Tigger's leg

[tiggerwillow]

The vet has said her leg will get worse - as in will, not if but when (last appointment)

She's booked in for her next injection

I'm worrying about her future

If her leg starts to affect her quality of life, what will happen to her?

Vet has said previously as they are not sure what damage the black cat did to her good back leg, they still don't want to be doing anything with her good back leg, cause she's using that leg normally all the time but they have picked up on some abnormal faint clicking in there, but cause her bad back leg is a real concern they said they're leaving her good back leg

But if her bad back leg gets to the point where she can't use it, would that put strain on her good back leg?

What do I do when her bad back leg gets worse? I don't want her to die

 

[FeebysOwner]

Everything you are asking here should be asked of the vet. Once you know the answers, then you could share them here to see what others may think.
Things I would want to ask the vet -
What is the reason that they are so sure that it WILL get worse?
Has it gotten worse, and if so, how has the vet assessed that to be the case?
What are options to help stave off/slow down progression?
Is physical therapy, acupuncture, etc. options that might help her?
What is expected to happen as it gets worse?
Is it expected to get so bad that she will lose use of the leg?
At what point in time, if any, is amputation a possibility? If so, what then? If not, why?
Should her age (and any other health issues) be taken in consideration regarding any thoughts of amputation and the associated time line?
How would amputation affect her other back leg, if at all?

There are likely many more questions that might be prompted by the answers to the above.

Has Tigger been evaluated by an orthopedic specialist?

 

[tiggerwillow]

We know it will get worse cause it's noticeably getting worse slowly, for example if she has to run fast (like when she didn't realise the bin lorry was outside until it was beside the house) she was laid up for 2 days, barely able to use her bad leg cause she did something to the muscles, vet had us rest her up when she did that, poor baby

She's having to learn her own limitations, although currently she thinks she can jump the fence into next doors garden (she can't) there's a massive gap she can get through, or she can fit under it, she's having to use those two ways of getting into next doors garden instead, there was a point even after the injury where she could jump the fence without even having to plan the jump

The vet has (gently) pushed down on the leg to imitate pushing with her bad leg, Tigger cried and moved away, then wanted plenty of loves from the vet to make up for hurties

 

[tiggerwillow]

She never has liked the bin lorry, the rumble from it is it's tummy rumbling while it's hunting for cats, according to both my girls

Ner ner says the bin lorry

 

[stephanietx]

Kitties can survive with only 2 front legs. Look up Anakin, the Two Legged Miracle Cat on FB or Google. He leads a very normal, healthy life.
Anakin The Two Legged Cat

 

[fionasmom]

If the leg is limiting and she has pain, I would have concerns about her running around outside unless the area you describe is entirely safe and confined.

 

[FeebysOwner]

fionasmom brings up a good point. Part of what can make Tigger's leg worse is doing things that can put undue stress on it - such as the situation with the bin lorry. Maybe she need not be put into positions that increase her chances of overusing/injuring that leg. That is just another thing to talk to your vet about.

 

[tiggerwillow]

She can walk around outside on it without a problem, when she has a problem is when she has to move fast, I supervise her when she's outside (I supervise both), I did used to take Tigger out on the harness but she got to the point where she found it too frustrating, Willow won't tolerate the harness at all (Willow literally bites that harness when I try putting it onto Willow, only ever tried Willow once with it, she pinned her ears back and bit the harness itself to make it back off)

Tigger? She will let me put the harness on, but the harness limits her explores too much as although I can go into the immediate neighbour's garden (who is fine with me going into the garden with Tigger) the next neighbour along I can't get into that garden with Tigger, although Tigger can squeeze through a gap to get into their garden (they have a dog, but the dog doesn't bother with cats)

what I'm trying to say is if Tigger's walking around, her leg currently allows full movement although she's unable to stand on her back legs to jump, nor is it a good idea for her to run fast on it, which is why I supervise her, normally if something frightens her she will ask to get picked up and carried back inside as she's learning her physical limitations, its just on bin day as I discovered that the bin lorry is a terrifying cat-eating scary with a rumbly tummy

I wouldn't try picking Willow up when Willow runs from something she finds scary, as she would assume it was the scary-thing grabbing her and defend herself in her panic

 

[tiggerwillow]

Kitties can survive with only 2 front legs. Look up Anakin, the Two Legged Miracle Cat on FB or Google. He leads a very normal, healthy life.
Anakin The Two Legged Cat

Question: how does Anakin cope in the tray?

Tigger's like her meowmy - a slow learner - so I'm not sure whether Tigger would even cope if she ended up with only two front legs

 

[stephanietx]

I don't know how he does in the litter box. You could message his owner and ask, though.

 

[tiggerwillow]

She was back at the vet today, had her normal injection to help her leg, there's been no changes (this time) with her bad leg, although I was worried she might of done something to a front leg cause she decided she had (according to her) switched gravity off and thought it was a wonderful idea to make a flying leap down the stairs, crash landing on one of her front legs, vet said she hasn't injured that leg (which is good), he said it wasn't a smart move of hers deciding to pull that stunt though (I think she had tried to pull that stunt while I was at work, got home yesterday to find her limping on a front leg, the limping quickly stopped but I had the vet have a feel of the leg anyway just to make sure he was happy)

Tigger says ALL THE LOVES AND CUDDLES from the vet belong to her, she was literally paddly pawing at one point, with a loud purr