Cat Behavior After Tail Amputation

ultranerdcat

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I have a cat Tiger who is almost 2 years old. After an accident, he ended up having to have his tail amputated. His entire tail was amputated no nub or anything left. 

He had surgery a week ago on Wednesday. He goes Monday to have the stitches removed.

But I've noticed some things different about him since his surgery.

He has been peeing fine. I clean his litter box twice a day right now (paper litter) until his stitches are removed because he likes to lay in the box. But I have also noticed he will randomly seemingly stimulate himself to pee. I know when it is going to happen because he will shake his back right leg before he starts licking and peeing. Is this normal? 

He has completely stopped grooming himself. I’ve tried keeping his hair in check by brushing him a couple times a day. But other than his back feet he doesn’t groom himself at all. And his left side that he lays on the most has started to mat. The vet is going to shave off the matted areas Monday. Why has he stopped grooming himself? And any tips on keeping the mats off? I brush him twice a day right now and he is still getting matted. He has not long but kind of fuzzy hair.

And lastly, he has some behavioral changes. Before the surgery, he was a very chill laid back quiet cat. Now he freaks out fi you make any sudden moves. Even though he hasn’t figured out balancing without his tail quite yet he will take off running. He tries to play a lot rougher with my other cat. He has gotten very picky about his food. Before he would eat anything you put in front of him. Now he only wants specific foods and will starve himself otherwise. I can't let him go hungry right now due to his medication. He and my other cat eat Honest Kitchen and Taste of the Wild. Right now he refuses to eat both and wants the cheap canned food I keep for stray cats.

He has suddenly taken to scratching everything. The furniture, carpet, walls, doors, shoes, everything is a scratching post. Before he never offered to scratch anything even as a kitten he was only interested in the scratching posts. And he meows a ton. A TON as in almost 24/7. He used to only meow if I was in the kitchen near the cabinet the cat food is in. Now he meows loudly almost all day and night. 

I’ve talked to his vet about it and they did a few tests as far as his picky eating and peeing but everything was normal. I was told the behavioral changes could be due to the traumatic surgery. 

He is still super sweet and playful like before the surgery but the sudden changes have me a bit worried. Mainly the peeing, meowing almost constantly, and rough play with my other cat. My other cat is an ‘alpha’ cat and does not tolerate rough play very well and he is significantly larger than my cat Tiger and I’m worried he could hurt him.
 

red top rescue

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You didn't detail the accident but obviously it was pretty severe.  If his tail had to be amputated that closely, you are lucky he IS able to pee.  I had one that was not and had to be euthanized after six weeks of hoping the nerves would recover.  If your guy has to stimulate himself to pee, no doubt it's related to the nerve damage and at least he CAN pee, which is wonderful.  He can live just fine as long as he can make it work.  As for the rest of his problems, I'm sure they are all related to the accident and some of them may go away in time.  It's like he has PTSD when he freaks out if you make any sudden moves.  That is common in humans and animals alike.  As for the not grooming, that is also common in animals who have been extremely sick or severely injured.  He is still recuperating and it may take months for him to get back to some semblance of normal.  Treat him like a severely wounded veteran, comfort him all you can, and hopefully he will get over this trauma.  So sorry he has had to go through this and very glad you have been able to save him. 

Ask your vet about any possible anti-anxiety medicine.  My vet had me use lorazepam .25 mg once a day and that seemed to help him and also stimulated his appetite. 
 
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ultranerdcat

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Thank you for your reply. 

As for his accident, I am not 100% sure what happened. He was with a pet sitter because I got sent out of town for work. I got a call that he had gotten out of the house the day I left. Then fast forward close to a month later I get another call a day before I was to come home to tell me a bookshelf had fallen on him and his tail got stuck. So I honestly have no idea what happened. When I got home his tail was a gangrene mess (even though I specifically told her to take him to the vet immediately and sent the money to my vet in advance to do so she did not take him I didn't even question her conflicting stories at the time). I rushed him to my vet who explained that his tail was gone and dead. The lower half of his tail had completely degloved and was like a brittle stick. And the gangrene had moved all of the way to the very base of his tail. It had to be all amputated. And even though he was already neutered the skin around his genitals was gangrenous and he had to have a scrotal ablation as well as repair the skin on the outside of his penis. 

I am very grateful that he is able to pee. He was not when I came home and took him to the vet.He had to have a catheter put in as soon as we got to the vet. I am glad to hear that stimulating himself is fine. He is able to pee in a litter box regularly but it is like he forgets that he has a box until I put him in it or he physically sees it. 

I think he did have something traumatic happen that I was not made aware of. Especially with how skittish he is if you move too fast or especially if you are moving towards him quickly. I'm just sad that my well adjusted relaxed cat seems to be on edge all of the time. He's taken to snuggling up to my oldest dog which again is not something he would ever do. And my dog has gotten overly protective of him. 

So him not grooming is pretty standard? I may just start brushing him more until he starts grooming himself. 

I've been trying to keep everything quiet and he also has a room that only he can get into that is very quiet and has his favorite bed and blanket and toys. 

I'll be sure to ask the vet about anti-anxiety meds. He was just weaned off of pain meds. When he was on the pain meds he was pretty calm.

Note: I am taking legal action against the pet sitter.

This is his biggest incision he has 3 smaller ones underneath him. This was right after I brought him home.

 

red top rescue

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That is truly heartbreaking and yes, obviously a HUGE trauma.  I was just told by another member here that for long term pain relief for nerve damage, which he obviously had, they can put him on Gabapentin.  I was on that for a year after my car accident because of fleeting nerve pain in one arm.  I felt no other effects from the gabapentin, but it relieved the nerve pain and I didn't have to stay on heavy duty pain killers.  As the pain lessened over the course of a year, I gradually lowered the doses and eventually it stopped coming back.  The other person says it makes her cat very clingy and cuddly and happy, and he gets it for arthritis at age 18. I hope you weaned him off pain meds slowly because like us, they can get addicted and going off to quickly can cause anxiety and a general feeling of malaise (been there, done that, had to go back on and come off slowly.)  Anyhow, I think the gabapentin may be worth a try.  Tramadol is also a drug that can be used for a longer term than the usual buprenorphine.  Do ask your vet.  Mine did fine with buprenorphine for pain every 12 hours for the first week or so, and 25 mg. of lorazepam as a tranquilizer and appetite stimulant afterwards.  That was quite a few years ago however.

Obviously with that much gangrene, he was NOT taken to a vet immediately (you would have had records if he had been) and you are so lucky he is still alive.  The timing is confusing though -- you said you were sent out of town for a week and he got out on day one.  But then you said fast forward a MONTH -- and you were only just then coming home, and he had not been to a vet, and the injury was obviously very old.  (Mine was fresh, his tail had gotten caught in machinery inside the HVAC, where he should not have been able to get, but there was a hole in one of the vents under the house, and I had just moved there and did not know.)

You do have a legal case here, since the cat was not taken to the vet immediately, and I would also slam that cat sitter on every public media around (Yelp, Google Reviews, etc.) if this is a professional sitter and not just a friend who messed up badly.  I doubt that you have heard the truth of the story, but the most important thing now is to nurse your poor cat back to health. 
 
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ultranerdcat

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I see the confusion. I was out of town for almost a month. I came home a week ago and took him to the vet. I would have tried to come home much sooner or contacted a friend or relative but I was under the assumption that he had been taken to the vet once the sitter told me "a bookshelf fell on him" because she told me she took him and that they had given him pain medication and that nothing was broken. Not a professional sitter but someone who has been hired by me before to take care of my pets and has done well many times in the past. Since she has been a pet sitter for me for a few years I trusted that she had indeed taken him (she took my dog last year for his cancer treatments so I assumed she had taken him as well) and didn't even think to call the vet to make sure. In hindsight, I wish I had of. It would have been a lot less pain and just trauma for him to deal with. 

He had surgery the day after I got home a week ago and stayed at the vet overnight. I brought him home on Thursday of last week.

He was definitely not taken to the vet immediately. When I got home he smelled so bad I had to open every window in my living room while I got him ready for the vet. The best thing was the sitter actually asked me to pay her extra for 'looking after Tiger while he was hurt'. There is no doubt in my mind that he neither got out or a bookshelf fell on him. I only have 2 bookshelves and none of the things on either one had been disturbed.

He was on 1 mg of Torbutrol and was slowly weaned off of it. He had his last dose on Tuesday morning. He is currently only on 22.7 mg of Baytril twice a day (half of a tablet twice a day). He did seem less out of sorts while on the pain medication but a lot more clingy. My plan is to ask the vet about an anti-anxiety medication and what I can do about his appetite. I will also ask about a long-term pain medication.
 
That is truly heartbreaking and yes, obviously a HUGE trauma.  I was just told by another member here that for long term pain relief for nerve damage, which he obviously had, they can put him on Gabapentin.  I was on that for a year after my car accident because of fleeting nerve pain in one arm.  I felt no other effects from the gabapentin, but it relieved the nerve pain and I didn't have to stay on heavy duty pain killers.  As the pain lessened over the course of a year, I gradually lowered the doses and eventually it stopped coming back.  The other person says it makes her cat very clingy and cuddly and happy, and he gets it for arthritis at age 18. I hope you weaned him off pain meds slowly because like us, they can get addicted and going off to quickly can cause anxiety and a general feeling of malaise (been there, done that, had to go back on and come off slowly.)  Anyhow, I think the gabapentin may be worth a try.  Tramadol is also a drug that can be used for a longer term than the usual buprenorphine.  Do ask your vet.  Mine did fine with buprenorphine for pain every 12 hours for the first week or so, and 25 mg. of lorazepam as a tranquilizer and appetite stimulant afterwards.  That was quite a few years ago however.

Obviously with that much gangrene, he was NOT taken to a vet immediately (you would have had records if he had been) and you are so lucky he is still alive.  The timing is confusing though -- you said you were sent out of town for a week and he got out on day one.  But then you said fast forward a MONTH -- and you were only just then coming home, and he had not been to a vet, and the injury was obviously very old.  (Mine was fresh, his tail had gotten caught in machinery inside the HVAC, where he should not have been able to get, but there was a hole in one of the vents under the house, and I had just moved there and did not know.)

You do have a legal case here, since the cat was not taken to the vet immediately, and I would also slam that cat sitter on every public media around (Yelp, Google Reviews, etc.) if this is a professional sitter and not just a friend who messed up badly.  I doubt that you have heard the truth of the story, but the most important thing now is to nurse your poor cat back to health. 
 
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ultranerdcat

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Just an update. Tiger went to the vet yesterday. He had his stitches removed and was given more Torbutrol (1mg 2x day) as well as .25mg Lorazepam 1x day. If the Lorazepam doesn't work well (it has so far he is much calmer) they are going to switch him to Ativan. He was also put onto 3ml every 8 hours of Lactulose and an all wet diet due to constipation. When he calmed down after the first does of the Lorazepam he ate his entire can of food. 
 

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Tiger sounds like to me to be a real fighter. From the sounds of things he has also used up part of his "nine lives", the skittish part and actions. Something really scared him, he has to learn how to trust again. You have no idea what really happened to him and at this point it is only a guessing game. Phantom pain is a real thing with any animal or person who has had missing body parts. This is one of the main things that I think he is dealing with, he has to learn his balance again. No idea of how much nerve damage there has been either and this can cause many behavioral issues. We as humans can only look and see what is happening on a daily basis and provide the cat with his basic needs. How does he feel about being held now? 
 
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ultranerdcat

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Tiger sounds like to me to be a real fighter. From the sounds of things he has also used up part of his "nine lives", the skittish part and actions. Something really scared him, he has to learn how to trust again. You have no idea what really happened to him and at this point it is only a guessing game. Phantom pain is a real thing with any animal or person who has had missing body parts. This is one of the main things that I think he is dealing with, he has to learn his balance again. No idea of how much nerve damage there has been either and this can cause many behavioral issues. We as humans can only look and see what is happening on a daily basis and provide the cat with his basic needs. How does he feel about being held now? 
I wish I knew what really happened to him. The pet sitter is being sued for negligence and for the vet bill that was incurred. I have a hard time trusting anyone with my pets and this has only amplified that fear. He was such a sweet and calm cat. It is difficult to see him struggling to trust me or not freak out at every sound. 

Yeah, the vet explained he could have phantom pain. I think he is experiencing it since he keeps trying to groom his tail that is no longer there. He seems to get a bit confused when he starts to lick his tail and ends up licking the carpet. His balance is terrible. I've created ramps up to his favorite relaxing spots so he doesn't have to attempt to jump. 

The vet also explained that he believes that Tiger is at the very least partially paralyzed in his back right leg. He can walk pretty normally if he goes slowly. But if he tries to run his leg seems to give out and he just flops around.

He does pretty good with being held. He is sleeping in my lap right now. But I have to make sure things are calm or else he will flip out and run away. He does not trust anyone else. My best friend who he has known since I got him tried to pet him earlier today and he bolted and ended up slamming into the back of my chair. 

The biggest concern with this is my other cat. They have always been very very close. But now if my other cat tries to come anywhere near him in a playing manner (he's fine if he is sleeping or laying next to him) he freaks out and starts hissing and peeing everywhere.

So when I know things are going to get hectic I've been putting him in his 'safe room' aka my bedroom. I am not sure if protecting him from all of it is the right thing or not. But, I can't stand seeing him so scared.
 

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Having a "safe room" is the PERFECT thing for him.  He will know no thing and no one including the other cat can get in and then he can relax in there, and you will not have to worry.  Oh, and by the way, lorazepam and Ativan are the same thing.  Lorazepam is the generic, Ativan is the brand, but it's the same drug.  You can also give it every 12 hours if it doesn't seem to hold him for the whole 24 hours.  It works for 24 hours on my girl, but every cat is different.  I'm glad it is having a calming effect on him.

Gabapentin may help with residual nerve pain, as I mentioned before, but if you are going to use it, be sure to get the veterinary product because the human product sometimes is sweetened with xylitol which is LETHAL to cats and dogs.  Here is a little info on it:  http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learn...monographs/gabapentin-for-veterinary-use.html
 
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ultranerdcat

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Having a "safe room" is the PERFECT thing for him.  He will know no thing and no one including the other cat can get in and then he can relax in there, and you will not have to worry.  Oh, and by the way, lorazepam and Ativan are the same thing.  Lorazepam is the generic, Ativan is the brand, but it's the same drug.  You can also give it every 12 hours if it doesn't seem to hold him for the whole 24 hours.  It works for 24 hours on my girl, but every cat is different.  I'm glad it is having a calming effect on him.

Gabapentin may help with residual nerve pain, as I mentioned before, but if you are going to use it, be sure to get the veterinary product because the human product sometimes is sweetened with xylitol which is LETHAL to cats and dogs.  Here is a little info on it:  http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learn...monographs/gabapentin-for-veterinary-use.html
I thought Lorazepam and Ativan were the same but the receptionist kept telling me they were different. The Lorazepam seems to be working pretty well for him. But I may ask about bumping it from every 24 hours to every 12 since he does start to get a bit anxious and wide eyed starting at around 9pm and then meows for hours on end at night.

He goes back on Monday for a final check and I will ask about the Gabapentin. My dog that passed away last year was on it for her final days and helped her. I am not one to give my pets something that hasn't been approved by my vet. I always consult with them before giving them anything. 

I appreciate all of the help.
 

red top rescue

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Yes, you should definitely work with your vet in determining dosage.  My vet said it can be given every 12 hours or even less in severe cases.  You can refer the vet's receptionist to this link to increase her knowledge so she will not continue to give out inaccurate information.

https://www.drugs.com/lorazepam.html
 
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Emy-senpai

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Hi. I am new on here but was just reading your thread? I hope Tiger is better now. I am sooo sorry this happened to you both.... That cat sitter...hope you won the case !
 
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ultranerdcat

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Tiger is doing well. He is off all medication and no longer gets anxious or worked up. He gets regular sanitary shaves and wears a diaper except during the night. He is relatively back to normal. He still has a bit of a balance issue but not nearly as severe as it was he just can't be up anywhere that he could fall off of and injure himself. My other cat has taken of seemingly modified his own behavior to tailor to Tigers.

I did win. The sitter has to pay for any past or future vet visits that he has had to go through due to his injury as well has his surgery. There aren't any stringent laws where I am pertaining to animals just monetary value unfortunately.
 

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OK you are still actively reading this thread. We had a cat (Sarah) who was hit by a car and it broke her last vertebrae. She lost the ability to pee and poop. We had to give her enemas for a few months, and express her (squeeze her until she would pee) for about a year. Eventually she healed up enough but she still lost bladder control when she slept. So we used LOTS of Sarah towels in all her beds (and put a plastic tarp over the bed during the day.) Why am I telling you all this?

This happened 12? 14? years ago. When it happened and we decided we were not going to put her down, the vet prescribed a medication normally used on humans after spinal cord injuries to promote spinal nerve regrowth. It worked to a point. If you want I can ask my mom (since Sarah was her cat) and the vet for the name of the medication. It may take me a week or two. You can also ask your vet to research it.
 
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