Owner thanks charity for treating pet cat's mystery injury

Mittens came home in "obvious distress", her owner said

The owner of a young cat has thanked a charity for treatment that helped to save her leg after a mystery accident.

One-year-old Mittens returned to home in Nottingham earlier this year unable to walk properly and in distress.

PDSA staff found she had badly dislocated her ankle joint and suffered a fracture - but the cause was unknown.

Helen Cutting said her pet "really had us worried" but described the surgery and care given as "amazing" and said Mittens was back to full health.

Helen Cutting said the £1,800 cost of treating Mittens was beyond her

Ms Cutting, 55, said: "It was such a shock to see, I was scared and upset - my whole family were, we had no idea what had happened but we were worried she might lose her leg.

"Mittens really had us worried - we're unsure how she managed to get injured but we're so thankful she managed to hop back home, even though she must have been in agony."

Unable to pay the estimated £1,800 vet bills, Ms Cutting took Mittens to the PDSA where vets diagnosed the injuries.

They said they could have been caused by anything from a road traffic collision to a fight with another cat to a high fall.

Veterinary Surgeon, Suzy Shuttleworth, said: "Mittens was taken to surgery straight away for the joint to be repaired, with a pin placed to stabilise it.

"A light dressing was placed on the leg for support, and she was kept overnight for pain relief, antibiotics, and monitoring.

"The next day she was able to head home and after a short recovery. She's now back on all four paws again."

'Amazing' care

The charity is more than 100 years old, with 48 Pet Hospitals caring for more than 4,600 sick and injured pets every day.

Ms Cutting said: "The cost-of-living crisis has affected me and my family a lot. We've had to make adjustments with regards to food and our lives in general.

"I was aware of PDSA but hadn't used them before I had Mittens.

"The vets and nurses at PDSA are absolutely brilliant. The care and treatment Mittens received from all the staff was amazing.

"They saved my Mittens. I genuinely dread to think what would have happened to her without PDSA."