No experience here in spite of lots of cats over the past 30+ years. You might want to check with the folks on the Pets forum.

Oh Renee! I am so sorry about Tango! I wonder if it was his growth plate that fractured, I did some googling on the procedure and it seems that is a common reason for this uncommon problem if there isn't an impact accident of some sort. I would be worried to0, and our gang here as well as their 2 legged parents will be keeping you and Tango in our thoughts and sending our prayers your way.

I found this online, hope it gives you a bit of peace of mind.

Here is a link that might be useful: Micio's Surgery

Good luck with the surgery on Monday. Will be keeping you and Tango in my thoughts. It's so hard when our furbabies are in need.

I'm so sorry. Hope everything goes well with surgery. ((Renee and Tango))

OMGoodness Renee, I can understand your concern.

Sending positive thoughts out to you and Tango. He's lucky to have such a caring mom. :)

Thank you ladies for the well wishes. And thank you lynn d for the link. I actually found it last night and spent quite a bit of time reading it. I know it is going to be a long recovery process but I now know what to expect. I was very encouraged by the success stories. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long to bring him home. I know he is better off staying under veterinary care right now until his surgery but it is awful not seeing him and knowing he is doing okay. I am heartsick over it.

Renee, what a good cat mommy you are! I'm glad you found some reassurance here. Sending special thoughts for you and Tango.

So sorry to hear about Tango. Hope he does well. I know it must be so tough to have him at the vets. I hope the poor little guy is not in pain.

I'm so sorry, wishing Tango successful surgery and a fast recovery.

Wow - I just read the link above about this condition and treatment. I hope all goes well for your kitty.

Renee, I am so sorry that Tango is injured. I know how you love and care for you kitties. I pray that all goes well with his surgery and he has a speedy recovery.

Sorry I'm late! Just got to my email that my mother forwarded regarding this post.

Take a deep breath, your kitty will be fine!!! I have an FHO cat... Snapped the head off her femur while at the vet's office getting her nails trimmed: no one knows exactly what she did (and, yes, the vet covered the surgery).

As you have found out by now, the surgery site is going to look like h*ll for some time, but there is no reason why Tango shouldn't be just fine. As your vet should have told you, the fact he is a younger cat should help him adjust/compensate even more. At worst, my Cassie went a bit nuts on the prescription pain meds she was given when she got home--she chewed a foam crate pad to smithereens. We decided that she could tolerate the pain a bit more easily than I could tolerate a hyped-up cat...

Cassie's surgery was over two years ago and you would never know it. For about the first year after her surgery, the only way you could tell that she didn't have a normal ball-and-socket joint was that her leg drooped when she sat a certain way. I don't notice this at all any more. She's as much a terror as she ever was; shooting straight up the 4x4 post of the six foot tall cat tree or charging around playing Fetch (which she does beautifully) are completely effortless.

I had a co-worker with a Jack Russell who had this surgery; never slowed him down, either.

Hope Tango is feeling better! Take him something that smells like home--a dirty shirt of yours or his bed; any good vet will allow this. Also arrange for visits while he is staying at the hospital (again, any good vet will allow for this).

Never fear, Tango will be a typical terror of an orange tabby tom ;o) in no time...

Hugs for you and scritches for Tango!!!

~ Wren