Hi all new member (warning long post)

I found this forum and it had lots of useful information that helped so I thought I would share my cat Simbas story and the things I learned along the way. 

About 7 months ago Simba jumped off the kitchen counter and got his rear left paw stuck in the drawer on the way down. 

He broke all 4 metacarpals in half we rushed him to the vets and they recommended pining all 4 bones the surgery was expensive £££ (Tip No.1 get pet insurance I did not).

We decided to go ahead with the surgery and it was a success. We picked Simba up the same day and had to keep him in a crate for 8 weeks. Within a minute of getting home things started to go wrong he started shaking in his carrier. I opened the carrier and put him in his crate and he went into fits of rage jumping flipping over hitting every wall of the crate he then ripped off all his bandages and splint and started attacking his leg.

At this point I pysically restrained him he was biting me and him self it was a bloody mess I was bleeding he was bleeding. Rushed him to the emergency vets they stabilised him and luckily he did not ruin the surgery. 

The following day we got him home again without his splint and things started to go well. A week later we had to take him in for a post opp check I got him into his carrier the moment I left the house he started going into a fit of rage again I turned around to get him back in his crate and he broke the door off his carrier jumped out hit the floor and ran (Tip No. 2 get a decent carrier with a metal door). I panicked and ran after him I then picked him up and he attacked me and fell to the floor I did not learn my lesson and picked him up again and he attacked, and got out of my hands and hit the floor hard this time I could see his foot bend in half. 

(Tip No. 3 this one is important if you cat freaks out post opp Never Never Never pick them up get down to their level calm them down bring the carrier to them and try to get them in the carrier at floor level) 

We got him to the vets did X rays all the pins bent in different directions his foot was all crooked the vets said the bones might still heal, a crooked foot is better than no foot. What followed was 6 MONTHS of crate rest this was hard work. 

Two weeks ago he went for another X ray bones did not heal amputation was necessary. We proceeded with the amputation got sent home the same day with metacam and gabapentin. The first night was hell he was having fits of rage in his crate turns out the has a bad reaction when coming off the anesthetic. 

After that every thing was fine he was hopping on 3 legs in his crate and after 10 his stitches came out and I had no more gabapentin vets said I won't be needing it any more. Got him home and let him out of his crate for the first time in 7 months and he was happy and doing well. 

One day later I came home and he would not walk. I spent time with him encouraging him to walk with the help of treats and once he found his balance he was fine again .

The following day I was at work and my wife phoned, Simba was having random fits of pain going from fully sleeping to jumping and freaking out. Phoned the vets told them I need more gabapentin, yesterday morning he had another episode off pain he had a fit of range attacked the sofa and tore out a rear claw. I finally managed to get some gabapentin and as soon as I gave it to him he was back to his normal self. 

Tip No.4 talk to your vet about gabapentin my advice would be to ask for 4 additional doses than required that way when the time comes to take them off the gabapentin and they get pain attacks you have some spare to tie you over till you can get more. 

Currently Simba is doing well a bit depressed because of having to keep on his cone to stop him getting at his foot with the torn out claw. Unfortunately he has to go back into the crate when I am not home as he is a danger to my family and himself this will go on untill I don't see any fits any more. 

One last thing a list of things I found useful to have to hand 

1. Before your pet gets home save all the necessary numbers in your phone vets, emergency vets, pet ambulance. When things go wrong it's not fun having to ask Google first.

2. Sccisors. When Simba had one of his fits his cone started choking him I was able to cut it off quickly. 

3. lots of blankets and towels. 3 legged cats are messy to start off with after the litter tray. Keeping their sleeping place clean with a fresh blanket helps. Blankets and towels are also useful should the need arise to restrain a cat.

4. Duck tape. I cut the rim of Simbas litter try down to make it easier for him however it left sharp edges so I used Duc tape to stick packing foam to the edge. This helped allot when he was having his fits. Also sometimes you just need the cone to be a bit bigger you can use duck tape to make the cone longer by sticking it to the edge of the cone 2 layer. 

Tip No. 5 What ever happens keep calm if you panic you will make bad decisions. And the pets can sense it. 

Any way that's the story I hope the tips might help others.