NOW W/PICS! Anyone want a three-legged cat?
Saw a kitten trying to get off the road today and turned around and after some effort managed to capture her. The feisty little thing did a pretty good little scamper and gave me a nip on the hand. Figured that's good - has some fight left and all. Badly busted up left rear leg with some skin gone, tail had no fur or skin left on it at all, some muscle but not all remained. Some blood on the face and mouth also. Called up my wife right away and got her to route me to the nearest vet. The little kitty put up a little bit of a fight when the vet and I tried getting her out of the van too. A quick x-ray revealed to the vet's surprise that there was no rupture of the diaphragm or other internal injuries other than maybe a bit of fluid in the chest. They immediately treated her for shock and we decided to monitor for 24 hrs and see how it went. She stabilized through the afternoon and they sedated her and put the bone back in the leg for now and stitched it up to prevent infection. They said if things continue to go well, they would like to operate Thursday or Friday. The leg is broken in a tricky place and is a compound open fracture. They could try to set it but it will be very complicated and they say it would probably be best to take the tail and leg off. While she was under sedation, the vet had the tip of the tail come off in his hand. They wrapped up the tail and leg and I stopped in after work to check on her. They hadn't expected her to make it but she surprised us and she's doing ok and taking fluids and food. I really hope things get better for her and everything works out ok. They now think it may not have been hit by a car but may have been up under a car when someone started it, and maybe the belts and fan blades did a number on her, but can't be sure what happened. I really want to keep her but have three dogs already, may actually have to take on a fourth as a family friend was just diagnosed with a blood cancer and we may have to adopt her dog (the now-grown pup of the lab-collie mix we have now) down the road. My wife's sister who visits occasionally is allergic to cats, as is my brother. We'll figure something out - right now I just hope she makes it through this alright. Vet said she's at right about 6 weeks old.
