Cat advice.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Get a second opinion before you let them cut more of his leg off.

[Blueberry]

It could be behavioral - and not phantom limb pain. We have a kitty who periodically licks raw places on her tummy. It may be that the limb is just what's sticking out there and convenient for him to mess with.

I don't see how cutting more off could help - there would still be phantom pain, no?

Get a second opinion, and maybe try an e-collar?

CA

[KnottedYet]

I think humans with phantom limb pain get neurontin or other good pain meds. There must be something similar for cats? Some folks get acupuncture, and I know there are pet acupuncturists who work on cats.

Paging JesVetMed! We need you here!

[Wahine]

If the cat was born without that part of his limb... I'm thinking that phantom limb pain would be unlikely. But who knows, I wish we could ask the cat. I would guess... and this is a big guess... that it's behavioural and that he's hitting that limb because it's an easier target since it's shorter. It's especially interesting that this happened at the same time as the toddler got sick.

Jesvetmed - where are you....???

[LBTC]

Aw, the poor kitty! I'll send some butterflies right away!

Please do get a second opinion, of course! But, if more than one vet recommends amputation, from someone who has gone through a furry kid amputation - if it's the right thing to do, the cat will adjust super well and much faster than anyone will expect. They are a wonder!

Some thoughts about the behaviour:

Cats and dogs do better on three legs than 3 1/2. The partial limb can get in the way and easily be injured while running, jumping, etc. There's a chance the limb was injured at some point and that's when the gnawing started....

The cat is now 7 years old, generally considered middle aged. She's had an unusual gait due to the different limb and may be experiencing other muscle and joint imbalances, or even the beginnings of arthritis. Perhaps there is a pain transferance going on?

Humans in very early stages of some types of liver disfunction can experience itchiness in the extremities. It might be worth it to have liver enzymes tested?

The timing is defnitely of interest. Either from the point of view that the cat understands there is a problem, can't help and is frustrated by that; or that the cat needs more attention and has found a way to get it. Personally, neither of those theories "feel" right to me in this case.

I have also heard of and known people whose furry kids have experienced the very same phsyical disorders as their people, usually in advance. (I had a friend who had two dogs who both had Addisons, and he was later diagnosed with Addisons. There was another local family whose dog died of the same cancer that the owner was being treated for.) Some look only to the physical environment as being the cause for these "coincidences", but I think there's some connection there that we don't and maybe will never understand. Something in the realm of quantum physics.

For most of the scenarios I've outlined above, acupuncture is an excellent therapy to start. Getting a good diagnosis may be hard or even impossible, but it's worth more investigating before proceeding with something as invasive as surgery, and would help an acupuncturist develop the best treatment.

Many hugs and lots of butterflies to the whole family! What a lot they've been through this year!!

And to you, too, Brandi!

~T~

[bmccasland]

Kitty could be reacting to the anxiety in the house. Her fur buddy is gone, and the baby has been ill for some time.

Back before TE and my job was driving me insane, my doctor put me on antidepressants. Meanwhile, my dog was constantly licking her front leg, creating lick granulomas. I remember talking to my sister about the dog, and she said something to the effect "dummy, YOU"RE on meds because you're upset, poor Nala doesn't know what's going on". Of course no one suggested that both of us should go for a walk.

But dogs are different from kitties.

I would definitely get a second opinion before surgery, especially since the kitty has been able to cope with the stumpy leg up until now. In the mean time, can the family make a point of playing with kitty every day? Or maybe adopting another kitty to play with in addition to the humans spending a bit of quality time?

And maybe some of LBTC's butterflies will flit around... Just out of reach... to keep her amused.

[mimitabby]

There have been cases of mom cats chewing off part of kittens' feet at birth, I know of one through our rescue. She eats the placenta and the umbilical cord, it's easy to see how a nervous inexperienced mom cat might make a mistake like that. And if t hat's the case, what's on that leg might have healed in a messy way causing lots of pain.