Kitten with broken ribs??

Question

Our cat just started limping and falling over when he walks wednesday. He also seemed to be running a fever. Our other kitten got sick a few weeks ago and was running a high fever and was walking funny. She had left over antibiotic so i've been giving it to him thinking he had the same thing. He seems to be walking better but is still stumbling. My husband was just petting him and said it feels like maybe 1 or 2 of his ribs are broken. We really don't have the money to take him to the vet. Is there any chance of this healing on its own. Or could it more than likely cause some kind of internal damage?

Answer 1

Broken ribs won't heal on their own.  Not only could it cause internal damage, but he is most likely in a LOT of pain (cats hide it well).  I know vets are expensive - if you truly can't afford to take the cat to a vet, then take him to a shelter that has a clinic and give up the cat.

I know that might sound harsh, but it's the kindest thing you can do for him if you are unable to care for him properly.

Please get him medical attention asap.  Tonight.  There are 24-hour Animal Hospitals in most areas.  And take in the antibiotic you have been giving him so they know they have to use another if he has an infection (as he might now be immune to that one).

Answer 2

YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THE MONEY..... GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL IF HE HAS BROKEN RIBS THEY COULD POKE RIGHT THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

This sound quite serious to me. I'm not an animal doctor but I can tell you that this cat needs to get checked out. Are there any shelters or animal rescue places in your area? How about a humane society? Most of these kinds of places offer low cost animal care fees to owners who can't afford veterinary care. Check around your area to see if there are any such programs available to you. You might also be able to make payment arrangements with a veterinarian. Call some and see if they do offer any type of billing services that you could use.

Answer 4

This sounds like a lot more than broken ribs, especially in light of the fact that your other cat was sick a few weeks before.  It's possible that the second kitten has the same illness but has compounded the problem by injuring itself.

I know how expensive it is to take an animal to the vet, even if it's just for a checkup.  Unfortunately, the vets in this country are pricing our companion animals right out of the help they need because many owners can't afford to pay the vet bills.  Try calling the local humane organization or, if there is a veterinarian training college in your state, call them and see if they can direct you to an affordable pet clinic.  You also might want to look into a Care Credit card.  This is a credit card that can be used to pay for medical expenses for pets and/or people.  It should be noted that not all vets take Care Credit.  Also, you may want to consider pet insurance.  The ASPCA has a number of affordable insurance policies that will help defray the expense of veterinarian care.

Answer 5

if the kittens rib is broken for sure, then their will most likely be internal damage. their is a possibility that the cats are eating something poison that is making their eye vision impaired, which then makes then judgment impaired. ultimately, making them jump of crash into something that could have injured them. you can look up online how to do a quick at home check for pet injury. but if your last cat had the same symptoms and all that was given was antibiotic, most likely it is bacteria.

*you can skip a vet viset bill by calling in and asking how much it would be to refill the antibiotic. and work from there.

(:

Answer 6

Ok seriously, questions like this just make me sick to my stomach.

If you cannot afford to own a pet .... DON'T OWN ONE!

This is cruel and inhumane.

Imagine having broken ribs yourself but someone not wanting to take you to the hospital?

You need to get the animal to a vet NOW!

And if you really cannot afford to then you need to take your animal to a no kill shelter and sign it over to them.

Answer 7

If it feels like 'broken' ribs at the back of the ribcage near the abdomen that is perfectly natural. The last few ribs do not actually attach to the sternum. Now, if you can feel the ribs grinding against each other you may have a problem. And there is not much a vet can do about it. It's just too hard to immobilize an animals ribs without causing respiratory problems. The only time they will do anything is if there is a danger of a rib puncturing a lung but unless it is a severe break the interconnecting muscle tissue will prevent that.

Odds are the kitten caught something from the other cat. Give it the antibiotics and keep an close eye on it.