Kittens and Trouble: No Matter How Careful You Are…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a breeder of Burmese kittens, it’s that no matter how vigilant you are, kittens will always find a way to get themselves into trouble.

In 2024 one of my 10-week-old Burmese boys decided to demonstrate this perfectly. Despite my carefully (so I thought) kitten-proofed room, he managed to get both of his front legs wedged between the slats in the back of a chair — a chair I’ve used in my kitten rooms for years without incident.

Thankfully, I have a habit of checking the kittens before bed. When I found him, both his little front legs were stuck fast. I freed him quickly, but it was obvious he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Both legs were floppy and weak — a severe palsy from the compression injury. It was a worrying sight.

This very common chair was the culprit. Who would have thought a kitten could get both front legs wedged between the slats on the chair back?

Vet or Home Care?

I debated rushing him to the vet but, being a doctor myself (of the human variety), I assessed the situation. His circulation seemed intact — a huge relief — but he was dehydrated, likely from the stress and possibly reduced ability to get to food and water while stuck. I syringed some oral fluids into him and set an early alarm for 3:30 AM to rehydrate him again. By morning, there was good news: one leg had improved enough that he could walk on it. The other was still limp, lacking tone and strength, but showing slight improvement. I crated him immediately to stop him from trying to run around and risk further injury. If I hadn’t done that last check before bed, I have no doubt he wouldn’t have made it through the night.

The Road to Recovery: Updates from the Crate

Day 2-5:

 I bought home some crepe bandage from work to splint the legs in the anatomical position, to help preserve function as much as possible (plastic propagation tags were very useful). I had lots of messages back and forth with my friend who’s a human hand physiotherapist. She reassured me not to rush into any decisions about the limbs — nerves take time to recover. She said to give it at least three months, as these kinds of injuries can continue to improve for that long. It was exactly the advice I needed to stay patient and optimistic. To stop him getting lonely, I rotated a friend from his litter in with him every 12 hours.

Propagation sticks were cut down and crepe applied to splint in the anatomical position.

Splinting the right leg in extension in the anatomical position.

Lenny and his litter companion crated together. Companions were rotated every 12 hours to keep Lenny company.

Day 5: Small Wins

Five days into crate rest and his left leg is much better — he can walk on it and bear weight. The right leg, however, is still quite paralyzed. But he’s eating, toileting, and generally being his determined little self.

Day 7: A Fighter’s Spirit

Today, he’s managing quite well on his good leg — even showing a flicker of extension in the bad one. Of course, the moment he starts feeling better, he wants to run, jump, and pick fights with his companion — not ideal, but a good sign his personality is intact!

Lenny about day 8 (checking him out with during splint changes), my hand physio friend thought he was doing well and keep going with the splinting and crating.

Day 16: Meet Lenny Today

And this is Lenny 16 days later. You would barely know anything had happened — apart from the occasional foot roll when he sits down or walks around a corner. I’m absolutely thrilled with his progress, and based on what my hand physio friend has told me, his recovery should continue to improve over the next few months. There’s every chance he’ll be completely back to normal.

Lenny day 16, sooooo much better although he falls over when going too fast but otherwise looks almost fully recovered.

The Happy Ending: Full Circle

A few months after Lenny was homed, I ended up selling a kitten to one of their friends — who happens to be a human neurologist. She absolutely loved Lenny’s story. In fact, she told me it reminded her of what’s called a "Saturday night palsy" — the type of nerve injury humans can get when they sleep awkwardly on their arm (usually while drunk, hence noticing it on a Sunday morning after a big night out!). And the best part? She said you wouldn’t even know now — Lenny has made a full recovery and is completely adored by his family.

Final Thoughts: You Can Never Be Too Careful

This whole experience has been a stark reminder that no amount of preparation can completely eliminate risk when you have inquisitive, fearless kittens exploring their world. Even a familiar piece of furniture can present a hazard you never considered.

Thankfully, this little guy had a happy ending — but it could have been very different. My advice? Never skip that final check at night, no matter how tired you are. Stay vigilant checking for hazards in your enclosures. Sometimes, it truly makes all the difference.

P.S. Photos and videos of Lenny’s progress included — because what’s a kitten recovery story without a few adorable (and slightly rebellious) moments along the way?

Lenny and his sibling enjoying the life of luxury in the house together towards the end of his recovery.

Have your kittens ever found trouble in the most unexpected places? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!