Heavens, I've only just joined and I'm posting like mad already!
Poor Carrots (our black and white long-haired moggie) has managed to break one of his teeth (his right 'fang').
Both Simon and I had this feeling on Monday night that he wasn't quite right - we couldn't put our finger on it, he was eating and everything, but he just seemed a bit out of sorts, and even grumpier than normal! Anyway, I took him to the vets yesterday even though I felt a bit daft not really being able to describe any 'symptoms'.
It turns out half of his right fang has been broken off. Poor bunny. The vet isn't sure if the nerve is exposed, and he's eating so can't be too bad, but I think he's probably got a sore jaw from whatever whacked him. It's a bit of a mystery, the vet said that it was very unusual to see this type of injury in a cat and that it would normally only happen if he'd been hit by a car (which he discounted) or taken a severe blow to the face. The only other case he'd seen like this was a dog who had been hit in the face with a golf club!
We really can't think what happened although Simon and I both shared the same thoughts on a particular "theory". Chances are we're completely wrong and it's a massive (probably unfair) assumption, but.... we've had some new neighbours move into the flat downstairs about two weeks ago. The lady who lived there before had a cat who Carrots was friendly with and he often went through the catflap into Angela's to play with Socks. Anyway, we're wondering if Carrots wandered in as usual and for whatever reason ended up being hit or kicked. The trouble with Carrots is that, not only is he very big and rather "wild" and scary looking, but he also has an attitude. Not the kind of cat you can just shoo off very easily. If someone shouted at him or frightened him by jumping around, he would have hissed rather than running away.
I don't know - it might be really unfair of us to think this way, but we (and the vet) genuinely can't think of anything else that could have happened. We've lived here with Carrots for 4 years and he visits lots of homes (as do all the local cats) and no-one minds. And I can't believe someone could have hurt him in the street because he hates being touched if he's outside - he doesn't even like us fussing him in the street. No-one would be able to get close.
Obviously we can't say anything to our neighbours, but I think I might take the opportunity to introduce myself and mention that we've got a big cat who might try to get in their flat. I'll suggest they try to block the catflap.
Anyway, he was given an injection to numb any pain and prevent infection, and he seems a bit brighter now. The tooth is still firm in the gum and the vet hopes it will stay in for a long time yet. If it dies it will have to come out.
My poor handsome boy!
I'm interested to know if this has happened to anyone else's cat, and what caused it. Or if anyone has any ideas what else could have happened? I guess it's irrelevant now really, but I'm curious. I thought maybe he could have fallen, but that doesn't seem likely to me.
Poor Carrots (our black and white long-haired moggie) has managed to break one of his teeth (his right 'fang').
Both Simon and I had this feeling on Monday night that he wasn't quite right - we couldn't put our finger on it, he was eating and everything, but he just seemed a bit out of sorts, and even grumpier than normal! Anyway, I took him to the vets yesterday even though I felt a bit daft not really being able to describe any 'symptoms'.
It turns out half of his right fang has been broken off. Poor bunny. The vet isn't sure if the nerve is exposed, and he's eating so can't be too bad, but I think he's probably got a sore jaw from whatever whacked him. It's a bit of a mystery, the vet said that it was very unusual to see this type of injury in a cat and that it would normally only happen if he'd been hit by a car (which he discounted) or taken a severe blow to the face. The only other case he'd seen like this was a dog who had been hit in the face with a golf club!
We really can't think what happened although Simon and I both shared the same thoughts on a particular "theory". Chances are we're completely wrong and it's a massive (probably unfair) assumption, but.... we've had some new neighbours move into the flat downstairs about two weeks ago. The lady who lived there before had a cat who Carrots was friendly with and he often went through the catflap into Angela's to play with Socks. Anyway, we're wondering if Carrots wandered in as usual and for whatever reason ended up being hit or kicked. The trouble with Carrots is that, not only is he very big and rather "wild" and scary looking, but he also has an attitude. Not the kind of cat you can just shoo off very easily. If someone shouted at him or frightened him by jumping around, he would have hissed rather than running away.
I don't know - it might be really unfair of us to think this way, but we (and the vet) genuinely can't think of anything else that could have happened. We've lived here with Carrots for 4 years and he visits lots of homes (as do all the local cats) and no-one minds. And I can't believe someone could have hurt him in the street because he hates being touched if he's outside - he doesn't even like us fussing him in the street. No-one would be able to get close.
Obviously we can't say anything to our neighbours, but I think I might take the opportunity to introduce myself and mention that we've got a big cat who might try to get in their flat. I'll suggest they try to block the catflap.
Anyway, he was given an injection to numb any pain and prevent infection, and he seems a bit brighter now. The tooth is still firm in the gum and the vet hopes it will stay in for a long time yet. If it dies it will have to come out.
My poor handsome boy!
I'm interested to know if this has happened to anyone else's cat, and what caused it. Or if anyone has any ideas what else could have happened? I guess it's irrelevant now really, but I'm curious. I thought maybe he could have fallen, but that doesn't seem likely to me.
