Bramble - Needs Operation!

Oh no.... oh that's terrible news... poor little Bramble-Baby... and poor you having to see her in such pain (it's horrible to know they're in pain)! Sending you lots of hugs, and tons of gentle little cuddles to little Bramble.

And how worrying that it might happen to her other leg too... I hope the operation will be successful, and that she'll have a speedy recovery... poor little mite.

I've been reading up on it a little bit... successrate is VERY high for this sort of operations, and recovery is fairly quick. About 4 weeks in confinement (cage best option), and then 16 weeks of limited activity (no playing mad cat hanging off the curtains for little Brable!)... and then she should be right as rain!

Hope the painkillers are doing the trick for her at the moment, and that you and your partner will be able to get some rest. (((((hugs)))))

I'm about to go to bed now and see if she will follow. (don't want to pick her up too much in case I inadvertently hurt her, but if she has trouble on the stairs I will carry her up). I've been having a little looksie too (subluxing patella?) and can find loads on dogs but not that much on cats, so I guess its prob a good sign that this vet has spotted it. Oh she is not going to like a cage one bit! But thats just tough as if a cage is needed, then she'll just have to be 'cage cat' for a while. Poor thing, she just wants to be close to me and still purrs like a nutter as soon as she gets stroked. Poor lamb has just cried out again, so I'm off. x

Bless... hope all of you guys can get some rest tonight... sending lots of kisses down to little Bramble.

Hi Helen,

So sorry to hear Bramble need a op, but at least you know what the problem is now and that it can be treated.

As for cage rest, I hope she takes to it like Beckett did. I was dreading leaving him at the vets, amongst strangers and in a cage, I thought he'd go *stir crazy* but he was fine, in fact they had trouble getting him out

Ian

I would think if a cat is poorly or just after an op, being in a cage doesn't stress them as much as we would imagine. We had to put sam in to a cage to stop him walking around and around the room, and he just sat there, don't suppose he was too happy but he accepted it. Hopefully Bramble will be the same, I would imagine it's the weeks when she should be a *mad cat* that will prove more difficult, by that time she will feel so much better and have no idea that she still needs to rest.

Well, as predicted it was a long night. She spent the whole night collapsed on the landing outside our bedroom, but as she seemed comfortable I left her there with a bowl of water and just kept on getting up to check on her and give her loves. About 5 this morning she got to the bed and jumped up (doh) and curled up next to me. She's been a very good girl and ate all her food with painkiller in, but needed 'encouragement' *read pointing at bowl and stroking her! LOL*
Well, I'll better be off to work now, my partner should be home by 3ish, and he'll give her more painkiller and food if needs be, but I'll do my best to get a half day today.... Now... where to get a cage from.....

Poor Barmble, that sounds so painful. And it must be really distressing for you both to see her like that. I hope the painkillers are working for her.

Lots of kisses for Bramble. xxx

We bought our cage from Argos, it's meant for a dog but it did Sam just fine and it wasn't as expensive as the ones sold in pet stores.

Helen am so sorry, I have only just seen this! I am so upset for Bramble and yourselves. It must be devastating for you seeing/hearing her in pain! Sod work Helen - you have to be with your baby girl. Oh poor poor Bramble.

Glad to hear it went well last night... and hope it's continued today! Sending lots of snuggles to the little one.

Well! My boss 'that hates cats' was very sympathetic about me coming into work late tomorrow and although I couldn't have a half day, I was able to take a little longer for lunch so I could go home and check on her, and he's bringing me one of his large dog cages for tomorrow and is fine with me coming in to work late and leaving early if needs be (but I suspect she'll be in overnight). She seems to have perked up! :-) Boo is laying on the floor now after giving a couple yelps. She is such a funny cat! Mads would have had the vets and our hands off for touching a sore leg and just wants to be left alone when poorly... Bramble on the other hand wants to be near us and be stroked and keeps wanting to head but us and be affectionate! She even gave the vet a little headbut and purr yesterday when she popped her leg back in! lol! Little nutter!

Awwww... bless! Little Bramble is such a good little girl... so loveing, even now!

And wonderful news about your boss! He probably symphetises with having a little one that's unwell (even though he might be a cat hater, I'm sure he understands having dogs himself).

Best of luck for tomorrow!

Awww poor Bramble i'm so sorry Helen, i do hope the pain killers are doing the job, will be thinking of you and Bramble tomorrow mate xx

Will be thinking of you and Baby Bramble Helen. She is such a wee character isnt she, still wanting strokes and headbutts. xx Bless the wee toot. xx

So sorry to hear about poor little Bramble, it sounds so distressing for her and you. I'm so glad that an operation is available to help her, and i sincerely hope all goes well tomorrow. xxx

Good luck to bramble and Helen, today, thinking of you all. xx

Best of luck! Got fingers and toes crossed... for the op, and also for you not to get too stressed out...

Good luck for later today.

Ian

So sorry to hear about poor little Bramble. Good luck with her op today! xxx

Good luck today Helen x

Hope everything's gone well... and that you'll soon be able to see little Bramble girl!

Desperately awaiting news of Bramble. Hope the wee toot is ok Helen. xx

Best of luck, Bramble! And we're all thinking about you and Calvin, Helen. xx

Poor lamb. The x-ray showed that both legs are affected so it definately looks like its congenital. Her tibia something or other growth plate was still not fused so they've had to leave that bit of the op for another few months (oh, turns out to be further up her leg as well as her knee) and her other leg will prob need doing at some point, but we are adopting a wait and see approach with that one. I keep thinking, am I being cruel putting her through all this and if it would be kinder to let her go? But then, she's suffering, but after all this, she should be fine and have so many years ahead of her, so I know its the right thing to do. Anyhoo, they've made the groove deeper, tightened ligaments and wired the cap in place. She has huge stitches that she keeps going for, but when we put the buster collar on, she threw herself backwards about the cage screaming and made her wound bleed... so we gave in and took it off and just keep clapping or yelling sharply when she picks (poor Boo). She's hating the cage with a passion! She can't work out how to use the litter tray in there as she can't do her crazy meercat stance! So is crying with frustration! She starts antibiotics and painkillers tomorrow and is in on Monday for a check, then the following Monday for her stitches out. The vets have said to call anytime with any concerns and they will see her straight away! So am quite impressed with this vet we happened upon one night as our regular was shut! They even gave us a print out of dates and instructions etc. and some bland chicken and rice to feed her tonight! Oh, Bramble has to stay in the cage for at least 10-14 days, then they'll re-assess her and she may be allowed then to be confined to one room. Either way, its gunna be a slow recovery, then she has another op, once her plate has fused. Poor poor Boo. x

I forgot to say, she went outside for the first time on her own without freaking out on Tuesday! I took some piccies, so is Bramble in the garden on Tues and one of today when she briefly lay down on her cushion in her cage, looking all pee'd off!

(clickable)