Cat has different personality since accident

Question
Hello. I have a male neutered cat approx 1 year old. I have had a him since early Feb. He used to be an indoor/outdoor cat until he broke his leg less that one month after we brought him home (we have no idea how it happened - the vet thinks he was hit by a car). Anyway, until the accident he was the most friendly cat in the world. Even when I first took him to the vet for shots, everyone commented how easy-going he was.

Since the accident however, he is terrifed of being outside the home without one of us being there. When I was taking him to the vet for follow-up after hs leg surgery for example, he would growl the whole whole time and refuse to walk so that they could check leg and the vet techs said they could not even trimk his claws unless he was sedated. We had to go out of town last week so I took him to the "pet hotel" and when I picked him up they said I should not bring him back because he was growling and huddled in the corner of his cage the whole time! She said it was way too stressful for him. Even when I was picking him up, he did not actually relax until we were ouside the building!

What can I do to get him to go back to his easygoing self?  I will be going out of town several more times during the next few months and I need to be able to board him as I have no one I can call on to come "cat sit" hm.  Any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi Suzanne,

This just breaks my heart.  Your cat is simply scared of everything now because of the trauma that incurred because of his broken leg.  Cats do not like change at all.  when his leg was broken, not only was that stressful enough because of the accident and the pain, but he was taken to a strange place where strange people did strange things to him!  No wonder he is a nervous wreck!!  Then, when you took him to the pet hotel, he had no idea what was going on, and for all he knew he would be going through the same strange process again!!  I think he a very normal cat suffering from extreme anxiety and stress. He is not a mean cat, he is only trying to protect himself.
I don't know how long you are going to be gone, but this is what I would do.  Cats are VERY self sufficient.  Put down a very large litter box, I even use the bins that they sell at Walmart .... they have high sides and are cheap, they make great litter boxes! Get two of them if you think he will need it.  Put down plenty of dry food and water and LEAVE him at your house when you go.  He will be fine, much better than being stressed out at some place strange to him.  You can have a friend stop by and check on him if you think it's necessary.  You could also hire a pet sitter to come to your home once a day to check on him and give him some attention.  I would NOT take him back anywhere to be boarded.  He is so stressed out now that it would be cruel to put him through that again.  I can tell you love your cat or you wouldn't be so concerned.  Unless there are unknown obstacles that I would have no way of knowing, I think it would be perfectly safe and reasonable to leave him home as long as he has plenty of food, water and litter.

God Bless,
Becky