[Real Medical Record] How long was the treatment period when my beloved cat dislocated its leg?

When your beloved cat dislocates a joint, it's natural for owners to panic and think, "Does he need surgery?" or "Will he be able to walk again?". To alleviate some of that anxiety, I'm going to share the detailed treatment process my cat, Gigi, went through when she dislocated her joint.

My Cat Falls from the Catwalk While I'm Away

Cats are creatures with incredible physical abilities. However, some cats can be a bit clumsy. My Gigi is exactly that type. Two years ago, on November 27th, she fell from the catwalk and dislocated her joint.

I noticed something was wrong when I returned home from shopping. She was sitting still in an unusual spot, so I called out, "Oh? Relaxing in a rare place, aren't you?" and approached her. At this time, she didn't meow or cry out, and she rubbed her face against my finger as usual, so I foolishly assumed, "Ah, she just wants to relax here today."

However, at mealtime, Gigi, who usually rushes to be first, didn't move at all, so I thought, "Something's wrong," and observed her. I then discovered that she couldn't stand when she tried to walk. Panicking, I thought, "What?! Is it a broken bone!?", and immediately drove her to the veterinary hospital.

 It was 7 p.m. At the time, our regular vet was about a 40-minute drive away, but it was outside their consultation hours, so I called a veterinary hospital that a friend had recommended and they agreed to see us after hours. 

The "Constipation Problem" After Dislocation

If only I had noticed sooner... If only I had observed more carefully... I blamed myself intensely in the car on the way to the vet.

The X-ray results showed that she hadn't broken any bones, but her left hind leg had a hip dislocation.

According to the veterinarian, it's rare for cats to fall from catwalks, but it's more common in short-legged breeds like Munchkins than in other cat breeds. To avoid putting stress on her body, we decided to observe her first without surgery and wait for her to be able to walk using her muscles.

To prevent her from jumping or putting strain on her leg, she stayed in a playpen at home that could be completely closed with a zipper at the top.

Cat cages are designed for vertical movement, and placing a litter box would make it too cramped, so I chose an emergency pet playpen instead.

However, a problem arose afterwards. Perhaps due to the pain from the dislocation making it difficult to strain, she became unable to defecate.

Since not being able to defecate is life-threatening, she received an enema at the vet, and her food was changed to a therapeutic diet recommended by the veterinarian. After that, she started defecating every other day. So, I started keeping a daily "poop record" and checking the consistency of her stool.

A Cat-Like Life Returned One Month After Dislocation

After starting the therapeutic food, her stool softened in about 5 days, and after about a week, it became an ideal milk chocolate color and consistency. During a follow-up examination approximately two weeks later, she was able to struggle a bit on the examination table.

If the pain in her leg didn't subside, surgery would have to be considered. However, when her left hind leg was touched, she didn't turn around and show any signs of discomfort, so the vet determined that "there's probably no pain." She was told that her gait was awkward because she still couldn't put full weight on her leg.

Around this time, Gigi was still dragging her leg, but she was walking for longer periods. So, we gradually extended the time she spent outside the playpen and did rehabilitation at home. It was about a month after the dislocation that she was able to jump and scratch for the first time.

脱臼してから39日経った様子。
だいぶ歩けるようになり、便もその後、順調に1日置きor毎日でるようになってきた💩まだジャンプはためらうときあるけれど、30cmくらいの高さは上り下りできるように。
猫らしい生活を取り戻しつつあるので、とても嬉しい。 pic.twitter.com/qYW7irx2me

— ゆあ＠ライター (@yunc24291) January 5, 2022

It was two months after the dislocation that she was able to change direction. She could also jump onto tables and catwalks, and she started enjoying chasing her fellow cats. I had mentally prepared for surgery, so I was truly happy that our normal daily life had returned.

脱臼してから、約2ヶ月後。
方向転換もスムーズで、同居猫とのおいかけっこもしてる。テーブルやキャットウォークなどにもジャンプできるようになり、元通り、猫らしい生活ができてる。便も普通食で出てる。本当によかった。
脱臼による通院もなくなり、心臓病の薬をもらうだけになった。 pic.twitter.com/uSMYKnGZkG

— ゆあ＠ライター (@yunc24291) January 29, 2022

In this way, Gigi was able to walk normally, and now she runs around the room at full speed. However, because she experienced a dislocation, I make sure she stays in her playpen when I can't keep an eye on her, such as at bedtime.

Fortunately, Gigi doesn't dislike the playpen and accepts it as if to say, "Oh, I'm supposed to spend time here now," which I'm grateful for.

What can be done to prevent falls in clumsy cats?

Considering Gigi's athletic ability, we had taken measures when building our custom home, such as narrowing the gaps between cat steps and installing a catwalk at a height accessible by humans.

I believe that it was precisely because of these measures that we only had one fall accident.

However, the one fall that did happen was due to my lack of foresight. Clumsy cats can misstep when chased by other cats, or fall while sleeping and fail to land properly. So, if you're planning to build a "cat-friendly house" or "DIY something for your cat," it might be a good idea to install a box on the catwalk where your cat can rest, or create alternative routes on the catwalk to prevent multiple cats from getting stuck.