hurt cat

[captainkirk]

if a cat has a broken leg will it have to be put down

[sara3]

no, it can be put in plaster.

[paddywak]

My nephews cat has lived 12 of his 15 years happily running about 3 legs, so a mere broken leg should no be a major problem. best of luck with him(or her)

[lankeela]

It can be either put in plaster, or even just bandaged with a splint in some cases, and in very bad cases the leg can be amputated, but there are many cats out there with three legs that do just fine. My friend's cat was caught in a trap and her leg was smashed, but she had it amputated and still climbs trees, catches birds and runs after mice. A vet will tell you the best way to deal with it, but please do not leave it as it will be in great pain and could get much worse if you do not get it to a vet.

[andy-hughes]

You are perhaps confusing the 'broken leg' issue with horses.

A horse is a massive animal with thin legs, it cannot support its weight on an injured leg, splinted or otherwise while it heals, so a horse is usually put down down.

A cat has a very light frame and can easily mange on three good legs while the injury heals, or as advised, without the leg at all if circusmatnces make that necessary.

[ruthann58]

no our cat got hit by a car in september last year very badly smashed her leg so they amputated she is fine

[Kleiber]

To back up what the others have said, my little Monty (now, sadly, across the Rainbow Bridge, through hepatitis) broke his right rear leg & hip when he was a kitten. The vet bandaged it up and although I had to "keep him quiet" (have any of you ever tried keeping a kitten quiet, especially in a household with 4 other cats, including his litter sister and his mum??) he recovered beautifully and went on to live a very happy, if, sadly, short life. I also have a little black kitten called Mischa, who was ill-treated as a tiny baby and had to have her front right leg amputated, as well as her tail. She's amazing and now, at 7 months old, runs around faster than my other 4 put together!! Hope your cat makes a full recovery. K xx

[sheribee]

My step mum and my dad have a cat called daisy, her back leg was broken in a car accident, she was put in plaster, which had to be changed regulary, at quite a cost, and she had to be kept quite and off the leg, she was placed in a large indoor rabbit hutch where she had to remain for 4 weeks till she healed, only coming out for cuddles.
She got very depressed and started pulling out her own fur in boredom, bless her, it was heartbreaking to see, but now she is healed and very happy, the hair is slowly growing back and the leg is fine xx

[Schutzengel]

Cats are so constitutionally strong, that sometimes it's almost unbelievable the traumas they can survive. My Tansy, a tortoiseshell female, was hit by a car when she was 9 months old, (she belonged to a friend at the time). In the accident she sustained a broken back leg and hip. a broken jaw, and had to have one eye removed on the same side. She not only survived thanks to a marvellous vet, but went on to have a long and happy life. Sadly my friend died 3 years ago, and Tansy came to live with us. I'm pleased to say she is now 21 years old, and still is very well apart from having lost 2 teeth through old age, but she still eats her normal three meals a day, and still bosses our two large tomcats who are twice her size. Typical female!!!