Common cat fractures
If your cat suffers a fractured bone, it will almost certainly have been caused by physical trauma such as a fall, car accident, animal attack or cruelty. In some cases fractures can be caused by normal activity such as jumping, or running. If so, your cat will most likely have some underlying medical condition that has weakened her bones, and that needs investigating by a vet.
A fracture is usually obvious, but in some cases - such as broken ribs - it may not be too easy to spot. Watch out for inactivity, dislike of being handled, laboured breathing and depression.
The most common bones for cats to fracture are the legs, pelvis, spine and jaw.
Leg fractures
When a cat fractures a leg it is easy to spot, and fairly straightforward to treat. However it is important to ensure there are no other joint, organ or spinal injuries that also need treated but are not as obvious. Treatment can be either splinting or surgical depending on how the vet assesses the injury.
Pelvis fractures
Some pelvis fractures can be left to heal on their own, others will require surgical repair. The main cause of concern when a cat suffers a pelvic fracture as a result of heavy trauma is damage to the kidneys and urinary system.
Spine fractures
Spinal injuries have the potential to be very serious. If a fractured spine occurs along with severe damage to the spinal cord, no amount of bone healing will help and the cat will need to be put to sleep. Even tail fractures can come with unexpected complications. Some tail fractures can leave cats unable to control their toilet activities.
Jaw fractures
Although jaw fractures are deeply unpleasant to witness, they are not usually life-threatening. With wiring and or pinning, the cat will usually make a full recovery.
Once the vet has completed their medical and/or surgical treatment, they will probably set out a course of physical therapy for the cat. It is very important to follow these instructions closely as they will usually mean the difference between permanent disfigurement, deformity, disablement or injury, and a full recovery.