Last week we noticed that our cat Sunny is not as active as usual. Moreover, Sunny, an athletic cat, had difficulty jumping and avoided getting off and on the bed and a kitchen table. Our boy looked uncomfortable.
In today’s article, we will talk about how we manage Sunny’s mobility impairment and how to protect your cat in similar situations.
We contacted our veterinarian.
We noticed Sunny’s difficulty jumping over the last weekend. The cat avoided his favorite activities and refused to jump on the kitchen table. Sunny was sitting on the floor and looked up to the table. He aimed like when he was going to jump several times. However, Sunny remained to sit on the floor and hesitated to jump.
We called the vet in the morning, but they had no available appointments right away. After calling several clinics, our regular vet office offered Sunny a drop-off appointment. Drop-off appointment means we bring Sunny to the hospital, and the doctor sees our cat whenever she has time during the day. The arrangement worked well, and soon our boy was on his way to the vet.
Doctor’s call.
We left Sunny with the doctor’s office and returned home, waiting for the doctor’s call. I knew that Sunny was in good hands. At the same time, it was hard to depart with my boy, even for a short time. He was uncomfortable and possibly hurting. Something was wrong.
I planned to take Sunny to the hospital, wait for the doctor to call, and return to my routine until Sunny was ready for pick-up. On the contrary, I couldn’t think about anything other than Sunny and his condition. How scared he was of the strange place and the departure with the family.
The doctor called in about an hour. The vet said that Sunny is in pain and needs medicine. The doctor instructed on how to give Sunny the medication and keep him at rest for a few days.
Thankfully, the cat can walk, but something causes pain and discomfort, most likely, accidental injury. We have stairs in the house. Maybe Sunny jumped too hard or fell.
Treatment Plan.
- Medicine
The doctor prescribed Sunny a medicine that helps with pain and helps Sunny to relax and rest. Sunny hates taking any medications, and we had to exercise creativity and plan our actions. The medicine is a syrup, and we put it in Sunny’s mouth with a syringe. Our cat knows what the medication looks like and runs away when he sees it. We have to be prompt and hide the medicine right before giving it.
- Reducing physical activity
Sunny has to rest and avoid jumping, running, and falling for some time. The boy is a naturally curious and adventurous cat. He enjoys exploring and playing with other cats. Our house has stairs, and we keep Sunny in a closed bedroom while we’re gone. We supervise Sunny’s activities and explain to our daughter why Sunny can’t run, jump and play roughly.
- X-Ray
If Sunny doesn’t get better in a few days, he will need an X-ray. Sunny was so worked up at the vet clinic and wasn’t ready for the procedure without sedation.
Historically, Sunny had a hard time with going to the vet. Thank the doctors and staff he tolerated the appointment and allowed the exam without sedation.
Observing Sunny.
After a few days of treatment and rest, Sunny looks more relaxed and calm. He started jumping up when it was not too high. We monitor the cat closely and help him to get down. Sunny enjoys sleeping in our bed. He uses pet stairs to get up and down. We provided him with extra blankets and pillows.