Cat with no tail - advice needed

greeneyedspirit

Hi folks,
I am looking for a bit of advice here…
There are a couple of (presumably) stray cats around in my estate, and one of them has no tail. It looks like the poor animal has had some sort of accident, but I’ve no idea what happened, or how long ago. I’ve seen this cat around for the last 4 months, but she might have been without the tail for longer than that.
The problem is, that there’s still an open, raw wound – a piece of bone covered in tissue is protruding from the stump. (I’ve attached a picture. It doesn’t look very nice...)
I’ve been feeding her, and she has slowly become more trusting (she’s currently curled up underneath the kitchen table, see other photo). She’s eating like a horse – possibly beacuse she’s not getting much food elsewhere, and looks like she’s in pretty good condition apart from the tail, she doesn’t seem to be in pain or discomfort.
Regarding that tail... do you think she needs attention from a vet?
My gut feeling is, yes, but I’m not sure how the cat would react to being trapped and brought to a vet. She’s shy enough around people, doesn’t like it when I’m standing up, crouching down is ok though, she’ll come over then looking for food and cuddles.
It’s likely that she used to belong to somebody – she knows food comes out of a tin, and will scamper over just on hearing that sound – but I honestly don’t know whether anyone is looking after her at this stage, because her tail is still an open wound (wouldn’t you get that looked at as a responsible pet owner?).

Thanks for any advice.

planetX

Oh that looks really horrible. I would say get her to a vet asap. It really doesn't matter how she responds to the vet - she's going to need sedation and probably a proper amputation, it looks awful. Looking at the photos I'd say it's life threatening.

Shanao

I would take her to the vet straight away before an infection can set in.

greeneyedspirit

Shanao wrote: »

I would take her to the vet straight away before an infection can set in.

The cat's been like that for at least 4 months, and the wound doesn't look infected, although it's not scabbing. It's possible that she keeps licking it?
The thing with bringing her to a vet is - what do I do with the cat afterwards? She'll need aftercare, and I'm out of the house at work all day.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bothered by the cost, I just can't look after a sick cat once she's been operated on, and I could hardly just leave her out roaming freely? Being a possibly stray cat, I don't know how she would react to being kept indoors in a house she doesn't really know, especially when she's not feeling well after an operation.
(I don't know a whole lot about cats, no idea how much looking after would be needed in this case...)

planetX

OP a cat that's had surgery will want quiet and sleep for most of the day anyway. That kind of wound isn't ever going to heal, the bone is exposed. It's possible she may have to be put to sleep. But she isn't going to survive long without vet treatment, please take her in.

Acoshla

OP I live in Galway and work from home, I have experience dealing with slightly crazy cats and post operative cats so if you wanted I could look after her for a few days after the surgery?

greeneyedspirit

Spadina wrote: »

OP I live in Galway and work from home, I have experience dealing with slightly crazy cats and post operative cats so if you wanted I could look after her for a few days after the surgery?

Thanks a mil for the offer, Spadina! (Boardsies are great )
I'm getting in contact with a vet via email at the moment, to see what the best course of action will be - things like, can I borrow a carrier from the vet? I don't have one, and need one to bring the poor mite to the vet.
Once I know more, I'll send you a PM.

My main motivation for this is to get the cat healthy again, she seems to be in pretty good shape, but obviously the tail needs to be sorted out.

Acoshla

Well I would be happy to help out so yeah definitely send me a PM when you know.

faw1tytowers

There is a great cat rescue community in Galway and they would be happy to advise you on this. Wonderful that you have taken the time to show some love to this cat. Are you on facebook, you can reach them through that (Galway Cat Rescue) Have you asked around or advertised the cat to see is anyone missing her? What area are you in?

greeneyedspirit

faw1tytowers wrote: »

There is a great cat rescue community in Galway and they would be happy to advise you on this. Wonderful that you have taken the time to show some love to this cat. Are you on facebook, you can reach them through that (Galway Cat Rescue) Have you asked around or advertised the cat to see is anyone missing her? What area are you in?

I'm in Claregalway myself. Thanks for the link to the cat rescue, that might be another way to go once the kitty has gotten her tail fixed.
I haven't asked around, I know a few of the neighbours have seen 'the tailless cat' around for a good while now, she seems to be hanging around our estate a lot.
To be honest, I don't think anyone owns her - who would leave an open wound like that un-treated for months? Not somebody that deserves her as a pet, that's for sure. She's shy, but a real sweetheart.

My OH has just checked out the Galway Cat rescue, he's just emailing them.

faw1tytowers

greeneyedspirit wrote: »

I'm in Claregalway myself. Thanks for the link to the cat rescue, that might be another way to go once the kitty has gotten her tail fixed.
I haven't asked around, I know a few of the neighbours have seen 'the tailless cat' around for a good while now, she seems to be hanging around our estate a lot.
To be honest, I don't think anyone owns her - who would leave an open wound like that un-treated for months? Not somebody that deserves her as a pet, that's for sure. She's shy, but a real sweetheart.

My OH has just checked out the Galway Cat rescue, he's just emailing them.

They are sure to help, I adopted through them recently. They have little funds but will help you with advise and maybe with rehoming her later. I am not far from you myself. All the best, let us know what happens.

Oh_Noes

If you tie a piece of string to his leg you can swing him around over your head just as good as if he already had a tail.

Hellrazer

Oh_Noes wrote: »

If you tie a piece of string to his leg you can swing him around over your head just as good as if he already had a tail.

You can have a red card for that comment.

Oh_Noes

Hellrazer wrote: »

You can have a red card for that comment.

Please no...no..... NOOOOOOOOOO!!!:eek:

But I had so much more to say about cats.

Hellrazer

Oh_Noes wrote: »

Please no...no..... NOOOOOOOOOO!!!:eek:

But I had so much more to say about cats.

Whats that supposed to mean?

faw1tytowers

lol red card had crossed my mind then i thought i would try see the "funny" side... lol you better speak up or forever hold your peace

greeneyedspirit

A quick update on how things are progressing here - we got good responses from both the Galway Cat Rescue and the vet in Briarhill, so it looks like the cat will be getting the medical attention she needs this week.

minxie

Great news , if you need a loan of a cat box pm me

greeneyedspirit

minxie wrote: »

Great news , if you need a loan of a cat box pm me

Thanks minxie, I appreciate the offer! I'm amazed at and thankful for the offers of help, nice to see that there's people out there that care!

We might be getting a loan of a cat box from the vet, or the girl from the cat rescue might pick the cat up and bring her to a vet, not sure yet how we'll proceed.
I'll keep this thread updated, either way.

Acoshla

That's great to hear, and fair play to you for helping the poor little thing.

I made the mistake of mentioning the tail less cat to my boyfriend though, will have to go back and tell him he doesn't get to mind her!

Hope it all goes well.

greeneyedspirit

Spadina wrote: »

That's great to hear, and fair play to you for helping the poor little thing.

I made the mistake of mentioning the tail less cat to my boyfriend though, will have to go back and tell him he doesn't get to mind her!

Hope it all goes well.

See I'm not sure yet just what we'll do with her after she's been operated on, so don't crush your boyfriend's hopes just yet I really don't know at this stage, but I'll say as much - I'm really thankful for the help offered, and might take you up on it yet.

faw1tytowers

Good work!

toadfly

I have a carrycase for my small dog that would do a cat, you can borrow it no problem am going Galway to Loughrea every evening so could drop it to you.

greeneyedspirit

TillyGirl wrote: »

I have a carrycase for my small dog that would do a cat, you can borrow it no problem am going Galway to Loughrea every evening so could drop it to you.

Thanks for the offer TillyGirl!
What we'll do now is this (the plan is taking shape!): go to the vet in Briarhill tonight and pick up a cat box from them, hopefully we can then introduce the cat to the box, feed her in it tonight or something.
If she turns up tomorrow morning, we'll trap her and bring her to the vet straight away.
If not, we'll try again the following mornings - we'll definitely get her on Saturday morning or Friday afternoon, if not before that.
I don't want to trap her in the evening and leave her in the box all night to bring her in the next morning, she'd have a meltdown I think!
I'll have a chat with the vet tonight though, to see if we can maybe bring her in out of their opening hours if we can get her into the box. The problem is, we never know when she'll show up, she's there some mornings, and then most evenings, but not always.

The Sweeper

greeneyedspirit wrote: »

I'll have a chat with the vet tonight though, to see if we can maybe bring her in out of their opening hours if we can get her into the box. The problem is, we never know when she'll show up, she's there some mornings, and then most evenings, but not always.

If you can get her indoors tonight, keep her in your bathroom overnight. Put the box with a towel in it in there with her - she'll be in it tomorrow morning (warm towel va cold tiles).

greeneyedspirit

PM sent to Spadina

We got the box from the vet, and are going to keep her in the downstairs bathroom overnight, with the box + some food. Hopefully she won't go entirely crazy - but she does seem to enjoy being indoors, and warm. So off to the vet tomorrow it is, for 'Socks' the cat! (yes, I've named her )

greeneyedspirit

So, good news!

'Socks' is going to the vet tomorrow, to get her tail fixed and probably get spayed, too, while we're there.

Then, she'll recover in the capable hands of Spadina - thanks a mil!

And myself and my OH are basically going to adopt her afterwards - leave her as an outdoor cat, as she is now, but make sure she'll be fed regularly, and let her in if she wants to.

This is what she's doing at the moment:

franksm

Great stuff !
She's a bit of a cutie

irish1967

Looking forward to hearing how this story goes.

Graces7

Wonderful story. We once saw a stray, clearly recently dumped in a small town and looking very lost and wary, with red duct tape round a stump of a tail. We were able to feed it but no way could we catch it.

MsFifers

What a sweet-looking cat! She looks really contented there. She must have been someone's pet at some stage - a truly feral cat would never relax that quickly in a house.

You are great to take this on & I hope her vet bills don't amount to too much for you.

toadfly

greeneyedspirit wrote: »

'Socks' is going to the vet tomorrow, to get her tail fixed and probably get spayed, too, while we're there.

If you need me to do transport to Spadina I can do any weekday evening will be passing by Briarhill Vets on my way home.

greeneyedspirit

Good morning all,

so Socks has just been brought to the vet - she spent the night in the house, not a bother on her
She was meow-ing in the car, didn't like that journey particularly, but she was fine then at the vets.

I'll keep ye updated on her progress I'm so glad that she's finally getting sorted, and getting the attention she needs.

greeneyedspirit

TillyGirl wrote: »

If you need me to do transport to Spadina I can do any weekday evening will be passing by Briarhill Vets on my way home.

Thanks a lot TillyGirl, we'll be alright dropping her out to Spadina - it's not that far on the motorway I appreciate the offer though!
She'll be out either tonight or tomorrow night, depending on how it all goes.

greeneyedspirit

Another quick update on how 'Socks' is getting on - she was operated on yesterday (the tail + got spayed, too), and the vet kept her in overnight. So now she has a shaved bottom + side, I'd say she looks raggedy as hell
Apparently she's only a young cat, around 2 years old, or not much older than that.
She'll be brought to Spadina for her recovery week then tonight!
I must say, I've become quite attached to the fluffbag!

pookiesboo

Just saw this thread. Its great that that cat wandered near you, very lucky! Hope it all goes well for ye!:)

echosound

Well done to you and to Spadina for giving this cat the attention and care (and love!) it needs and deserves, delighted "socks" is over her treatment and hope she'll recover well

Worztron

Please take the poor cat to the vet immediately. She could get an infection with that wound. I only dread to think what happened to her tail. Take care.

Worztron

Sorry, I should have read the latter posts.

I'm glad Socks is through the operation. I wish her a speedy recovery. Did the vet say anything about her balance with having no tail?

greeneyedspirit

We've just delivered a fairly happy cat to Spadina, I'm amazed at how unfazed Socks seemed by all of this! A bit of meowling in the car, and that's all.

The operation went well, her tail looks SO much better, and she seems to be a much happier cat in herself now.

She's in a perfect place now for some quality recovery time, under the watchful eye of Spadina.

Acoshla

Another update, Socks is curled up on a cushion beside me, she bounced around the room for a bit earlier, is shockingly cheerful for a cat that just had surgery, ate a few bits of dry food and has been sleeping/purring during rubs for the rest of the night, she is a serious cutie and is very lucky to have wandered to greeneyedspirit

ToniTuddle

This thread is awesome and makes me smile.

Socks \o/

greeneyedspirit

Spadina wrote: »

Another update, Socks is curled up on a cushion beside me, she bounced around the room for a bit earlier, is shockingly cheerful for a cat that just had surgery, ate a few bits of dry food and has been sleeping/purring during rubs for the rest of the night, she is a serious cutie and is very lucky to have wandered to greeneyedspirit

awwww! Thanks for the update Spadina!
I'm very much taken by how good she is, and how happy she is now! And she purrs like a tank.

blondie7

awww fair play to you both guys, socks looks adorable. I have a cat with no tail too and he is the most affectionate little thing its like they know what you done for them

Worztron

Hi greeneyedspirit. I'm delighted to hear that Socks is doing well.

Here is a nice quote I found about cats ~
Hippolyte Taine: I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.

pookiesboo

Delighted to read he's doing well, fair play guys!:)

fatmammycat

Aw, this thread is just so full of win. Well done!

jets799

my cat had to get his till of as well, doing great now, balance is fine and he is as happy as ever:)

Acoshla

Update, Socks is doing great, very friendly cat, loves company, this is her on the couch with my dog, who *really* wants to be friends but has to settle for Socks tolerating her

greeneyedspirit

Spadina wrote: »

Update, Socks is doing great, very friendly cat, loves company, this is her on the couch with my dog, who *really* wants to be friends but has to settle for Socks tolerating her

Fantastic, glad to see Socks is happy out! Can't wait to see the fuzzface again next week

Heroditas

Your dog appears to be plugged in.

Anyway, great to hear that everything has turned out well.
It's stories like this that reinforces this section of Boards as one of the best.