HELP with my MIL'S calico

[rosethecopycat]

We are desperate for help concerning my MIL’s calico. 12yr old/ indoor outdoor (now they are trying to make Violet an indoor only cat)

Here’s the situation:

Violet was attacked by a full tom that roams her territory. Her injury was to the eye. (eye is not the problem anymore)

After the eye surgery, she was confined to the bathroom for one week, she wore a collar for two weeks, got eye drops and liquid antibiotic.
She healed perfectly then we went to Florida and Eric came to feed and play with her once a day.
We got back to find that she had a sore on the end of her tail.
I didn't take her to the vet right away because it was a few days before I saw that she was continually licking it and causing it to bleed.
1st vet appt.--a shot of antibiotic combined with a one day steroid plus 7 days of antibiotic pills.
2nd vet appt.after one week --a shot of steroid that lasted two weeks because she was continuing to open the wound.
3rd vet appt. after 4 days--removed bandage and noticed that wound was not healing well under bandage. Gave more antibiotic and Metacam
4th vet appt. after 4 more days--removed bandage and wound was looking much better. Vet wanted the wound out in the air with cream called Bandguard to get her to not lick
5th vet appt. after 7 days--bandguard didn't stop her and I rebandaged--we arranged for the tail to be cropped
Cropping surgery went well --got stiches out after 10 days, rebandaged for another 4 days for complete healing--as soon as we got home she ripped the bandage off and started it bleeding again. I started her on the elavil at this point. So now I have her in another bandage that I haven't changed yet (6 days)


So Rose, as I was writing down the journal of violet I turned around and to
find her ripped into her bandage. I realized that I hadn't given her the
pill last night, so I wrapped her in a towel to give the pill and couldn't
do it. She spit it all over the place and I just couldn't get it in there.
So I just opened the back door and put her outside. Now I'm sitting here
crying. I don't think I can put a bandage back on her alone and I have to go
to work at 10:30 so it's pretty hopeless. It's snowing outside so I can't
leave her out there. I guess I will put her in a crate until I get home at
3:00. I am at my end with being able to take care of her. Steph



I told my MIL how to scruff Violet, and how to crush up a pill and put it in food. She had tried crushing and Violet wouldn’t eat it. So I suggested crushing then syringing it in her. She foams pretty bad.


My MIL seems to think this tail thing is a reaction to not being able to go outside. Psychological.


I am asking for any advice possible, also if you all could possibly pass on her story to the other cat experts.


Thank you for the kind help.

[PayItForward]

I would say it is likely the tail thing is a reaction to being kept inside.

As excessive grooming is a stress related condition and as this happen when she was restricted inside after 12 years of freedom to roam, it is probually related.

Luckily there are other solutions which give the cat limited outside access.

1) Walking her on an harness and leash.

2) Supervised garden visits or add fence toppers to restrict her to the garden and prevent the tom getting in.

3) Build Cat Run in your garden.

Good Luck

PS. Any chance on getting a local rescue group to trap and neuter the entire tom, then the problem would be solved.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

You might want to PM ChrisH. She was having the same exact problem with Ebby and ended up having to have her tail cropped also. Last time I saw Ebby she still had her collar on so I'm not sure what the status of her tail is now.

Unfortunately I have no experience with this so my best advice would be to PM ChrisH and get some of her experience.

[rosethecopycat]

I already contacted ChrisH. No response yet. I'm not mentioning poor Ebby to my MIL yet, as the poor thing is still having problems that aren't resolved yet.


Thanks PIF,
I forwarded your ideas to my MIL.

I like the harness idea.
And I was thinking about how to get that tom some help.

Almost 12 years outside and Violet has never had a problem with other cats. And this last year, this new tom decides to beat her up.

I know the vast majority of us here at PT know the benefits of having an indoor only cat. I am a reformed (indoor/outdoor) cat owner myself. My MIL is in agreement that all future cats would definitely be indoor, but it is extremely difficult to change a cat's life pattern.
I have helped change her mind on declawing and indoor only issues. Welcome to the new century.
I was there myself, once, long ago.

Thanks,

[Prairie Purrs]

The tail-attacking thing isn't always due to stress. My Cricket was rescued and brought indoors as a kitten. She took to the indoors like the proverbial duck to water. Months later she started biting her tail. The vet diagnosed her with feline hyperesthesia.

Feline hyperesthesia (http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1991)

We tried antidepressants and kept her in a cone for what seemed like forever, but she just wouldn't stay away from that tail. Finally the vet amputated her tail, and she hasn't had any more problems. Fortunately, she's never had seizures.

If Violet isn't showing any other symptoms (like "twitchy" skin along her spine), then it may well be stress-related, in which case the antidepressants may help her. But if cats are at all like humans where antidepressants are concerned, it can take awhile before there's any effect.

[emily_the_spoiled]

If I remember correctly I think that Magoo and one of Jen's cats had Elavil mixed in as a topical cream that could be applied to his ear.

Maybe you should PM them and see if my memory is serving me correctly. It would be easier than having to pill Violet everyday.

[rosethecopycat]

When Violet first started having problems witht the tail, I emailed my MIL the word: feline hyperesthesia

She is very thourough at computer research and asked the vet about it too.

I can't remember what they determined.

I will investigate the topical elavil cream.

Thanks,

Rose

[jenluckenbach]

Rose, your PM bocx is full....here is what I wrote:

I have never used that particular medicine....what is it for?
As far as an ear cream form of medicine, I have tried it. Others have had great success.....SASvermont, for example. In my instance, the topical cream did NOT seem to give the same desired effect as the pill form (unfortunately)

Now, as for the tail......it could have absolutely NOTHING to do with being kept indoors. I had a cat many years ago who ended up with an injury to her tail. She also went through about 4 sets of stitches before I told them that we HAD to crop the tail short enough so that there was no way for her to get to it. (she could get the tail even with the collar on)
Then she wore that collar for 2 good months until I was certain that she would NOT bother the tail. I was paranoid thinking she would re-injure it AGAIN!

Something about the healing process and the cat's tail makes them continually bite at it. (I am sure you have had a scar or scab that itched as it healed)


I would definitely TRY to get the medicine in a cream form and KEEP THAT COLLAR ON!

[catcrazylady]

Rose I PM'd you but I will respond here as well.
Magoo never took Elavil but another pill and I never used the cream formulation. Sorry.
If her reaction is stress related then all the scruffing, towel holding to pill is probably making things even worse at the moment. Her experiences as an indoor kitty have not started off well, to say the least. After her attack she has been brought indoors and that has led to vet trip after vet trip, medication and more medication, conifinement, collars, and generally everything bad in a cats mind. Although we know the very best for her is being done, in her mind this has got to be an awful place! More stress!
My suggestion would be to continue with the Elavil. It will help her over time. She really does need this I'm sure. I PM'd you my method of pilling my "nasty" kitties but I will post it again.
Crush into powder and mix with jelly or a kitty vitamin paste (kill two birds with one stone!). Then rub it (hard) into kitties fur on her front leg so she can't shake it off. She will lick it off and get the meds.
Tell your MIL to make sure after she does this to give her lots of love and attention so she isn't afraid to be approached. Once they catch onto what you are going to do they can hide like Houdini! She will need lots of good attention inbetween the pillings so she will remain approachable.
These meds take time to work and I hope your MIL can be persistant and stick with it. I have no doubt that with a little time everything will work out just fine. Thats what everyone told me about Magoo and boy were they right! I sure do understand the frustration and aggravation though. It can be tough trying to help one of these kitties, but the payoff in the end is very rewarding.
Lots of luck and keep us posted.