will get better. She said if it was her cat she would try that way we can say we did absolutely everything we can. We are going to try doing some therapy with his legs and see if it helps! At this point I don't think he will get better but I want to try everything I can

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I know it's not exactly the same, but hoping it will give some perspective at least. When I was a kid, we had Basenjis and Alaskan Malamutes (my sister showed dogs so we had a lot of both). One of the Basenjis got attacked by one of the Malamutes when my sister was out of town - this Malamute was jealous of pretty much every other female dog alive and went after them. Anyway, she had a LOT of damage done, and was at the vet for weeks, followed by many more weeks of rehabilitation at home.

There was a LOT of TLC and attention needed, but she made it.

I realize this isn't a dog, and it's not an adult, but for someone to give up on a baby that is recovering - even if it's slowly - boggles my mind. Not everyone heals at the same speed. He's obviously a fighter and wants to live! Please don't give up on this little guy unless you feel he will only get worse.