Advice about caging a cat to aid ligament healing

Some years ago, we were 'adopted' by a cat which had been abandoned by a neighbour and subsequently hit by a car, leading to a broken pelvis. We had no option but to confine him to a cage for around the same period of time and unfortunately, it was something we just had to get on with, despite his protests. I won't pretend it was easy, but we knew it was for his own good, and he went on to live a long and happy life for many years afterwards. You just have to harden your heart and know that it's what best for him in the long run.

Some years ago it was suggested that I cage my Bengal cat who injured a ligament on the ice. Anyone who knows a Bengal will be aware that they are somewhat spirited! She went mad in the cage and was in danger of doing far more damage! I decided to let her loose in the house where she was calm most of the time, although I did take a photo of her on top of the wardrobe with her bandaged leg hanging over the edge!
Only you know your own animal and will make the correct decision for you. I hope he soon makes a good recovery.

It's difficult when you can't explain to your cat why this has to happen. However if you want to do what is best for your pet then you need to harden your heart and think about the long term result. We have to take decisions in the best interests of our pets, short term pain for long term gain I think. Good luck JillyJosie

Can you confine him to just one room?

I have no experience of caring for an injured cat but I used a Feliway diffuser to calm both my cats for several years as they did not like each other. Would this possibly calm your cat as he is confined to a cage?

Thank you for the suggestions, this cat gets frantic. The clever breeds are different to moggies. I'm wondering if they'll let us have tranquillisers for a bit. I might share them! I am seriously worried which is why I posted but thanks for replying.

P. S I already use a Feliway, he is very sensitive also just so clever and wilful. When he came to us from the rescue centre, he'd lost all his hair from stress. Getting him in the basket to go to the vet is a major exercise for the two of us and if he spots the basket, he's gone like a flash. Goodness knows what has happened to him in his life, it's actually sad.

I too would find it desperately hard to confine a cat in a cage.

However, if you don't he might well end up unable to use that limb properly.

My mother had a Burmese with a ligament injury due to being hit by a bus wheel. No-one in 1986 suggested confining the cat to let the injury heal, and I don't know it it would have helped. He was never able to lift his right hind paw higher than an inch off the floor and had to get one of my parents to scratch his right ear for him every time it itched for the rest of his life.

Ask the vet whether an old fashioned splint could provide the restricted mobility needed for the ligament to mend.

If not, get a second opinion by all means, but there is little sense in consulting a vet and then not following the treatment suggested.

That sounds like a really stressful situation for you. I don't have a Maine Coon, but I have had to crate a very young and lively cat after an injury and more recently our small dog after leg surgery. They both hated it and we felt so sorry for them.

The cat in particular tried like a demon to escape and would yowl and yowl.

On both occasions we ended up sitting next to the crate trying to keep our pets company and entertained...we are soft!

Anyway, we stuck with it and both animals made a full recovery. When I watch our dear dog pottering around in the park in full health now I am so glad we did what the vet said. This is a short term pain for a long term gain.

I agree with grandtanteJE65 and Scones. It'll be worth it in the end.
We're lucky that our Maine Coons are very sleepy old boys.

Regardless of the vets opinion I would let the cat move around in the house, maybe take him into the garden on a lead, as long as he is not racing or being chased he will heal fast enough.
If the injury hurts him he will rest naturally, just like we do.

We have an ordinary moggy - our rescue girl. She is very clever and she too bolts when she sees the cat carrier! The thought of having to cage her for 6 to 8 weeks does not bear thinking about. I would find it very distressing indeed to confine her for such a long time. She would hate it and I would find it very very upsetting. It would be so tempting to allow her out into one room but if the cat jumped into a window sill the damage to her could be catastrophic. There is no easy solution to this but to have courage and conviction and do what your vet tells you. Wonder if it is possible for your lovely cat to have mild sedation for such a long time ? I am sorry you are in this horrendous situation and I don't envy you. Be brave ! and good luck .

Thank you everyone. It is so hard to ignore his plaintive meows and his puzzlement that we don't understand his clear requests to go out, never mind us locking him in a cage. Cats, such strange animals.
I did wonder if anyone would comment on enrichment which I gather is the modern way. . He likes to pretend to catch waving items but that's about it. I bought him a pet fountain because the veterinary nurse suggested that he might play with it and it would keep him hydrated. He took one look and ran away horrified!

My cats ignored their cat fountain too. The Bengal loves her JML Flippity Fish, but playing with one might be too active for your injured cat. The mechanism is noisy and very annoying for humans, but it contains catmint and she sometimes just lies on it after play. My other cat prefers a tied sock stuffed with wadding and dried catmint, and it calms him, so perhaps that is an idea for you.
www.jmldirect.com/flippity-flip-the-cat-toy-that-flips-flops-wiggles-like-a-real-fish

I’ve got an absolutely huge dog crate that a friend of mine rescued from being thrown out. I’ve never used it as my dog has a smaller crate. I didn’t realise they made them so big.

Yes you can get large crates MayBee. My advice JillyJosie would be to let have freedom when you're there and keep an eye on him but keep him contained when you're out and during the night.

A great suggestion from shysal and you could think about a feliway plug in to keep him calm when he's not allowed out.

My cat was hit by a car breaking her shoulder. I was told to cage her. I kept letting her out to play with her as i was sorry for her. The vet.knew that I had let her out as her leg wasnt getting better. He simly told me that if she wasnt caged her leg would need to be removed. I caged her after that and she lived to be 18 . The owner must make the decision for the cats benefit, its a responsibility we have as owners. Im caging my girl next week as shes being spayed and the other cats may pounce on her. She will hate it but has to be done

If letting him out in the house has stopped his recovery then you really have to use the cage despite the yowls and trying to get out. It's a bit like small children. They don't know what is best for themselves and parents need to look out for them even if they don't like it. You went against the advice of the vet who has training similar to a doctor and now he might need surgery so you need to take it on the chin and just do what is best for him. I'm not sure what you mean by busy lives? Most of us have busy lives. If you mean you are working and out the house then as long as he has access to food, water and a litter tray he should be fine. Maybe a neighbour could pop in at lunch time and replenish the food and water? He may be calmer if you are out the house. Many cats just sleep. By staying beside him it might make him more unsettled? These are all just suggestions but I think you have to trust the vet.

I know it will be distressing but sometimes you have to bear with it and will be heartbreaking for you doing it but ultimately hopefully he will get better and be back to himself again.

It's worth doing. If he jumps up he will wreck the leg.

Oh do grow up!
The biggest dog crate you have room for is what’s needed - litter tray at one end - bed at the other. See if your Vet will go for long term splinting (but even these can go wrong, especially if you don’t keep a close eye on ‘em 24/7)
- unfortunately ligament and or tendon injuries generally take longer to heal than fractures - from your comments, your failure to comply with your Vet’s advice to date means you and your unfortunate cat are in for an even longer haul.
Perhaps a referral to an orthopaedic specialist might be worthwhile as the more expensive the consultation the more likely an owner is to follow the resultant instructions.

Oh do grow up? Shame to spoil good advice with a stupid comment!

We have a very big dog crate which has housed a puppy, an adult dog, a stray cat, an injured duck, and sick cats or anything recovering from surgery, (Not at the same time!) and with huge success. They simply do not understand they mustn’t jump around! Almost immobilising a cat such as yours is definitely going to increase its chances of a full recovery - whereas half giving in to the cat’s demands is never going to work. People, and specifically the Vet, do know best.

A big cage, a comfy bed, a water bowl fastened to the side at hip level, a small litter tray at one end - and if you or the cat can’t cope in the same room and it’s not reassured and comforted by your company, put the cage in another room and put on some background noise. So much better than letting him/her just be a cat and make the usual cat movements, which will aggravate the injury. You can always have some cuddle sessions if you’re sitting down and your cat will sit with you calmly. If not, you just have to be cruel to be kind. I know that Maine Coons can be a handful, but given that cats are reputed to sleep for 20 out of 24 hours, life shouldn’t be that difficult once you both get used to it. Be strong for both of you!