I have adopted a three month old kitten last week, and the shelter people told me to cage him for a while. So I only let him out of the cage when I'm at home, and I also put him in the cage at night when I'm sleeping. I live alone in a studio apartment and his cage is overlooking my bed.
Last night I was blow drying my hair and took my eyes off him for five seconds, and he climbed onto a 4foot tall drawer and fell down, landed on his back...I didn't think he would be able to go that high! I have tried my very best to cat proof my apartment. I just didn't think he could reach the top of this drawer! After that I checked for obvious broken bones, he seemed fine, but 5min later he started to get wobbly and his hind legs appeared to be strengthless. He can't walk properly.
So of course I called emergency vet service immediately as it was 11pm on a Friday night, took him in to have him thoroughly examined. The vet found no broken bones, my kitten did not scream in pain during the examination and I think the doctor has squeezed every inch of his tiny body. I wanted to have him X-rayed in case there were cracked bones that can't be felt by hand, but the doctor said he needed an empty stomach as they will need to put him under anesthesia for the X-ray. The doctor gave us some pain meds and some inflammatory meds or something, said to monitor the kitten for two days and if he doesn't get any better, we will go for the X-ray to check for cracked bones. The doctor put him on the ground to see how he walks, and he was walking fine, just extremely freaked out. They said to go see them again in two days of the kitten is uninterested in eating or drinking.
The doctor said I need to cage him for a week and do not let him out for playtime in case there are injuries that can't be felt by hand.
The kitten has been eating drinking and pooping normally, except he appears to be sad and freaked out. He's been meowing to get out of the cage but I want him to get more rest and try to heal whatever muscle or or bones he's injured.
I feel so terrible.......
Questions.
1) I will cage him for a week (with food and water and litter box of course) and won't even give him any playtime out of the cage. But what can I do to entertain him during this week? I put a lot of toys into the cage but he seemed uninterested. He likes to run and chase things (obviously) but I don't want to risk aggravating any hidden injuries.
2) I have a large litter box setup both inside and outside the cage so that he can relieve himself during play time. He has been using both boxes quite well, no accidents so far. I was about to let him out of the cage unsupervised while I go out to grab a coffee for an hour or so, but then this happened. I work full time but I go home for lunch everyday to let the kitten out for an hour, so the kitten is in the cage alone at home at two x 4-hour intervals while I'm at work. I really don't want to keep him in a cage but I don't feel comfortable letting him out unsupervised after this accident. How do I know if we are ready to get rid of the cage? I can't possibly throw away all of the furniture that is taller than 2feet, although I feel so terrible I am actually thinking if this is the only solution. I need advise on how to prepare to let him roam freely unsupervised.
Thank you!
Last night I was blow drying my hair and took my eyes off him for five seconds, and he climbed onto a 4foot tall drawer and fell down, landed on his back...I didn't think he would be able to go that high! I have tried my very best to cat proof my apartment. I just didn't think he could reach the top of this drawer! After that I checked for obvious broken bones, he seemed fine, but 5min later he started to get wobbly and his hind legs appeared to be strengthless. He can't walk properly.
So of course I called emergency vet service immediately as it was 11pm on a Friday night, took him in to have him thoroughly examined. The vet found no broken bones, my kitten did not scream in pain during the examination and I think the doctor has squeezed every inch of his tiny body. I wanted to have him X-rayed in case there were cracked bones that can't be felt by hand, but the doctor said he needed an empty stomach as they will need to put him under anesthesia for the X-ray. The doctor gave us some pain meds and some inflammatory meds or something, said to monitor the kitten for two days and if he doesn't get any better, we will go for the X-ray to check for cracked bones. The doctor put him on the ground to see how he walks, and he was walking fine, just extremely freaked out. They said to go see them again in two days of the kitten is uninterested in eating or drinking.
The doctor said I need to cage him for a week and do not let him out for playtime in case there are injuries that can't be felt by hand.
The kitten has been eating drinking and pooping normally, except he appears to be sad and freaked out. He's been meowing to get out of the cage but I want him to get more rest and try to heal whatever muscle or or bones he's injured.
I feel so terrible.......
Questions.
1) I will cage him for a week (with food and water and litter box of course) and won't even give him any playtime out of the cage. But what can I do to entertain him during this week? I put a lot of toys into the cage but he seemed uninterested. He likes to run and chase things (obviously) but I don't want to risk aggravating any hidden injuries.
2) I have a large litter box setup both inside and outside the cage so that he can relieve himself during play time. He has been using both boxes quite well, no accidents so far. I was about to let him out of the cage unsupervised while I go out to grab a coffee for an hour or so, but then this happened. I work full time but I go home for lunch everyday to let the kitten out for an hour, so the kitten is in the cage alone at home at two x 4-hour intervals while I'm at work. I really don't want to keep him in a cage but I don't feel comfortable letting him out unsupervised after this accident. How do I know if we are ready to get rid of the cage? I can't possibly throw away all of the furniture that is taller than 2feet, although I feel so terrible I am actually thinking if this is the only solution. I need advise on how to prepare to let him roam freely unsupervised.
Thank you!
