What would you do in this case?

Sorry but I don’t see that cat having a happy life, especially if you have others that also need your attention. You should do the right thing.

What?

There are cat diapers you can buy. But since your cat is still a kitten, you may need to go through different sizes. Here is a site that gives more information. They also have a link to HandicappedPets.com which gives a wealth of information. I would also ask your veterinarian if they know of any products or tricks you can use.

There are also drag bags but I’m not sure if they are available for cats. They are sort of like mini sleeping bags that attach to your pet’s lower half. They are for dogs who are partially paralysed. Mainly to help with reducing wear and tear on the dog’s lower body, which drags around, especially if you don’t use pet wheels. This product is talked about on HandicappedPets as well.

There are many disabled pets out there who live long happy lives. As long as she’s not in chronic pain and you are financially/emotionally able to care for her (with great determination and patience), she can have a chance at a happy life.

@Luiveton
He means you should murder her. You would not accept that argument for a human, so disregard it for the kitten.
But yeah, diapers. And maybe some wheel prosthetics if she can not walk.

You may not like my answer but you did ask what I would do.
I would not let it suffer. I would have it euthanized it by a vet or do it myself.

I would euthanize her also, even though it breaks my heart. Poor kitty. I can’t believe that man just left her there injured like that. Makes me sick.

If you are going to care for the kitten you must be extremely dedicated. Most likely the kitten was never litter box trained to begin with. Couple that with the physical condition and you’ve got a serious situation. I can’t make a decision like that for you. Only you and your family can decide how much time and effort you want to put into caring for this little kitten. It will be a lot of work, but it may be worth it in the end if you are willing to devote your time and effort to training her.

You should also be very careful and watch the behavior of your other cats and their reaction to this new weaker member of their society. They may or may not like having her around and the may let you know with adverse reactions and behaviors. It is going to be a big challenge if you keep her. Good luck.

I wanted to add something. My sister and her husband had a basset hound who developed a slipped disc and was paralyzed from the midsection down. He was pitiful. My sister put him in a baby playpen to help immobilize him. They carefully lifted him in and out of the playpen after he ate or drank and placed him in the yard so he could do his business. It was hard work but that dog, Bandit, managed to heal and was back to living a normal life in a couple of months.

I had a cat that was hit by a school bus. He didn’t have a tongue after the accident and had to have emergency surgery to relieve the swelling on his brain and to put his organs back into the proper cavities. Anyway, when he did come home, he could barely move. I confined him and lifted him in and out of his nearby litter box. I had to hand feed him and provide water through a syringe for months and months and months. He improved, but I had to dedicate the next 10 years to bathing him two or three times a week. Since he didn’t have a tongue, when he ate the wet food it was pretty nasty and he then tried to groom himself….anyway, my point is that is is possible to help the kitty, but you have to be dedicated.

If Chase No Face can make it, why can’t this poor baby? Technology can afford you to possibly purchase little wheels for the cat’s hind legs, though it may be pricey I think it’s worth it. Euthanization is not an option in my book unless the cat was terribly ill.

After reading some of the other answers, if you want her to live, but don’t think you can supply the time needed to care for the cat properly, maybe you can find a home for her with someone who wants to do it? The vet might know someone or know an organization to contact.

I am all About quality of life and it seems that this poor kittens quality of life is going to be pretty marginal. Are you prepared to deal with a seriously special needs pet for years to come? What, if any, real joy and contentment will this kitten experience in her condition?
I have managed special needs pets before and while I had the time and finances to do so the work aspect was daunting at times.

I would re-evalutate in a few weeks after you have the management routine down and determine if both she and you are going to be able to cope with it all, but at this time I think euthanasia should be a serious consideration.
People are so against euthanasia but quality of life on every level, mental, emotional and physical, needs to be taken into serious consideration.

Medically, it is possible that the paralysis is due to swelling and bruising, so time may improve her situation or she may even regain full function. It’s also possible that she may not – you need to talk to the veterinarian about what a realistic timeline may be and what sorts of improvements you should be seeing. Even if she has some residual neurologic deficits, an animal that young has amazing plasticity.

In the meantime, supportive care (quality diet, water, shelter) will give her the best chance at responding positively.

Is she able to empty her bladder on her own? (That would definitely be a good sign, by the way.) If so, I would position her in the litter box 4 or 5 times a day. If not, you’re going to have to manually express her, which your veterinarian can instruct you on.

Good luck. The longer this goes on, the more emotionally attached you’re likely to become, but if you eventually must euthanize, hopefully you’ll feel that you did everything necessary to give her a chance and will be comfortable with the decision. I’ve seen animals survive and thrive after some truly appalling injuries, they never cease to amaze – if you’re committed to this course, stick to your guns, if may work out in the end.

I’m a big animal lover, and I thank you for paying attention and helping this poor baby.

That being said, I wouldn’t like to live all my life paralyzed, especially with two healthy friends running around me having fun. Just keep an eye on her recovery, mobility and quality of life, because she can’t speak to tell you that her life isn’t worth living.

You can almost always tell in the eyes if you know/ love them well. Peace to you, friend.

I can’t help with an answer and I think others have been quite helpful anyway. However, just wanted to say @Luiveton you are awesome with your huge caring heart, I hope you find a way to continue giving the little kitty your love, without it being too messy ;-). We need people like you.xxx

What did the Vet say in that regard?

Euthanasia is a bit extreme in her case; physically speaking, she’s not in pain (obviously she wouldn’t be but—), she seems happy and is playing all the time. She’s in a much better condition than the one she was in yesterday.

I am prepared to do whatever it takes in order for her to heal. I would never euthanize an animal with a mild case (—dr said she has a good chance of recovery as paralysis is purely due to shock, so it is temporary, and can go away with a lot of care.) If the cat seemed in pain obviously the least I could do is to euthanize it, so I definitely understand where you’re all coming from.
Having said that, I have never been in so much love with an animal, she’s a sweetheart. So lovable.
But if you could see her now (wish you all could), you’d definitely understand why she doesn’t need euthanasia, you can see it in her eyes. She’s a fighter.

Also my cats are fine with her; just a little intimidated by her, for some reason.

Thank you for your honest replies.

@nebule that was extremely sweet haha xx

@syz Yes she can empty it on her own.

PS: Dr has prescribed a few medicines she must take per day. So hopefully she’ll heal soon

I don’t believe in Euthanasis either.
There is a good chance with love and care that this kitten could recover.
I hope that she heals well and recovers to normal.
My prayers are with you .
Take care

You know cats are roaming animals and to keep it confined is everything against it’s nature, it may never understand why you let it live, deep inside it it will always wonder why it can’t have freedom and sadly to let it live in order to withhold it from freedom is perhaps the cruelest thing to do. Take it out of is misery because to let it live you are doing wrong by it. Trust me I am a cat lover and a cat owner and have many cats in the past few years. Cats are proud animals and what you propose to do is taking away that animals pride.

@antimatter But it’s a baby I think, so it wouldn’t know any different right?!

I must summarize most of these answers. The majority answer is you should take care of the kitten/cat. There, question solved.

It’s obvious you are compassionate and have the resources and judgement necessary to give the kitty a chance.

Cats can recover from incredible trauma. I saw one that was chased off an overpass by a dog, broke its spine and recovered fully (the dog wasn’t so lucky).

Give it some time and follow the vet’s advice. You’ll know what is right.

@antimatter As I have previously mentioned, I would never let a cat or any other living organism, for that matter, live against its will. As I have also previously mentioned, it is very possible for her to regain movement in her hind legs. You don’t give up on life when your condition can very easily improve in a month or so. That’s nonsense, really.

You only euthanize an animal if they are in severe pain, or have been in a dire condition for so long, not for 2 days. Having said that, if an animal is not in pain, but slightly limited in capabilities, they will not want to die because they fear death.

Humans are different in that area, we have free will, the tools, the mind, the power and capabilities to understand each other and know what we want. So my point is unless an animal is in severe pain or severely disabled, they will not welcome death as readily as a human who WANTS to be euthanized.

I also previously mentioned that the kitten is always playing, able to move more than half of her body, is in good health, and is going through TEMPORARY paralysis.

@Random1324 That wasn’t really the question though. The question was actually about seeking help regarding her excretion problems (diapers etc). Most people seem to have overlooked that.

Also, can I stress, again, that I am fully prepared to take care of her, I have the time, the money, the dedication, and I am absolutely in love with her.

So no need to mention other organizations/euthanasia again.

Then why are you asking??? Do what your heart and head tell you and good luck.

@rooeytoo I’m not asking about anything to do with keeping her or letting her live or not or even dedication! Hasn’t anyone read the full Q??

I’m just simply asking how to deal with her EXCRETION and I’ve provided you with the full story so you have a better understanding of her case. Simple, really. Anyway thank you.

I’m sorry I missed your point @Luiveton I did intend to answer that, but I was distracted by other responses.

My small dog currently has a spinal injury. This is a very active and happy dog who is currently unable to move in the way his mind thinks he should be able to.

His bowel isn’t really under control because cold makes him tense and he shits in the house after being outside for 20 minutes. I’m hoping that will change with warmer weather but meanwhile, I’m willing to pick up his accidents because I adore him and he’s otherwise very much himself.

You could confine kitty to a hard-floor area or get some Woolite Pet-Oxygen which is amazing at cleaning carpets.

@antimatter how dare you say that? what does it feel like to be so patronising? And it strikes me as very odd that you know what a cat feels . I person is wanted to care for another being in the best way possible.

My mum has a cat who was really damaged and she is now still damaged but at least cared for.

I would love to have your determination but unless I could get support, I couldn’t take on such a special needs cat. I totally admire what you’re doing and especially after reading @syz‘s comments hope that you will report back with a happy story.

I do not understand how people can be so callous. Thank goodness you were there to see her need and are the person you are and acted on that need. Good on you.

I actually read the whole thing and the sand tray sentence was so small compared to the long explanation of the tragic circumstances you came to find this cat that I missed that your final, and I guess ultimate question, was about dealing with the excrement problem. I mean, I started reading what happened to the kitty and I wished I had not stumbled on the Q, because the story was so upsetting to me, and was so captivated by the cruelty of someone hurting the cat and then it being left there for so long, all I could think of was the cats discomfort, not just physically, but mentally, and how wonderful of you to take this on. I guess everything written after that I didn’t absorb well.

@Luiveton

It is also the kindest thing to do ( euthanize) when quality of life suffers. I hope the kitten makes a remarkable recovery, but I also take mental and emotional quality of life into consideration beyond just the physical.
I was able to find an amazing home for my 15 yr. old Chinese gander I raised from a gosling in March when I had to move from my rural property due to economic hardship.
Since he was imprinted on me and needs humans to be happy I had to seriously consider euthanizing him before allowing him to go to a substandard environment.

Better he died in the arms of his beloved Mother Goose than to be tossed into a crappy environment. In the case of imprinted birds serious depression and illness can occur.
Best wishes with your situation. :-)
I just think that sometimes peoples egos get in the way and they are more invested in being able to say how they saved such and such rather than really caring about the animals quality of life. Gotta watch your intentions. :-)

Sorry, you’re right I didn’t register what exactly you are asking. I would say that if you are determined to keep it whether it becomes mobile or not and it is going to have to lie in its own excrement unless you intend to be watching over it 24 hours a day, then I would be sure to feed it something that would promote a very solid stool. I wouldn’t feed anything except real food that would replicate its natural diet which does produce small, hardish scat. Can’t think of anything worse than to have it lying in loose, smelly, canned food stool. Might be good to look into a diaper service (but don’t tell them its for your cat) at least that way you wouldn’t have to wash the cloths in your own washing machine. I don’t think it would be nice to have to lay on paper all the time, it is not only cold and hard it is slippery. Even if it started to improve it could not get a purchase for its paws on paper, so cloth would be a necessity. Again I say good luck.