Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps promote healing and restore normal movement and aids recovery for cats that have structural or musculoskeletal issue from either being in trauma related accidents or born with congenital problems. It provides better movement, quality of life and pain reduction in those that have limited capabilities like the cats in our care.

Here`s Heidi on a balance disc stretching out her carpels and wrists whilst being fed some yummy treats. The use of treats during any therapy really helps cats relax and associate the therapy with a positive outcome.

It also helps to improve the mobility and strength in animals

that are disabled and can consist of the following techniques –

• Massage
• Range of motion movements
• Laser therapy, EMS or TENSs therapy, hydrotherapy
• Using aids such as walkers, solid splints, vet wrap splints and balance boards

Here`s Heidi getting TENs therapy to help stimulate neuropathways and build muscle tone on her legs.

If you’d like advice and help on how you can support your special needs cat with physiotherapy get in touch.

Here`s Heidi in her front leg splints being supported to walk with a belly strap.

You can watch a video of us giving Maple some physio when she first came into our care here.

Walker and frames

Here`s Heidi having physio in her made to measure walker frame and sling. Walker frames work really well for encouraging weight baring exercise without the pressure on the joints, they are also great for rehabilitation following trauma, or for CH cats in general who are more severe and cannot walk without falling over. They are easy to make at home with PVC pipe or copper pipe, you can find plenty of how to videos on YouTube.