Question:
Today my 12 yr, 14 lb, in door, healthy, male, neutered, cat was startled today and resulted with a right rear leg limp. Within an hour of the event, he was seen by a new vet who diagnosed that the limp was caused by a Ruptured Cruciate Ligament which requires surgery. Right now my cat is home, on an anti-inflammatory Rx: 0.5 mg Metacam (2 drops/day for 3 days, then every 3rd day for two weeks), while I consider what to do about the surgery.

1) I understand for a dog, because of size and greater activity level, there are no alternatives to the surgery. But is surgery necessary for a healthy cat?

2) Realizing that arthritis is supposed to result with or without surgery (less w/ surgery), I have heard that the progressive outlook for a cat without surgery is very favorable. But I do not know what is implied by favorable, and would appreciate calrification. Can good home care help to heal this type of knee injury in a cat?

3) Are there alternative healing procedures for a cat who would be kept in confined quarters with restrictive activity? I am willing to do whatever it takes, including any kind of physical therapy, massage, supplements, etc.

Thank you for helping ease my heart about my cats need. K

Answer:
did the vet do x-rays?

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maby give it a day or 2 to see if meds work

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I discuss your options with the vet. Im sure the meds would help the pain, but you don't want the kitty to be on meds for the rest of its life. I'd get the surgery done.

Answer:
I just dealt with this last May, my vet and I opted to take the wait and see approach because an injury like this, without the surgery, is very hard to say 100% that that is what's wrong, it doesn't always show up on the xray. Fagan jumped off the kitchen table last year (soon after having a shot of depomedrol for him licking and chewing his fur and skin off his legs-which can weaken the joints-of which I was unaware) and scared me to death, I thought he had broken his leg from how he cried out and slumped to the floor not moving for quite a bit and cried out when I tried to move him.
I rushed him to our new vet and she did the xrays... and a thourough exam concluding that cruciate ligament was the most likely culpret. I considered taking him to the specialist vet she suggested in Toronto (although she said she could attempt the surgery herself- she had done a couple before), like you, I'll go anywhere and do anything for my furbabies.
But the vet said we should keep him confined and wait a bit(he ended up having two weeks cage rest at the vets, then two or so months on and off at home). He got a shot for the pain right away, and because he seemed to be alright, eating fine, using the litter box regularly, we opted to not do the surgery. It took a good 3-4 months and a couple of pain shots before he stopped having the kneecap slip out of place completely, every now and then he would start to limp and go hide under the bed for a few hours. But it has been a good 5-6 months with no occurences at all.
I can't fully reccommend just cage rest, although it did work for us. Discuss it with the vet. In Fagan's case it turned out surgery was not necessary, but that could mean his injury was not as severe or different entirely to yours. I know for me the cage rest (I had him in a large cat cage I used for strays, just took out the perches so he wouldn't be tempted to jump) was difficult, but I knew it was for the best. And for those months, he had to go in and out of the cage, each time looking at me like I was sucking the life out of him , they do have some heartbreaking looks.
I really hope your big boy heals quickly, best of luck and I'll keep you and the big guy in my prayers. This may sound silly but really try to stay calm yourself, I know I got pretty upset the first few times it went out of place, mad at myself for allowing them to give him the depomedrol. But these things happen, and I swear Fagan did a lot better when I stopped constantly stressing.

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Oh and besides the few pain shots he got at the vets, he takes no pain meds now or during those long months of recovery. And he is a happy cat now, jumping and playing and wrestling with his brothers just like before.

Also, sorry I'm such a blabberer... but the internet was also very helpful, I read quite a few articles on the subject. Just google RCL (or write the whole thing out) and you'll find lots of info.

Oh and if you do go with cage rest, use that time to slim him down by limiting his food... I know that weight does have a contributing factor to these kinds of injuries and how often they reoccur.



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