Looking after a cat that has been in a car accident

Question
I have a lovely 3 year old male cat who is 1/2 persian and 1/2 siamese.He is an intelligent and loving pet.A few weeks back he had a fight with a wild cat and as a result got nerve damage to his front foot so could only hop on 3 paws or walk slowly with a limp. I shouldn't have let him out, but he begged to out and I though climbing tree's and such would be good physio for him. Big mistake as he was run over by a car.He had a bad head injury - with bleeding in his brain, thankfully now settled down. But has been left with a broken jaw and lost the sight in one eye. As if that wasn't bad enough, they have now found he has a brocken pelvis. Not badly broken but he will be on 'cage rest' until it heals. The worst thing though is that the vet has warned me that sometimes pelvic injuries can cause nerve damage that leads to incontinence (urinary & faecal) and that it's early days- but if he has got that problem it's not compatible with life so he would need to be 'put down'. I am not going to do this of course - I feel so guilty that I 'let him down' by allowing him to be in such a vulnerable situation in the 1st place.It's my job to now give him the best care that I can.

I work from home, so I am available to give him a lot of love and attention.I know he can never be an outdoor cat again, so I can make sure that our house has plenty to amuse him. I know the next few weeks of his recovery will be a testing to for him and us and we have a long road ahead of us - but it is the incontinence I fear the most.

Not for me - I am an ex nurse and midwife so Im used to mopping up puddles of urine & faeces. But I know my husband won't tolerate it & will put pressure on me to get rid of my lovely cat. I just prey that he hasn't got this problem and if he has- that at least I can treat or control it. Have you any advice about this or how to care for any of his other issues? Also- once he his better - do you think having another indoor cat to play with would help him or would he feel threatened by this? Was thinking of a Siamese.....

Answer
Hi Sheila.  Unfortunately, once an animal is incontinent, there's not much that can be done.  They don't make kitty diapers (though they do for dogs) and I don't think that your little one would take too kindly to it.  Honestly, if the vet feels that the best thing for your animal is to put it into a place where he no longer feels pain, you may have to make that decision.  I'm not for euthanizing an animal just because it's unwanted, unhomed or unloved... please understand that.  If your little one is in constant pain, that is a decision that I'm sorry to say you may have to make.  Nothing can control incontinence, since incontence is a lack of control of bladder and/or bowel function.  If you want to isolate him into one particular room, then that's always an option, however if you don't feel comfortable with that, I don't know what else to suggest for you.

NOW - if your little one does NOT have incontinence as a side effect, then that's obviously another story.  I'd be cautious about getting another little one as a friend, since a 'healthy' cat will in most instances, 'pick on' the not so healthy one.  That is a choice that you'll have to make.  

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful and give you a cheery answer with solid concrete facts, but I DO sincerely wish you and your kitty the best, and hope that he doesn't have this condition that the vet is claiming he may.

Good luck!