Dumb question on a cat

[Sigarms]

Don't laugh please.

A good inside / outside cat we've had for 3 years started limping last week, rear right leg. Still limping, no apparent wounds nor any sign of basically anything on the leg, so took him to the vet yesterday to run some x-rays.

Anyone have a cat that has torn their ACL?

Anyone have this issue with a cat before and how did it play out?

Right now he's confined to a room for 5-7 days to keep him from wondering around the house and not letting him outside.

Vet gave us two options

1 - See how it plays out with pain management and how the cat adjusts with his body
2 - Operation at a "specialist"

We've grown very fond of the guy as he reminds me of a cat I had in my youth that thinks he's a dog. Get's along fine with all the dogs and one of the few cats that actually plays fetch. Been with us 3 years now found him as a kitten out with a walk with the wife.

I just don't see any cat doing well with an operation like this and don't even want to know what it would cost. After looking up the procedure, it seems to be a roll of the dice anyway per the onset of arthritis and something the cat will have to deal with anyways.

 

[4get gto]

Cats are probably more resilient than most people think. We've had (have ) many outside cats over years ( not by choice) and they tend to recover from most injuries they get from time to time. Like they said keep him confined for a week or two and see how things work out for him.

 

[Oaktree]

Cats are probably more resilient than most people think. We've had (have ) many outside cats over years ( not by choice) and they tend to recover from most injuries they get from time to time. Like they said keep him confined for a week or two and see how things work out for him.

Well, 9 lives and all that.

I noticed one of ours was limping a few months ago. No obvious injuries, and it didn't seem to mind the affected leg being touched. Seems to be fine now.

 

[WM75Guy]

We have 8 cats. Occasionally one will start limping after they hurt themselves jumping around or playing/fighting with the others. It is self-limiting and they bounce back after a few weeks. One of our 11 y/o cats has developed arthritis in his pelvis. He is slowing down. He also has developed pancreatitis so he is on a special canned food diet. Time will tell how he does.

 

[LHF2019]

I’m all for seeing how it plays out. It is after all a cat. But I have that philosophy with all pets and can’t imagine taking any of mine to a “specialist”.

A lot people not going to like this post.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

My sister has the flat nose cats. She did have one that tore its ACL. She had it repaired and it seems to be doing fine.

 

[Sigarms]

No obvious injuries, and it didn't seem to mind the affected leg being touched. Seems to be fine now.

This one would let you know when you touched it's knee LMAO

One reason why we thought something was wrong, but with no visible signs.

 

[dougtrr2]

We had a small (11lb) toypoodle mutt that quit using one back leg after being spayed. It didn't slow her down at all. When she was at full run it would be almost three feet between her tracks in the snow.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Sigarms]

We have 8 cats. Occasionally one will start limping after they hurt themselves jumping around or playing/fighting with the others. It is self-limiting and they bounce back after a few weeks. One of our 11 y/o cats has developed arthritis in his pelvis. He is slowing down. He also has developed pancreatitis so he is on a special canned food diet. Time will tell how he does.

That's the impression I get from the vet, their body will compensate for the injury and they will adjust.

Just wondering if anyone had the exact same issue and didn't get it surgically fixed and how it played out.

 

[MoKelly]

I’m all for seeing how it plays out. It is after all a cat. But I have that philosophy with all pets and can’t imagine taking any of mine to a “specialist”.

A lot people not going to like this post.

I am fine with folks who don’t go to extra-ordinary means for pets. I understand. I am also understanding of those who try all they can do to help their pets (ie my wife!)

What I hate are folks who mistreat animals or cause suffering of pets. Unacceptable.

If you have a pet, the least you can do is treat it kindly.

 

[mikester]

That's the impression I get from the vet, their body will compensate for the injury and they will adjust.

Just wondering if anyone had the exact same issue and didn't get it surgically fixed and how it played out.

Where I live outdoor cats have a short lifespan as they tend to become coyote food...especially if they go out at night.

Same goes for unattended pet dogs.

Hop-a-long probably wouldn't suffer to long.

 

[Sigarms]

Where I live outdoor cats have a short lifespan as they tend to become coyote food...especially if they go out at night.

Same goes for unattended pet dogs.

Hop-a-long probably wouldn't suffer to long.

Coyotes aren't a problem here for the most part, but any animal always runs the risk of predators if left attended.

That said, no pet dog should be left attended outside unless it's in a fenced in area or it's a working livestock animal that should be able to take care of itself.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but the "hop-a-long" comment was a complete dick / areshole move

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

We have had a 3 cats with similiar problems, the limping for all of them went away within a couple of weeks. Must have been a minor condition for them.
Cats are quite resiliant, may be the reason for the saying that "cats have nine lives".

 

[Sigarms]

Cats are quite resiliant, may be the reason for the saying that "cats have nine lives".

What we figured. The cat currently doens't like being confined to the bedroom during the day per vets instructions LOL

 

[etpm]

My brother's cat had a torn ACL. It wasn't getting better so they had the vet repair it. The repair wasn't the same as a human repair but it worked. Spendy but my brother and his family and the cat are happy with the outcome. If one of my cats had the same problem I would cough up the dough to get the repair done. My philosophy about pets is if we decide to become the owner of a pet and all the benefits then we owe it to the pet to take care of it.
Eric

 

[JasperFrank]

Replacement cats are basicly free.

 

[Sigarms]

Replacement cats are basicly free.

So are human beings. Little more paperwork and training though.

 

[2manyrocks]

Is your cat in pain? And how old and in what health otherwise?

 

[Milo]

Not a cat, but my dog recently tore the ACL in her left rear leg. The vet said it can't heal by itself, the choice was:

Administer an anti-inflammation for the rest of her days which would ease pain but the joint would develop arthritis. She would still have mobility on 3 legs but the right leg would likely incur problems from the added strain so try to restrict her to shorter leash walks only. The dog runs free all over the property, I couldn't imagine restricting her to a leash.

So I went with the second choice which was surgery to repair it which was done almost 2 weeks ago, stitches were removed yesterday. They said full recovery will take around 8 weeks but she's already putting weight on it and going up and down the stairs. I just need to keep her from running for the next month (which she'll want to do as it further improves). Total cost was $1,100.