Links Broken Leg.... still

My vet says he is one of the most self assured and expressive cats she has ever met. She saw him about every other week for the first 4 months of his injury and he was hospitalized for the first 5 days. She knows his warnings that he is getting annoyed and has learned what he will and won't tolerate fairly well. He really does love his vet and tries to follow her out of the exam room to explore the office most visits.

After the second surgery she put a cast on it on top of the cage rest so that he couldn't move and damage it further. She wanted the cage rest and cast for 3 weeks. He twisted the cast within 5 days.


The ER vet who removed the cast (because of course he twisted it at 10pm in the evening) took x-rays and said the bone is as healed as she would expect given his healing time and looked very well healed. If I hadn't told her he had the pins removed because they broke out of the bone she wouldn't have known. I didn't have them replace the cast because it seemed pointless if he slipped it in 5 days in a cage to put it back on and have him slip it again. Especially since when he slipped it he managed to tweak his hip and I was seriously worried about a displacement from how he was holding it. The ER vet thought he didn't need the crate rest for more than another week but we kept him in for two more weeks per his regular vet. 

When his regular vet found out the cast came off early she just sighed and told him he was a crazy boy. 

I think you are right about it being more soft tissue damage at this point. My vet didn't seem concerned about how he is moving when we saw her recently. I had some videos of him walking around the yard towards the end of the day and she saw him doing his usual exploration of the room. I might consider a MRI or CT for my own peace of mind. My Dad works with both of them (install and maintenance) so I can ask him to talk to some of the techs and figure out which one is the better option and where in my area there is an office with good ones. The last time I had to get a cat a MRI the machine was seriously outdated, in my Dads opinion, even at the top rated center in the area. It was kinda funny because my Dad did some tweaking to it to help them out and I got a free chemo treatment visit out of it, lol.  

I don't think there is a way to slow Link down. Even if he is house bound he is everywhere. Climbing his cat tree, chasing his sister over beds and under, chasing his brother around the table. Outside he is on the roof or up trees half the day (and passed out on his outdoor swing the other half). I wouldn't want to re-crate him at this point. I think I will just have to keep an eye on him and make sure I go to bed on time. The only time he stops is when I go to bed and he is usually curled up next to me fast asleep within minutes; but if I stay up late he will keep going until I lay down. I really do appreciate your posts. I will definitely be stricter on the crate rest if something like this happens again. I think my childhood cat who shattered his femur and healed with no complications jaded me to what was needed. That cat had a cast for 4 weeks and got fully wired up to piece his leg together. But once the cast was off he was fine other then a slight limp in his old age.   

I love your sense of humor! ("...and make sure I go to bed on time", and I love that "More Food Please" food bowl) :lol3:

That is quite the leg cast, Link is awesome.

I'm sure he'll do fine!

Milly is like a blurry 8-lb UFO when she goes through her zoomies, so I certainly get a sense of how uncontainable Link is!

I've only just seen this excellent thread.    A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed.  I just learnt masses of stuff really quickly, easily, and good-humouredly.  

@Kieka  I hadn't realised Link's broken leg issues were still so current, poor sausage.  I hope he continues to improve; it looks as though he's come on leaps and bounds (don't pardon the pun).  He's a gorgeous looking boy, by the way.  With a personality to suit, by the sounds of things.  Maybe valerian treats and spot-on could be useful for chilling him out when he's overexcited and putting too much stress on his leg.  

@PushPurrCatPaws  thank you for inadvertently alerting me to this highly interesting thread.  A BIG UP to you for all your invaluable insight.    And, for introducing us to little Milly, long may her zoomies continue.  

Another great team effort and win for The Cat Site!  

@Brian007  I might give the valerian a try. Link loves his catnip as evident by the three catnip carrots scattered around the house that I have to replace every few months.


Little worried about trying something as a food additive or treat though. Do they make toys with it? 

The reason is it took me many attempts and trying things to figure out a joint supplement he will eat (my neighbors outdoor cat and sisters dogs have many treats and chews for joints right now, lol). I had ordered him his own taller and bigger cat bowl at the same time.He started refusing the wet food (Taste of the Wild) he was eating as a result of all the different things I attempted to mix in or give him before dinner to help his joints. 

When he started to refuse the TotW I switched him to Fancy Fest Broths because I know that is loved even if it isn't the best. Nightfury saw that and decided he was going to refuse TotW too. Rocket just loves food so she didn't complain and just ate what they refused. She is now getting a whole can of TotW for herself until we run out of it and then all three will switch to something else. BUT... The whole can of TotW doesn't fit in the smaller bowls so Rocket got Links bigger bowl yesterday to fit it in one bowl. You should have seen the stink eye I got when I put down the bowls and his bigger bowl had the wrong food and then I slid it to sister. You would have thought I was abusing him. So a second bigger bowl is on its way rush delivery for the picky boy so he can have his bowl back tonight. So it cost me all the attempted joint supplements plus having to buy a new bowl. Which is a really long story and explanation but fun to share, lol. 

This was his at the smaller version before, the bigger one is about an inch higher and wider. 

Wow, he is stunning!  Fantastic photo, he could be, should be, a model. 

I got Dudley an oval shaped bowl recently to accommodate his long whiskers, he's 14.8lb, and still growing until aged four, apparently.  I put it on a small cardboard box to elevate it.  I haven't the spare readies for an elevated dinner table just yet, what with all the other stuff I've gotten him.  I've been on a Dudley focused treatment drive.  I got him a treat dispensing weeblewobble toy too, which he's totally taken to.     And his XL jumbo cat litter box arrived today, which I've not set up yet but if the box is anything to go by it's the size of a small boat!  No more tail dragging in stinky poo now, fingers crossed. 

They make cat toys with valerian but you're better of buying some pure root from Amazon or similar place.  It stinks, mind you, but cats absolutely love it, weirdos!  You could either make your own toys or grind some root up in a pestle and mortar to offer him some to nibble.  I have some for decocting and making tincture for human relaxation and as a sleep aid.  Because it's the root that's used, it won't make a simple tea but needs decocting, which is a posh word for simmering and stewing for half and hour or so until the active ingredients are eked out.  

I definitely recommend it for him and you.

However, the Beaphar tasty treats also contain mellisa and hops too.  Hops is a sedative and mellisa (or lemon balm) is an all round miracle worker, especially good for nausea.  It's a true wonder of nature.  I make tea out of mellisa and tincture also.  I sometimes put hops into sleep pillows with mugwort it but it also reeks to high heaven.  Mugwort promotes/induces lucid dreaming.

Thank you @Brian007

I will give the root and try and see how he reacts too it. Thank you for all the helpful information on how to use valerian and the tasty treats.

Congratulations to Dudley for all the great stuff. Hopefully the XL litter box works out well for you.  

PushPurrCatPaws said:

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PushPurrCatPaws said:

....You should have seen the stink eye I got when I put down the bowls and his bigger bowl had the wrong food and then I slid it to sister. You would have thought I was abusing him. So a second bigger bowl is on its way rush delivery for the picky boy so he can have his bowl back tonight. So it cost me all the attempted joint supplements plus having to buy a new bowl. Which is a really long story and explanation but fun to share, lol. 
This was his at the smaller version before, the bigger one is about an inch higher and wider. 

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• Kieka
• Mar 29, 2017

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I honestly thought that @PushPurrCatPaws would have had it a lot easier at containing, and recuperating with Milly versus big Link's recuperation.

Now, I see that I am slightly wrong, based on the "Milly is a blurry 8lb UFO" description, when she is "zooming" around her place.

I still think that Link is more than a few extra points ahead, in the department of "which cat is harder to contain" category.

I think you'll both have to slightly revise the 'goal of full healing' to perhaps 12 months versus 7-8 months post-op.  At least I hope that it's a linear pattern, and that both cats do 'self-regulate', or 'self-limit', as was previously mentioned. (With these two young cats, I don't know, if they understand the word 'limit' or 'over-doing it'.) Much like elite athletes.

Some members have said that their cats slow down at age 3, but others have said age 6.

(My rainbow cat, Spotty, did not slow down until age 9, so I think that these two will definitely be in that particular group of cats.)

@Kieka....That 'food bowl story' of having Link's bigger food bowl slide over to Rocket, and him not being too fond of the whole situation, acting all shocked and stunned...has me in stitches.
I can just picture the stink eye that he gave you.  

I do like the photo of him, with the elevated food dish, even if small bowl.

He looks to be in a fancy restaurant, eating an appetizer, or dessert.

Such a good idea to elevate the food dish, for cats.  

I think every cat has their own little quirks. Link is an odd ball for sure. Does anyone elses cat clean their tail by holding it? He almost always hooks his tail with a paw to clean it.


I am sure Milly and Dudley both have their own oddities. I just share through stories and photos a lot. Link is a character and so much fun to have around; I have trouble not sharing him. He is hard to contain but takes direction well most of the time. He knows humans aren't toys and to come in when he is told. He stays off tables (unlike his brother). He is really a good boy for all his rambunctious energy.

I think you are right that it is probably long term healing and rehabilitation for them both. I think Link has toned down some since his injury; because of it or age I don't know. Which is kinda scary considering how active he still is, lol.

I found a valerian root toy that I am going to try to see how Link reacts. I'll share how it works out sometime mid next week (I'll be offline for a few days so when I get back). If it can slow him down in the evenings it might be good for his leg after a day of running around.

Kieka said:

I am sure Milly and Dudley both have their own oddities. I just share through stories and photos a lot. Link is a character and so much fun to have around; I have trouble not sharing him. He is hard to contain but takes direction well most of the time. He knows humans aren't toys and to come in when he is told. He stays off tables (unlike his brother). He is really a good boy for all his rambunctious energy.

I think you are right that it is probably long term healing and rehabilitation for them both. I think Link has toned down some since his injury; because of it or age I don't know. Which is kinda scary considering how active he still is, lol.

I found a valerian root toy that I am going to try to see how Link reacts. I'll share how it works out sometime mid next week (I'll be offline for a few days so when I get back). If it can slow him down in the evenings it might be good for his leg after a day of running around.

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  I cannot really say that I have ever noticed my cats holding their tails, in this way, while cleaning them.

At least not, on a regular basis.

Alright, will be awaiting next week's mid report.  

(Sorry, I cannot stop laughing at the 'holding the tail' while cleaning method.   That is sort of like Link is copying humans, now.) (Not that we have tails, but we do hold things when brushing hair, or cleaning things. Oh, boy, you know what I mean.)

Kieka said:

I think every cat has their own little quirks. Link is an odd ball for sure. Does anyone elses cat clean their tail by holding it? He almost always hooks his tail with a paw to clean it.

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• Kieka
• Mar 29, 2017

I am sure Milly and Dudley both have their own oddities. ...

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I thought all cats did that! That's a familiar pose! ix:
Milly does this a lot but not always (she's fascinated by her tail at times), and my previous two cats did this too. Hm.

cat nap said:

...

I think you'll both have to slightly revise the 'goal of full healing' to perhaps 12 months versus 7-8 months post-op.  At least I hope that it's a linear pattern, ...

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Once again, cat nap, you are right! The surgeon told us 6 months to get the bones &C healed together properly, another six months till "normal".

Most of the cats I've known hold their tails to wash, and practise extreme yoga to get at all the awkward bits, also.  Apart from Dudley, that is, who gets a couple of mouthfuls of under-chin fluff, at the start of what should be an extensive daily grooming regime, then gives up entirely.  I don't think he's ever gotten so far along as his tail.  

(However, he often spins around in circles, chasing it.    )

Consequently, I'm head groomer.  I have, just now, laid down an agreeable plastic litter mat, hopefully so fluffiness doesn't puff out all over the carpet or up my nose; lined up under-fluff rake, slicker brush, my  paddle brush, waterless foaming shampoo, dish cloth, towel, and some baby wipes.  All in preparation for a thorough session (I don't do this normally, I usually just give him a swift brush here & there every few days).  I suspect I might have been trained! 

I've also been playing "mouse" with him and dosed him up with valerian, haha!        

Now, I'll have a nice cup of tea to centre myself before the fluff-fest commences.....

So, @Keiko, Dudley definitely has his "oddities"!

Sorry for rambling on.    

Major kudos to you for the fluff-fest. There is a very good reason I have short hair cats. Although Rocket apparently was long haired in another life. The amount of fluff that comes off that one in the season change is mind blowing.

I am all good with rambling and drifting conversations myself. I used to train and I'd tell my trainees it was okay to tell me when I got too far off track. lol

I haven't had a cat grab their tail quiet as much as Link before. Rocket expects her tail to behave and stay in place when she grooms and it doesn't misbehave. Fury chews his claws when grooming and I can honestly not say I have noticed him clean his tail. But he is quiet so you can't hear him grooming. Link you can hear grooming from two rooms away so it is hard not to look.

I got Link a valerian root toy from a local mom and pop place.


He seemed to like it. Right up until Fury noticed the new catnip carrot and stole it from me. Then there was a lot of back and forth between those two. At one point Link was laying on the purple toy and chewing the catnip carrot.

Somehow he always leaves the catnip carrot a soggy mess. I was pretty sure I had a cat and not a dog. But sometimes I question it with how he treats his toys.

I'm a little curious.

Does the valerian make Link,or Fury, mellow, or hyper? 

And does the cat nip, do the same?

(I've read that cats can get different reactions from both.)

 "Somehow he always leaves the catnip carrot a soggy mess. I was pretty sure I had a cat and not a dog. But sometimes I question it with how he treats his toys."

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   Sounds like LInk may have a strong love for the catnip, there.

"a soggy mess"...yeah...does sound a bit 'dog-like' to me, too. And the laying on both toys, is another 'dog-like' move.   

For Link and Fury it seemed to make them a smidgen mellow. I wouldn't say completely mellow but definitely not the hyperactive effect of catnip.

Interestingly, Rocket who hates catnip and doesn't get it at all seems to like the valerian root.

Thanks.

Yes, I can see that Rocket seems to enjoy the valerian. Woe to any cat that tries to take it from her.

I've never tried to give either, to any of my cats, because I feared it would make them too hyper, but maybe if I put a small amount in a toy, then see how they react.

As long as they don't fight over the toy, I think I'll be okay.

Has Link's walking improved?

Is he still sitting and resting when he has to?

Yay! I can respond now...

Link seems to be doing better. I was gone for a few days and my Dad didn't give him his joint supplement. When I came back he was limping worse again. But now back on the supplement he is limping less again. Nice thing about that happening is I know the supplement is not just a placebo affect.

Overall, he is probably at 90% of old Link status. He was super grumpy the other night but he also wasn't super happy with dinner that evening. We are still experimenting with different wet foods.