Hi,
This is my first post to the forum. I found the site as I was looking for some information to help me with a problem I have.
Our cat adopted us about a year and a half ago (she was 6 weeks of age when we found her and her three brothers almost starved to death in a nearby field), and now lives indoors after her brothers were all run over by cars (all within one month
). She's been indoors for about a year now, and seems to enjoy her life. Fortunately there is plenty of room, and I try my best to get keep her entertained.
Now, we have a staircase, on the railings of which kitty loves to walk. I usually can't watch. Today I was washing the floors, including the stairs, and I guess her paws were wet when she jumped on the railings, for at one point I heard a crash, a miaow, and another crash-like sound. I didn't see what happened exactly, but my guess is that she tried to get on the railings, slipped, and fell. If I am correct, she must have fallen about five meters, landing on wet stone floor. It may be that she also hit a railing as she went down. (We have three storeys, connected by that one staircase.)
Obviously, I was really worried that she might have broken something. However, to my great relief she got up and was able to walk, although with a slight limp indicating that her left hind leg hurt a little. I picked her up, and tapped her spine gently from several places, relieved to find out that none of the taps seemed to hurt her, which (I hope) means that her spine is ok. Also her other feet seem to be fine; only the left hind leg, when pressed, produces a "don't do that" kind of a miaow. As far as I can see, it is also not the bone but the muscle that seems to hurt (but I didn't want to stress her more by continually poking the tender leg). In any case, now, about three hours after the accident, the limping is actually more or less gone. Not that she would be running around, either.
So, she seems to be ok. However, ever since the accident she has mainly been lying on the floor, only moving to follow us if we go to another room (she loves company). She is also very quiet, and not at all playful. Usually at this time of the day she will be running around the house, playing with her toys, trying to pick up a fight with you, and generally having fun. On a normal day she is also a very loud cat, constantly talking to you. Now if I throw a ball (she loves fetching those), her head does turn quickly, and her eyes fixate on it, but she doesn't seem to have either the willpower or the energy to go and catch it.
She doesn't eat food, either. Not that it would be her usual feeding time, of course, but she actually missed her breakfast this morning (we have had some workers outside the house, and kitty is a bit scared of them and their noises, and so couldn't eat properly in the morning), so I would imagine that she is hungry. She did accept a few snacks, though.
The only time that I have seen her like this was once after she had been in a fight. She recovered from it within a day or so, so I am hoping that kitty will be her normal energetic self by tomorrow.
So, I think I shouldn't be worried. However, I noticed that as she is lying on the floor (or in her little box -- she loves cardboard boxes), she shakes every now and then. Not much, but a little, every 10-15 seconds or so. A bit like a human shakes when he or she is cold. Kitty also constantly stretches her hind legs. And, as I said, moves only when absolutely necessary.
She isn't really complaining. And she still really likes to be petted, though will try to scratch you if you go anywhere near her hind legs.
The local vet is off for the day, and won't be back until Monday evening. I could take her to an emergency animal hospital in the city, but she hates cars and I really wouldn't like to drive her there and back (that'd be at least an hour) for nothing, as it would only stress her further.
So, I wonder if anyone has any idea whether the shaking and stretching is something I should be very concerned about? I will still try to call the vet today, if only I can get hold of his private phone number, but I thought that maybe you feline experts might have something to say, as well.
Thank you very much in advance.
Best,
Vili
This is my first post to the forum. I found the site as I was looking for some information to help me with a problem I have.
Our cat adopted us about a year and a half ago (she was 6 weeks of age when we found her and her three brothers almost starved to death in a nearby field), and now lives indoors after her brothers were all run over by cars (all within one month
Now, we have a staircase, on the railings of which kitty loves to walk. I usually can't watch. Today I was washing the floors, including the stairs, and I guess her paws were wet when she jumped on the railings, for at one point I heard a crash, a miaow, and another crash-like sound. I didn't see what happened exactly, but my guess is that she tried to get on the railings, slipped, and fell. If I am correct, she must have fallen about five meters, landing on wet stone floor. It may be that she also hit a railing as she went down. (We have three storeys, connected by that one staircase.)
Obviously, I was really worried that she might have broken something. However, to my great relief she got up and was able to walk, although with a slight limp indicating that her left hind leg hurt a little. I picked her up, and tapped her spine gently from several places, relieved to find out that none of the taps seemed to hurt her, which (I hope) means that her spine is ok. Also her other feet seem to be fine; only the left hind leg, when pressed, produces a "don't do that" kind of a miaow. As far as I can see, it is also not the bone but the muscle that seems to hurt (but I didn't want to stress her more by continually poking the tender leg). In any case, now, about three hours after the accident, the limping is actually more or less gone. Not that she would be running around, either.
So, she seems to be ok. However, ever since the accident she has mainly been lying on the floor, only moving to follow us if we go to another room (she loves company). She is also very quiet, and not at all playful. Usually at this time of the day she will be running around the house, playing with her toys, trying to pick up a fight with you, and generally having fun. On a normal day she is also a very loud cat, constantly talking to you. Now if I throw a ball (she loves fetching those), her head does turn quickly, and her eyes fixate on it, but she doesn't seem to have either the willpower or the energy to go and catch it.
She doesn't eat food, either. Not that it would be her usual feeding time, of course, but she actually missed her breakfast this morning (we have had some workers outside the house, and kitty is a bit scared of them and their noises, and so couldn't eat properly in the morning), so I would imagine that she is hungry. She did accept a few snacks, though.
The only time that I have seen her like this was once after she had been in a fight. She recovered from it within a day or so, so I am hoping that kitty will be her normal energetic self by tomorrow.
So, I think I shouldn't be worried. However, I noticed that as she is lying on the floor (or in her little box -- she loves cardboard boxes), she shakes every now and then. Not much, but a little, every 10-15 seconds or so. A bit like a human shakes when he or she is cold. Kitty also constantly stretches her hind legs. And, as I said, moves only when absolutely necessary.
She isn't really complaining. And she still really likes to be petted, though will try to scratch you if you go anywhere near her hind legs.
The local vet is off for the day, and won't be back until Monday evening. I could take her to an emergency animal hospital in the city, but she hates cars and I really wouldn't like to drive her there and back (that'd be at least an hour) for nothing, as it would only stress her further.
So, I wonder if anyone has any idea whether the shaking and stretching is something I should be very concerned about? I will still try to call the vet today, if only I can get hold of his private phone number, but I thought that maybe you feline experts might have something to say, as well.
Thank you very much in advance.
Best,
Vili
