Kitty sickbay...tail injury

[Richardo]

Our kitty 'Gelsey' stays outdoors 99% of the time. She's a very small cat and is getting up there in age (13+). (That's so hard to believe: because of her small size she still looks like the kitten we remember.) :(

ANYWAY. We found her the other day with a 2" gash taken out of the end of her tail - all fur gone and down to the bone. It was not bleeding badly. Could have been another cat, or other wild beast around our place (possum, racoon, armadillo, etc).

We now have her in the laundry room to recuperate and she's doing well (good appetite, affectionate, etc.) The question is: besides getting her on anti-biotics to stave off infection, is there anything we can do to help repair her tail? It's now drooping at the site of the injury, and she used to hold it high... :(

[mike_c]

1. have you taken her to the vet?

If not, please do so immediately-- your vet will answer that question better than even us devoted cat lovers can. Imagine if you had an injury like that! Cats are REALLY GOOD at hiding their symptoms when sick or injured, but it sounds like she definitely needs professional care!

[Richardo]

3. Of course - excellent advice

We were just letting her 'shake it off' for a day or two. Around here, I'm really concerned about infection.

[Tallison]

10. Well, if the wound extends to the bone

and she develops an infection, it's gonna' be a mother one. Sepsis, bone infection, potential amputation, nothing a 13 year-old is likely to tolerate well. If you want to keep her alive, you need to take her to the vet immediately.

[Tallison]

11. And another thing...

If infection develops in the bone, IV antibiotics will be the only way to treat it, which is quite painful and $$$.

[Odonata]

2. bring her to the vet

You'll most likely have to remove the piece of tail that was skinned.

This happened to one of my cats once. My mother accidentally closed the door on the tail, skinning the last inch. The vet shaved down the bone so that he could stitch the skin closed. My mother still can't forgive herself.

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Are you taking her to the vet at all? (i haven't read down-thread)

Duh, I guess if she's taking antibiotics you have. But if you haven't, I highly recommend it. The vet will know what to do.

:hug: for Gelsey & :hug: for you.

[Richardo]

5. Thanks bertha...

:hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Maybe not practical for you sweetie,

but it's a statistical fact that indoor kitties live much longer.

I daresay she'd dig staying inside for the remainder of her years if you guys could handle it. She'd be much safer.

And I echo the vet chorus. She definitely needs some antibiotic. And possibly the "cone of shame" until the tail heals a bit. She might need an extra big one so she can't reach it to lick it. The vet may need to splint it. Possibly some tiny bones or cartilage got broken.

FSC

[henslee]

7. Happened to my cat, caught tail in a door. It healed... a bit crooked.

But she didn't lose any ofher tail. Kind of sad but she dealt with it. A housecat should be okay. Too bad they don't grow back like lizards.

[Mairead]

8. Do please keep her in for the rest of her life!

She's well over the age where cats start slowing down, making them easy prey (as you see). I bet she'll happily stay indoors in return for extra attention, a few weeks of frequent special treats, and a place by a window with varied activity outside.

Has the drooping corrected itself? That sounds like nerve injury, to me, but perhaps the vet has a different view?

[Bunny]

9. Awww, poor kitty.

I don't know what to tell you except take her to a vet, and give her lots of lovey-dovey-ing!

:hug: Gelsey