Hi! His knee was also dislocated. When a cat has a hind leg taken off, they tend to have the hardest time emotionally. Aww, that's so wonderful to hear Pam. Its important to keep your three-legged cat indoors only. The good news is that leaping is often easier for a cat missing a hindleg than jumping is, as most of the force is going in a forward motion rather than straight up. Gradually, over the next month, my little friend showed amazing recovery, physically and mentally. Mobility aids: Even four-legged pets can develop joint problems and lose strength and mobility as they get older. First things first. But the truth is that tripod kitties can be as happy and fulfilled as their four-legged brethren with the right kind of care. I stayed close by and spoiled her with more love and prayers than ever. Read this next: 8 Best Extra Large Litter Boxes. Cats missing a front leg often have no problem jumping to high surfaces. If your cat contracts cancer or gets hit by a car, a limb amputation might be the best way forward for her. Wed love to hear from you! While its easier for a tripod with both front legs to climb, a skilled three-legged cat with a missing foreleg can also pull herself up. It is very common for cats to opt not to bury when they feel secure so that is a possibility. He is being very good taking his medications (Buprenex & Onsoir). Block off areas where your tripod likes to jump high. Any advice?? Balance discs or wobble boards can help, too. I thanked God and knew that we were on the right path. Lastly, you'll want to help out in the most important area of all, neck and ear scratches! Prosthetics are ridiculously expensive apparently, Im not sure what to do here to relieve him of some of his muscular and joint burden. We have a regular vet and too many scheduled appointments and all of them said they couldnt take him. Tater recovered but the odds of finding a home for a black, three-legged cat were slim. Welcome to The Fluffy Kitty a cat travel and wellness blog inspired by our adopted cat, Yoda! I cant imagine him having the freedom to run around outside again without me supervising. My cat has had 3 legs for 2 years, still manages to kill a whole load of birds and bring them through the cat flap. After the other dog and owner left, I leashed up my dog and told him find and he did. We adore the little guy and make sure he plays and doesnt overeat. Three legged cats can use a litterbox, eat, groom themselves, run, play, sleep, and perform all the regular functions of four legged cats, although this adjustment process can take time. Erma regularly jumps from our coffee table to our couch without any problem. This is very painful and best done under sedation or anesthesia, so leave that work for the veterinarian. Read More Five Signs That Your Cat is OverstimulatedContinue, Everyone whos ever met a cat or two knows that every feline is different. However, injured cats must be approached slowly and carefully, because they may bite. Many tripod cat owners keep their tripods crated in a cat crate for the first month following the surgery. I hope your kitty made it through! Why Is My Dog Panting? Have you tried using toys to interact with them together? Some of how well they adjust depends on whether theyve lost a front or rear leg because their ability to balance is much different without that fourth leg. I hope he copes well if we have to proceed with amputation which I am already getting myself mentally prepared for. Today, that young kitten is named Thomas and is as lively and vibrant as any four-legged cat. So help me out! The family who had her previously didnt realize she had broken her leg, and by the time they took her to the vet, the leg had become irreparable. And hes a prime example of how vibrant a life three legged cats can have, as he continues to join us on our adventures around the world. Leaping onto a high place is a bit different from jumping even if they are in the same family of physical actions. I know that she depends on it for balance and that she gets the bare part on the carpet and blankets and litterbox. While recovery times vary according to the type of amputation, expect to provide lots of supervision and care. The cat uses its remaining three legs to support its weight and move itself forward. You would be surprised to know, the fastest cat in my home is the three-legged one missing her front left leg. The vet thinks it might be a while before his phantom limb sensation subsides, lets hop so! 10 Things to know about 3 Legged Cats Button and Taco 817 subscribers Subscribe 1.8K Share 154K views 7 years ago Cats will need time to adapt after losing a limb here are 10 things to know. Though they will be able to run, the ability to jump is something they have to get used to not doing. Life with three legs doesnt have to keep a 3-legged cat down. While there are a lot of things your little kitty can do largely on her own with enough time and patience, there are a few things that she'll have a bit of a harder time with without a bit of help on your end. We rescued an 8 week old kitten (we named her Java) We did the introductions as stated online, let her sniff the carrier first and thats when it went up in the air, she hissed and growled instantly which we expected as everywhere online says this is normal!! For example, you'll often see a 3 legged cat running about with no problem at all. Thanks for your comment tete1965. We dont say any of this to worry you. I was overjoyed when she brought her favorite toy to me, like she used to! My wife, the saint that she is, felt the need to want to take care of her, taking her to the vet to see what her options were. (Theyre also occasionally referred to as tripawds.). But in a flash, the cat seems to snap back to good health while youre left, Read More Treating Stomach Troubles in CatsContinue, Its not just people that are prone to obesity. I adopted a Bengal kitten whose right rear foot was chewed off by its mother. If youre facing the heart-wrenching decision of whether to amputate your current cat, are considering adopting an amputee or come across a cat who has lost or severely injured his leg, here are some ways to give tripod cats a leg up. (Just like our fluffy boy Yoda, who is a cat with back leg amputation. Once she has had time getting used to balancing and moving around on only three legs, youll be amazed at how well she will manage, with only a little help from her friends. But their owners almost uniformly have appreciated the extra time they had together. The entries here help. Or you can set up objects in ascending height that will allow her to gradually make her way up to the top. Again, not just because she could do it, but because she did it just as fast as any of the other cats there. Veterinarians have an arsenal of pain killing medicines to relieve pain. The younger the cat, the less likely it will become depressed or show signs of depression. Not only are they missing one for scratching, but they often can't use the other since they have nothing to balance themselves off of. She is active and fun of life, hasnt any problems getting around, but jumping is difficult. Try wobble boards and balance discs to help improve their 3-legged balance. A huge part of a cats life is running and jumping, both abilities will be hindered greatly. Thank you, my Randy boy had his right rear leg removed due to osteosarcoma. A cat missing a back leg may have trouble jumping from the ground to a high surface, but that doesnt mean she cant leap from one level surface to another. According to the latest research, all cats fall into one of five distinct, Read More Experts Reveal the Five Different Personality Types For Your CatContinue, Cats are one of the most popular pets for Americans. About two years ago, my wife had found a small stray kitten who, by a freak accident, had irreparably broken its hind leg. Depending on your care and love will be the final outcome of how long they are depressed. Recycled Newspaper Litter Posted on Last updated: February 27, 2023. I never heard of a mother chewing off her own kittens leg. If youre currently deciding whether your kitty should undergo amputation surgery, this may be a very emotional time for you. And advice would be appreciated. Hes just as fast as ever, and still a very happy cat. Try using a feather wand to encourage your cat to engage in meerkat-style moves. Let's see what we have below: Bingers Bootlegger Butterfinger Cappaw Chop Commander Kraken Flopper Frogger Gimpy Hiccups Hooks (referring to a Peter Pan character) Kanga-purr Legless Limpy Pitman Pawgo Skipper Smunky Stumpy Tango Three-wheeler I would actually find it beneficial for a family with children to adopt an amputee cat. For larger, heavier dogs, or for pets . When a cat is missing either back leg, they will struggle with basic day-to-day activity and will need added assistance. Hello, I have an almost 2 year old rescue cat (Bonnie), she had her front right leg amputated before we took her in and we helped her heel, she was 7 months old at the time. Leaping is even easier for a cat missing a front leg. Hes obsessed with keeping his animals healthy, happy, and even entertained. I heard quite a number of nasty comments such as Why would you want that? as if the cat was just a non-living thing to them. I have an awesome tripod guy ( missing front leg) he turned up on our street nearly 7 years ago missing his leg( no idea how it happened or where he came from, hes about 9 and was semi feral so had a hell of a job catching him) and all in all he has a great life, is faster and more agile than I could ever expect and far more affectionate than I ever thought possiable for a cat thats had such a hard life, he runs rigs around two dogs and another 2 rescue cats. I honestly did not think he would survive. As the cat ran away I could see he was injured. You can add MSM (sulfur) to his diet as well as bone broth (so long as his kidneys are healthy) which should help with pain and inflammation. Train the paperboy. About a year ago my cat had trauma to his back end, it paralyzed his tail, and bladder. Make sure you have at least two litterboxes and they have separate food and water bowls as well. Recently, there have even been developments in prosthetics for cats. Aiming to adopt a three-legged cat or adjusting to your existing cat's amputation? How Is A 3 Legged Cat Able To Walk? Feeling very proud and hopeful for his future! Owning a disabled animal can be difficult at times. It was very early and dark..maybe 5am. Since he will be learning to walk with 3 legs, we decided it was as good as any time to amputate his tail also. The little stump is continually whacking the floor, getting litter stuck, bleeding and I bet the nerves endings scream when she bumps it. Allowing them access to the outdoors puts them at risk. http://www.blurb.com/ebooks/634065-k-c-s-tale, I adopted my cat just over 7 months ago she was rescued with a very bad infection which led to her amputation of her front right leg she has been on 3 legs for just under a year now and some days she amazes me in what kind of trouble she can get into, I have had cats and dogs before and she can out run anything I have made my rental home accessible for her so she wouldnt have to climb stairs, jump high to get anything, over fill her litter box so she can get in and out easier but she still wants to be up high so I got her a kitty tree with steps so its easy on and off but she prefers to do what we call flying squirrel and jump from the basket on the very top (roughly 6ft) into the pile of laundry (roughly a 3ft drop) and then rolls in the pile of warm clean laundry I would so adopt another 3 legged cat or dog. It wasnt good. If you want to keep a bit of a hands-off approach (like myself), you may want to instead invest in a cat rail or stack some smaller boxes out to make their jumps more reasonably paced. Any help would be appreciated. The cat is very bright and escaping the kennel was just another adventure. Pingback: Purrkin is in CATSTER MAGAZINE | Purrkins. If a crate isnt available, try putting a shallow box on the floor under a coffee table and hanging a blanket over the table. Cats dont always like to share! Feeling emotional. The definition of tripod refers to a vessel resting on three legs. Adjust the height of food and water dishes. The amputated area or stump may continue to be a sensitive spot for your cat. He has no symptoms right now because we took the tumor off in January so it is especially hard taking a happy cat in for this surgery. Thanks for your comment, Nicola. Find out how to make your home accessible and care for your cat. For hind leg amputations, an epidural can be used to inject pain killers which will continue to be effective after the surgery is completed. When Rob arrived back in May, shelter staff quickly realized that he did not use one of his back legs and so he was sent to the veterinarian. Dont let a person hinder your thoughts of adopting an amputee cat. To help your tripawd feel extra comfortable, provide them with more than one way to get in/out of the box. His right shoulder had grown very swollen within a 2-3 week period, making me extremely concerned with the rate of growth. thefluffykitty.com (The Fluffy Kitty) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Chewy.com Partner Program. My mom has a few cat towers in the living room, and the first day I saw her leap up only to continue climbing all the way was astonishing. Yet cats are incredibly resilient. If taking your fur-friend further afield, we would recommend purchasing a harness for a 3 legged cat. Hes an inside kitty now. Although Bonnie was growling she wasnt attacking. But you must monitor them carefully. After all, if anyone ever suffers a disability such as a missing limb, it's to be expected that the quality of life is going to suffer to some degree. It attaches to the cat's leg with Velcro straps and the help of a silicone sleeve . It was Bubby the 3-legged cat -- he was en route to the very house where he once found kindness. Imagine a human with a crick in his or her neck, thats sort of the position. Jan 5, 2007 #2 trouts mom TCS Member Top Cat Joined Mar 4, 2006 Messages Every loss comes with different challenges you and your feline must face. Injured pets may bite, so approach carefully. Even one pound can impact how happy and mobile a tripod is, says Agredano. Monitor his behavior. Amputee animals often get overlooked at the shelters because people see them as special-needs. To inspire more people to adopt three-legged cats, the Tripawds Rescue Fund will reimburse owners up to $100 for the adoption or processing fee from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit shelter. Im so happy that I made the choice to give her a chance to come through this. I began to schedule gentle play time and she responded more and more! Java seems to be submitting to Bonnie which is good but for some reason, Bonnie is not accepting this behavior. It didn't take long for the tabby cat to steal Boyd's heart, and the feeling was mutual. Try using a feather wand to encourage your cat to engage in meerkat-style moves. His name is Stumpy :D, Pingback: Professional Guidance On The Best Ways To Take Care Of Your Pet womansingle1lance's blog, Pingback: Keeping Your Cat Active And In Shape A Little Bit About The Maltese As A Companion Dog, Pingback: Whatever You Might Potentially Want To Know About Cats! There is a chance he may have arthritis somewhere and it is causing stress on the remaining hind leg which would cause it to buckle. Limit movement and supervise or crate your tripod for the first month after surgery to protect her from additional injuries. My cat had to have one of his front legs amputated when he was only four. Only issue he has is cleaning his left eye which he loves me doing as he cant, There are a lot of very loving people out there, if it comes down to this, work with a no-kill shelter. He was rescued, but the damage was done. You can also get cat wipes to clean her backside off. He cant quite seem to get his grip and will reverse up and go in circles as he tries to find his balance. And the speed they bounce back from life-altering surgeries can be amazing. Tripods can climb. They adapt so much better than we do if we were faced with the same type of physical challenge.. The vet that did the surgery rearrange all of clients because this was critical and he was bleeding from the compound fracture and shard of bone. Depending on the leg that is missing, you may need to consider the furniture in your home. Although three-legged cats can do most things four-legged cats can do, they may need assistance in some areas. They don't necessarily need any additional veterinary care either. And these changes may indeed be permanent. Your fluffy kitty may also experience a form of phantom limb. My little 3 year old rescue, Olive, lost her leg to an animal attack. Welcome to our cat blog! Anyway, Im still trying to find his vet records, previous owner is not interested in cooperating..shes not very nice, but at 85 shes earned her buttons.anyway, I never thought of the things I see about the amputee stuff..good infowe do have accidents on hardwood floors with himand chosen cornerspee mostly. What it does mean is that they'll need to take things a bit slow at the start, whilst adjusting their mobility and they will be a bit more careful about what they're doing. Tripods must maintain a lean weight. We have a room where we keep the litter and food in general, but had to place a second litter box in another room because he seemed to pee there. But with a three legged cat, everything must be done with extra cautiousness and care. Have you brought up these issues with his vet? Be kind to cats or dogs. I love him so much from first sight his eye looked to me so I felt that he need me since he has also deformity in his right leg too. I adopted a three-legged cat about a year ago, and nothing about him says disabled. Everyone feels bad for him at first, then realizes theres no need! The Tripawds Foundation (the organizations charitable, nonprofit arm) offers an Amputation Surgery Assistance Program that pays up to $500 toward an amputation to eligible applicants. Which is why were so glad that youve taken the step to educate yourself on what life for tripod cats can look like. You can encourage it by watching him use the box and then helping him bury by gently using his paw to bury his pees and poos but he might not take to it. It goes without saying that adult cats who have grown up with four legs may take longer to adjust to an amputation than, for example, a younger cat. But many of their needs can be met with some owner ingenuity and plenty of love. So its important to keep them happy and active to keep those pounds off. But, I assure you they can still keep pace well enough when you're heading towards their food dish, and water bowls and things like cat lasers and strings can still have them bounding through the room like the furry devils they are. If it keeps bleeding, that is a risk for an infection. Bonnie may never truly bond with Java but she can learn and understand to share her territory. We fostered a kitten last summer who had to have his left rear leg amputated after a vicious dog attack. Best Products to Help Three Legged Dogs and Cats All prices include Free Shipping! im really scared when she gets to come out of the cage what he might do to her its been4 days now and no change in him should i be letting him in the room with her in the cage or im worried she will be nervouse with him in here. When she got older we did have to adapt a few things and give her a step to help her get to places she liked to lay. Today he is doing fair. To keep them comfortable, you may have to assist them with burying their pee and poop in the litter box. Cats recognize us and fellow housemates (other pets) by scent, not sight. They spent many years knowing their body and what it does and does not do. Balancing is an issue at first and you can help by moving the dishes to make eating easier. Though they are often the cats not adopted at shelters, with the right families, they go on to live incredibly interesting cat lives. Local anesthetics are used to block pain and discomfort for nerves which are cut during surgery. Make litter boxes with low sides for easy access. Lack of interest in things they once loved, Change in vocal behavior (no purring/meowing), Staying in one place for very long periods. On this blog, learn how to travel safely and responsibly with your adventure cat while living a more eco-conscious lifestyle. I just took my 9 year old boy kitty into the vet after noticing a fairly large lump on his left shoulder where he got vaccinated about 3 months earlier. Instead, place a folded towel or blanket under the animals broken limb for support and carefully lift the animal, Mohammad-Zadeh says. Keep a 3 Legged Cats Weight Controlled Maintaining a healthy weight and a daily exercise regime is important for cats, particularly as it will guard against joint problems such as arthritis. Same love. However its nothing thats not manageable, if youre committed to giving your kitty the best quality of life possible. The fact that shes missing a back leg seems to have no effect. If they struggle with using the litter box toilet, consider providing ramps for easy access, purchase a low-sided litter box, and be patient as they learn to cover, dig and clean themselves with three legs instead of four. Need added assistance without any problem ll often see a 3 legged running. Rear leg amputated after a vicious dog attack about with no problem at all the Fluffy kitty cat. Bad for him at first, then realizes theres no need, Mohammad-Zadeh says better than we if... 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The very house where he once found kindness read 3 legged cat next: 8 best extra Litter. Ago, and nothing about him says disabled missing either back leg amputation on your and... Issue at first, then realizes theres no need than ever a back leg.! And still a very happy cat their needs can be as happy and fulfilled as their four-legged brethren the! Legs to support its weight and move itself forward freedom to run, the less likely it will depressed! Home for a 3 legged cat with java but she can learn and understand to share her territory top... Adapt so much better than we do if we have a regular and. The damage was done i heard quite a number of nasty comments as! Way forward for her physically and mentally a mother chewing off her own kittens leg on updated... Well if we have a regular vet and too many scheduled appointments and all of them said they couldnt 3 legged cat.