An ageing cat has made a ‘miracle’ recovery from a severe head injury after a week of intensive care at a Maven Vets in Sutton.
Fifteen-year-old Mojo was admitted to us after displaying symptoms consistent with being hit by a car or a dramatic fall.
Maven vet Dr Laura Colley took charge of the case and said the domestic shorthair cat was in a desperate condition when he arrived.
Dr Colley explained: “Mojo was lying on his side, unable to walk and crying out in pain. The left side of his face was swollen and he had blood and mud in his mouth, along with a wound on the back of his neck.
“There were no obvious broken bones but when he was placed upright to stand, he would fall over straightaway.
“He had neurological defects along the left side of this body, his tail was limp and his pupils were not responding to light.
“He seemed very spaced out and was unable to interact properly with his surroundings. These are classic signs of a head trauma and we presumed he had either fallen or been hit by a car.”
The team reacted quickly and decisively to treat Mojo, who was given supportive care beginning with pain relief and intravenous fluids, followed by investigations including blood tests and x-rays.
Our expert vets carried out chest and head/skull x-rays which confirmed he had no breaks, while an ultrasound scan showed no internal organ damage.
However, Dr Colley said Mojo was initially slow to respond and show any meaningful signs of recovery.
She added: “He had around-the-clock nursing care which, as he was unable to stand, included regularly turning him over from one side to the other.
“He was still staring into space and could not eat, so a feeding tube was placed to deliver a completely liquid diet. This was more challenging due to internal swelling on the left side of his face.
“After several days in hospital, Mojo had showed little improvement. He was still unable to walk but when placed upright, he could stand with assistance.
“He could also lift his head but preferred to lie with it supported and there had been a mild improvement in his neurological reflexes.
“At this point, we did not know if he would improve any further and euthanasia was strongly considered, although his owner wanted to try for 24 hours more to give him the best chance.
“Then, on day five, he started lifting his head and reacting to audible and physical stimulus while his neurological eye reflexes returned to normal.
“He was very wobbly but able to take a few steps and from then on his improvement was sustained. By day seven, he was able to walk on his own, if still a bit wobbly, and he was finally allowed to go home.
“He even started to eat as soon as he went home and we all agreed Mojo was something of a miracle cat!”
Mojo’s delighted owner said: “It was a horrible time for us and for Mojo and we feel very lucky to have our lovely cat back.
“We are really happy that he is so well, considering everything he went through and are very grateful and want to say thank you to everyone who help him on the road to recovery.”
If you’re worried about your cat, please contact us here.
