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GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 08:08 AM Jul 2012

CAT PARENTS- A REMINDER: Never use a recliner if you don't know where your cat is. And never assume

where the cat is actually at.

I used the electric recliner yesterday to lean my younger son back to help him hold Trixie. (He's been afraid to hold the kittehs up until a few days ago.) I didn't check for Gizmo because I had just seen him with ElderSon.

Long story short, after some truly terrifying moments Gizmo got out and ran for his bedroom. I scooped him up and we went to the emergency vet center (also known as ) and had him checked out because he was breathing funny.

The vet was prepared for the worst, because recliner injuries are usually quite devastating, but whether you call it a miracle or sheer dumb luck, nothing was cut or crushed and he is back to his regular hijinks with his sister.

Be careful out there. Negligence kills. * in remorse and relief*

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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CAT PARENTS- A REMINDER: Never use a recliner if you don't know where your cat is. And never assume (Original Post) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 OP
Glad to hear that Gizmo will be ok. nt avebury Jul 2012 #1
Thank you. I am keeping a close eye on him to be sure, but it looks good. :^) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #5
The same's true when closing up a sleeper sofa. Make sure you know where the cats are. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #2
Absolutely! GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #7
Pet and Child Rule #1: Know where they ARE, not where they AREN'T. mikeytherat Jul 2012 #3
Yes, a good rule. We have learned recently that the kittens can get into one of the kids' GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #4
Goes triple for ferrets 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #6
I can believe it! GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #8
Aww, I'm glad he's ok. n/t RiffRandell Jul 2012 #9
Thank you. :^) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #14
My cat is always hifiguy Jul 2012 #10
You could sit there together, maybe? (Or is he too big?) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #15
If I am reading, he's more than welcome hifiguy Jul 2012 #22
There is a reason cats are given nine lives. turtlerescue1 Jul 2012 #11
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry about Mose. I am being run ragged by these little kittens. We have GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #16
I've been lucky. Bertha Venation Jul 2012 #12
Bertha, I have lost kittehs in furniture before, but they were never in any danger unless GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #17
Thank God Gizmo is OK! Brigid Jul 2012 #13
Definitely safer! Other places they can get in trouble are washers and dryers, and GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #18
The other day I lifted the couch to get a mouse toy Auggie Jul 2012 #19
It's amazing how quick they are! Glad things ended well there. :^) GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #20
I don't know how one of our cats got injured HeiressofBickworth Jul 2012 #21
I am sorry your kitty got hurt. :^( We had something similar happen with one of GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #23

mikeytherat

(6,829 posts)
3. Pet and Child Rule #1: Know where they ARE, not where they AREN'T.
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 08:52 AM
Jul 2012

Too many people have concluded their pet or child was not in a dangerous place, only to be horrified when it turns out they were in that place. Our house has an intercom system, and Mrs. Rat and I often have conversations through the system such as, "Harry - under the bed, Crosby - on the loveseat, Charlie - cat tower in the office."

mikey_the_rat

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
4. Yes, a good rule. We have learned recently that the kittens can get into one of the kids'
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 09:19 AM
Jul 2012

rooms because his door is broken. After finding Giz with a Lego in his mouth I went in there and put ALL the loose Legos away. (And I am going to get hubby to buy some hook-n-eye locks for extra safety and peace of mind.)

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
10. My cat is always
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 10:11 AM
Jul 2012

ON the recliner. I have to boot him off when I want to sit on it. It's his house and I just live in it.

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
22. If I am reading, he's more than welcome
Thu Jul 26, 2012, 09:59 AM
Jul 2012

all 17 pounds of him. If I am listening to music and need to take notes, he sits on the rug in front of the recliner.

turtlerescue1

(1,013 posts)
11. There is a reason cats are given nine lives.
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 11:23 AM
Jul 2012

Good to hear Gizmo is a survivor.

Mose survived three years of being a battlecat, shot twice one with a bb and the second a .22, but it was a snake bite, he survived the bite, but not the venom's impacts. So with Petey, new kitten, am just hoping he will not be a repeat- don't think this old broad could stand it. Of course those tiny needle sharp claws have had all the canines yelping a little more often than is necessary.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
16. Oh my goodness! I am so sorry about Mose. I am being run ragged by these little kittens. We have
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 06:49 PM
Jul 2012

no pups to help keep them in line, though.

Bertha Venation

(21,484 posts)
12. I've been lucky.
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 11:46 AM
Jul 2012

I've never smashed one of my kittehs in my recliner -- but they have become trapped!

Thanks, GPV. Good PSA.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
17. Bertha, I have lost kittehs in furniture before, but they were never in any danger unless
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 06:52 PM
Jul 2012

it collapsed on them. (So far so good.)

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
13. Thank God Gizmo is OK!
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 11:58 AM
Jul 2012

Now I'm glad I didn't get a recliner when I bought my new furniture last year; I got a big comfy regular chair with an ottoman instead. Much safer. My little runt cat Ruby did hide in my sleeper sofa when I first brought her home, though. I will have to watch out for her if I ever actually pull it out.

Watch out for closets, too, of course. My two love to hide in those.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
18. Definitely safer! Other places they can get in trouble are washers and dryers, and
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 06:54 PM
Jul 2012

freezers and fridges.

Auggie

(31,067 posts)
19. The other day I lifted the couch to get a mouse toy
Wed Jul 25, 2012, 07:30 PM
Jul 2012

and the cat was underneath it before I could blink. I was halfway to letting it down (it weighs a lot) when she scooted out. No injuries -- there's some give to the couch. But it was close.

Good reminder.

HeiressofBickworth

(2,682 posts)
21. I don't know how one of our cats got injured
Thu Jul 26, 2012, 03:38 AM
Jul 2012

I went out on Sunday afternoon and when I got home, she wasn't using her left rear leg -- she had it drawn up and wasn't putting any weight on it. Monday I took her to the vet -- damn that place is expensive, but we had a bad experience with another vet so we changed. Vet said the cat didn't have anything broken and it didn't look like anything organic. She thinks that somehow she sprained either a muscle or a tendon. Since she is an indoor cat and not a climber, I was puzzled. We discussed the possibility that she snagged her nail on the carpet and wrenched it when playing with one of the others. She's on some pain med to keep her resting -- and she is one stoned kitty. Thanks for the warning on recliners! We don't have one and this is another good idea against getting one.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
23. I am sorry your kitty got hurt. :^( We had something similar happen with one of
Thu Jul 26, 2012, 01:36 PM
Jul 2012

our old kitties, only I was there to see the injury happen. Pickles fell off a shelf and was hanging on by one front leg, and the other one had snagged a blanket or something and was dangling it down below her. She strained the leg holding the blanket, I guess because it was at a weird angle and supporting a lot of weight. She refused to put any weight on it for the better part of a day, but seemed to get better fairly fast. (Although at her age it was hard to tell, since she mostly lounged around or slept. No more playing, really.)

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