Paralyzed Stray Black Kitten

[Avery]

Nahui, thanks for your nice comments and your support for my efforts with Lucky and Ruby. I feel that I am doing the right thing bringing them inside (one week from today to the vets then in the house!), but it is scary and I have all the usual worries about the outcome for them and for the current inside cats.

I hope that Fetén is still doing well. All that progress is really amazing. It would be so great to have a guarantee that everything will work out well when you jump into these situations, but it really is a day by day effort based on patience and love for these little guys. Keep up the great work, Nahui and Fetén!

 

[centerfire]

Avery,all it takes is love and lots and lots of patience to tame a feral cat. I have several kittens and adults that were ferals from birth. My greatest accomplishment is a 12 year old feral female that was feral til 2 yrs ago. I live trapped her to save her from being shot. She's curled up in my lap as I post this. Lot of love and work will produce miracles

 

[msaimee]

How is Feten doing?

 

[nahui]

How is Feten doing?

Hi! There´s lots of news, but first of all, Fetén is doing amazing! For about the last two to three months we have been complementing his physical therapy at home with new exercises. We built him something like an obstacle course with spiky plastic balls and acupressure mats. We then strap him to a harness and have him "walk" the course several times. The spikes in the balls stimulate his legs and make him move them.

At first nothing happened. We just held his legs and imitated walking like that and he barely reacted. BUT....Within a few weeks he started moving his hind legs and tail like he was actually taking a step.


Isn't this amazing?

This video is from about 6 weeks ago and he has made further progress since. I I should really make another video, but I keep forgetting. We made the course longer as he is now walking faster and with more strength.

He also got two friction scrapes (which I am now watching closely for them to heal properly) This is actually also good news because he got those scrapes closer to the top of his paws. This means that he is now supporting his weight with the lower part of his legs, which means he is starting to sort of stand up.

I am looking for someone to make him a pair of pants just like a drag bag, but with pant legs instead of a bag. Actually more like cowboy chaps. I tried the bag and it does not work on him, especially since we want to encourage him to move his legs and the bag constrains them. I need them to be of a water-proof, tough material that is not too heavy for him because he goes outside to the garden and I want to avoid any more friction injuries, but so far haven't found anyone who can make them. I tried making them myself, but all my attempts have been failures so far.

What else? Oh yeah, his therapist is moving to Germany to study in about two weeks. I'm very sad about this because she is just the best, but I'm also very happy for her. Nevertheless, she took it upon herself to find another therapist who could continue Fetén's therapy. We'll see how it goes with the new therapist. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are in it for the long haul!

Lastly, if anyone has some advice as to how to avoid his scrapes from becoming calloused or how to make those pants, I would really appreciate it.

 

[maggiedemi]

Amazing progress! Thanks for the video.

 

[msaimee]

Great progress! Please continue to give us updates. You know that Feten has a fan club here!

 

[walli]

Aw! you go Feten!
Your amazing parents!

 

[nahui]

Small update: Fetén is now able to keep a normal resting position with all four quarters tucked underneath. This is another milestone we wanted to achieve because now he can stay in the position cats use to stand up, with the hind legs firmly planted on the floor. Our next goal is for him to stand.

In fact, his new therapist has gotten him to stand up a couple of times after therapy just by stimulating his hips. He is not yet able to stand on his own for longer than two seconds, but the point is: He has stood up! His vet is optimistic and is now helping us create an exoskeleton to aid him.

We suggested a cart with pedals attached to the wheels to move his hind legs, but he said a cart would not force him to bear any weight and we need him to start holding his weight. This is a big project because everything we have found is designed for dogs, so it is basically us trying to figure out something that works for Fetén. We've made some contacts with experts around the world who are willing to help, so we'll see what comes of it.

 

[Avery]

So very glad to hear this good news! Thanks for the update!

 

[tabbytom]

Fetén is now able to keep a normal resting position with all four quarters tucked underneath.

This is great to hear!

Thank you for your love and devotion for Fetén!

 

[msaimee]

Thank you for this update! I have often thought of Feten over the past several months. You have made such wonderful progress with him. Can you include some pictures? I think someday you will become a renowned resource in the field of handicapped cats and their treatments, and will contribute much to others. Please continue to provide occasional updates. Feten will not be forgotten.

 

[ArchyCat]

Thank you for the update. Your (and your husband's) patience and desire to help Fenten is amazing! Keep the updates coming.

 

[theyremine]

Thank you for the update. Feten was blessed the day you came into his life. Each update brings tears to my eyes.

 

[Jcatbird]

I have just found your thread. You are the greatest! I have had cats and dogs that had challenges. I also raised a child who had some paralysis. If I live near you I would be happy to help you try to make protective pants for Feten. I read that an exoskeleton might be made. Would that be protection? There are some skin protection ointments and pads made for humans that do wonders for the friction or bedsore types of wounds. Maybe you could investigate if these would be safe for Feten. A wound care specialist introduced me to these things and a nurse tipped me of to something that helped as well. The pads protect from new injury and the ointments speed healing. My daughter only had this kind of wound twice in her life but one resulted from a month long stint in a hospital bed and penetrated to her spine. It healed within weeks due to the ointment , pads and the fact that I kept her from any contact in that spot until it healed. I can only imagine how you are making all this work out while encouraging Feten to build strength and coordination. You have touched me more deeply than I can ever express. You have my complete admiration and support! You are awesome and Feten is amazing. Go kitty! I’ll be following your thread from now on.

 

[nahui]

msaimee , the idea, indeed, is to use this as a repository of everything I've learned with Fetén to at least give anyone else in the same position some starter points to know what to do. Fortunately for me, there we so many amazing people who replied to this post with so many great ideas and that was really helpful in knowing what to do and who to search for.

If I live near you I would be happy to help you try to make protective pants for Feten. I read that an exoskeleton might be made. Would that be protection? There are some skin protection ointments and pads made for humans that do wonders for the friction or bedsore types of wounds.

Thank you so much for offering to help make pants for Fetén! Luckily I found a seller on etsy who was able to make him a suit with legs for indoors and a drag bag for outdoor. I just had to give up with making them myself because A). I have no talent as a seamstress B). Poor Fetén has already endured too many iterations of my failed attempts. His new "clothes" should be arriving next week!

Fortunately, all of his current sores have healed, but best to prevent them from reappearing.

I'll make sure to post some pictures once they arrive. I also want to make a video of Fetén's progress, but I need to wait until someone can help me record while we do his therapy. Meanwhile, I caught him sunbathing:



And later taking a nap with Gato (on the right), taking over the dogs' beds :



The exoskeleton (if we succeed with this project) should help with the sores by helping him stand, but the purpose is more to aid him in learning to stand and bear weight. At the very least I'm sure we'll come up with something moderately helpful, even if not too sophisticated.

 

[Jcatbird]

Love the pictures! Sunning is so great.
I’m glad you found a kitty tailor. When you get the supports to help him , be sure to check for pressure points regularly. Any spot that the structure put pressure on the body can become sensitive and that’s where you have to watch for skin beak down. If you watch you can prevent any problems. The area will show pink at first. They tend to loose good blood circulation at these spots temporarily. Once the exoskeleton is removed, blood flow will return. You can pass and spots that show up.
I think it’s a great thing to provide all you have going to help others. It could make a world of difference for someone.

 

[nahui]

Jcatbird , thanks for the tips. Indeed, I've noticed that any sores start with the skin turning pink. Fortunately, his "clothes" are ready and should be arriving sometime next week!

We got them made in black, to match his coat color . This is what they look like. I'm eager for Fetén to try them on!

 

[Jcatbird]

I’m so excited to see Feten protected. This is great news.
I figured the pressure spots would show first as pink areas. If you notice then before the skin is broken it can prevent further issues. I hope that will give you a clue as to when to watch the areas.
Thank you so much for the update. I have you and Feten in my thoughts a LOT!

 

[daisyd]

I love the progress - I’ve followed this tread from the start ! Bless him ! I love the photo of them in the dogs beds haha do they do it to show the dogs whose the boss ? Lol

 

[mazie]

How is feten doing and how does he like his new "sweaters"? Are they helping?