Hi. My latest inpatient is a cat (well, maybe 4 month old kitten) with a broken femur. Took two days to catch him but after a trip to the vet this morning, the vet has told me it will heal itself as long as the poor thing is on box rest for a month. He's a great vet, very helpful and accommodating with my stray/compound cats and so far has always been spot on. He did say we could go the route of pinning it etc but box rest would be best.

Anyone else heard of this? Any vets/vet. nurses out there with an opinion? TIA

When my Tabitha was about 12 weeks old (maybe even less) she fell off the TV and sustained a fractured femur. However it was a greenstick fracture (incomplete) and, because kittens are light with growing bones, the best treatment, according to the vet, was to give her pain relief and put her on ''cage-rest'' and let the fracture heal itself which was possible because kittens don't have the weight-bearing of adult cats. I found this very difficult as Tabitha was such a lively kitten but she seemed to get better.

Unfortunately, she went on to break (different) legs a further two times before she was 5 years old - so she did end up having 2 operations/pinning etc. She was never much of a jumper after that, I was warned to keep her weight down and that she was at risk of developing arthritis in later life but she seemed fine for the rest of her life - she died at almost 16 (of cancer).

Thanks. That's put my mind at rest a bit about the healing. But my vet says there is no pain relief for it, although this may mean there's no pain relief available where I am (Saudi). It's heartbreaking

My kitten was given initial pain relief, she was in a lot of pain just after sustaining her injury - she was kept in for the first 24 hours so they could X ray and care for her - but I wasn't given any painkillers to give her when I picked her up so I assume that there isn't much pain after the initial impact. My cat certainly never exhibited any signs of pain but she was very cross at having her freedom restricted because, even at that age, she was a little diva who ruled he roost.

About 4 years ago we was brought in a carrier bag a black kitten about 5 wks old. He had a healed broken fracture. His leg was at a 45% angle. He also had a badly infected foot too. When I took him too the vet he said cage rest for 4 to 6 wks. We had 3 other kittens at the time and all he wanted too do was play. But the only thing we could keep him in at the time was a large indoor rabbit cage. His best friend was lucky who we lost on New Year's Eve we had too have him pts due too renal failure. Lucky was his saviour. He wouldn't leave his cage and calmed him down, after all the rest he did heal properly. The only thing he hated after that was going into a carrier.

This one isn't good and I'm holding very little hope of him surviving...The only 'food' I can get into him is a few mls of kitten milk. It's not moving itself to urinate so I'm keeping him laid on disposable nappies. There's also bad internal bruising/bleeding which I believe is the major worry. To be honest I think he'd have been better off PTS. Went to another vet this evening and they gave him a few shots to relieve the pain. I have more to give him tomorrow. Nothing else I can do but cross my fingers.

This reminded me of a plastic I use at work - it's a low temperature thermo plastic that can be used for repairs/mold making - reading further I see it used in the States by Vets for making very lightweight but tough splints for animals.

It's called Polymorph/Fantasic Plastic - there are lots of videos on YouTube

Still no change . Sounds evil but when I take him to the vet tonight I'm almost hoping he puts Pete (as in Stinky, he smells so bad but until he improves I can't risk lowering his temperature by washing him) to sleep. I've upgraded the nappies to incontinence pads which are slightly more absorbent but I'm sure just lying in his own urine is terrible for his skin. I deal with sick cats often, I've had new borns and month old kittens die in my lap, but this is killing me.

I totaly can understand how you are feeling. In a way I hope so too. To see a little one suffering or not enjoying life is horrible. You do what you think us best for little Pete . There's always one that gets too you

He passed about an hour ago . Started fitting and I knew what was coming. Gave him a shot to help him 'sleep'. Good night Pete. Only took you two days to steal my heart.

So so sorry. I know what every cat or kitten means to you.
Run free at the bridge Pete. You might have gone too rainbow bridge but you went with love.

Thanks Maisey xxx