When Bob, a five month old Domestic Shorthair cat was brought to Mayhew in June, there was no knowing whether the ginger moggie would survive the injuries he showed at the time. 
One of these included a split upper hard palate, an abnormal split in the roof of the mouth caused by trauma, commonly seen in cats who have fallen from excessive heights.
Thanks to Mayhew’s expert veterinary care, Bob soon made a full recovery and now, three months on from his injury, has a loving forever home with his new owner, Emma, from London. As Emma explains, “When I heard that Bob was looking for a forever home and saw his profile on the Mayhew website, I knew it had to be with me! Having read about the injuries he had sustained from what could have been a fall from a significant height, I wanted to understand as much as possible about his condition and recovery so I could help support his rehabilitation. Thankfully, he has gone from strength to strength and is a healthy, happy and loving companion. I am so happy and proud to have him in my life.”
Advice for cat owners
Cats as we know are very curious animals and can get themselves into all sorts of trouble. The chances are as a cat owner you will not know exactly what your cat has been up to so any changes in behaviour is important to be taken seriously. Some signs to look out for that your cat has got themselves into trouble might include: –
- Any lameness, where your cat is limping or just does not seem to be walking quite right. This could be anything from bruising to a serious fracture.
- Any bleeding from nose, mouth or anywhere else on the body could be a sign of a traumatic event. If the bleeding is active, your cat will need to be taken immediately to the vet.
- If your cat is not eating, hiding away or seems to be acting strangely this could be a sign of underlying pain.
- If your cat seems to have difficulty eating, this is a sign there could be trauma in the mouth or dental problems.
- When stroking your cat, if they seem to be abnormally reactive, there could be an underlying injury.
Cats are often very stoic, so any subtle changes should be noted and monitored and taken to the vet if not improving over 24 hours. If your cat is limping, bleeding, painful, they need to be seen by the vet to ensure they are examined appropriately and treated for any underlying condition. Do not attempt to examine your cat yourself, because if there is a fracture or an injury like a split palate, you could create more harm doing so. Until you visit the vet, keep them indoors and away from other animals.
It is important to remember that there are things you can do to try to prevent falls. Depending on the type of windows you have, open only the top section and do not leave your window open when you are not at home. It may be also the safest option to keep your cat off any balconies or fire escapes. While you may be comfortable with your cat resting on window sills and railings, falls can and do happen which is why a prompt and thorough veterinary examination is always the best course of action.
Also please remember to neuter your cat, they can be neutered from four months old, and un-neutered cats are at a much higher risk of falls and other traumatic injuries.
