Last Updated on March 22, 2020
Owning a disabled animal can be difficult at times. Every loss comes with different challenges you and your feline must face. When it comes to three-legged cats, however, these challenges depend very greatly on which leg it is they are missing. The age of the cat affects the emotional standpoint more than anything. You are reading this for one of three reasons… You are curious, you are considering adopting a three-legged cat, or your cat has recently become an amputee. Let’s look at the differences between age, front leg, and hind leg amputee cats.
Age
Depending on the age the cat had its leg removed will change how the cat initially reacts emotionally. The younger the cat, the less likely it will become depressed or show signs of depression. A kitten less than 4 months of age will have the quickest recovery mentally, emotionally, and physically. When a kitten is younger than 4 months, they are still learning all it takes to be a cat and they are young enough to not be invested in daily activity most cats enjoy, such as jumping high, scratching, and using the litter box normally. For a kitten over 4 months to 1 year in age, adapting to newer ways of doing things will be more of a challenge but rarely do they suffer emotional stress long-term. Then we have young adult cats, ages 2 to 5 years. These cats will have a hard time adjusting and will likely suffer from some kind of depression. Depending on your care and love will be the final outcome of how long they are depressed. Now for adult cats, ages 6 to 9 years, it is the same as the young adults, but with a greater chance of the cat losing interest in many things they used to enjoy. Elderly cats, 10 years and over, have the hardest time coping both mentally and physically. They spent many years knowing their body and what it does and does not do. More than half of the elderly felines who lose a leg become depressed and some do become severely depressed to the point of not eating. It is the owner’s responsibility as their feline family to help them any way they can through this process.
Front Leg Amputee
When a cat is missing either front leg, they typically get on really well with basic life. Problems that can arise are covering their messes in the litter box, scratching their front nails, and general climbing. As stated above, everything varies greatly on the age. You will need to make sure their front nails are clipped on a regular basis to keep them from snagging items in the house. You will have to watch what kind of toys you allow them to play with for that same reason. To keep them comfortable, you may have to assist them with burying their pee and poop in the litter box. This may not sound appealing to some, so the self-cleaning litter pans are always an option. As for climbing and general playing, they will adjust to getting around. They did not lose their ability to jump, run, or even attempt to climb things. You would be surprised to know, the fastest cat in my home is the three-legged one missing her front left leg. She is also great at jumping and general playing. To her, life with three legs is normal.
Back Leg Amputee
When a cat is missing either back leg, they will struggle with basic day-to-day activity and will need added assistance. Problems that can arise are using the litter box, jumping, and back pain. When a cat has a hind leg taken off, they tend to have the hardest time emotionally. A huge part of a cat’s life is running and jumping, both abilities will be hindered greatly. Though they will be able to run, the ability to jump is something they have to get used to not doing. This is where the importance of steps and reachable areas they enjoy, such as windows, are very important. Areas such as beds, sofas, and windows will have to have pet stairs by them to keep the cat from harming itself. Back issues usually come into play from the cat still attempting to jump. All of a cat’s power to jump is in the hind legs, most cats never learn how to jump with only one back leg. They often become depressed from this and hind leg amputees have the worst cases of depression.
If you are considering adopting an amputee cat…
They will likely already have a system down and you will have to learn to adjust to it. Depending on the leg that is missing, you may need to consider the furniture in your home. You will want them to be as comfortable as possible and keep the injury risk as low as possible. Don’t worry about other cats or even dogs treating a three-legged cat any differently. They aren’t as shallow as us humans! They likely won’t even notice the difference.
If your cat has recently become an amputee cat…
You have to be there for them and love them. That is the most important thing. Second to that comes adjusting through the process with them. Assisting them when they need it, and using your best judgment of their overall emotional state.
SIGNS OF DEPRESSION IN CATS
You may be worried that an amputee cat is depressed, here are some signs to look for:
- Lack of appetite
- Not drinking
- Using the litter box less or not at all
- Not cleaning themselves
- Hair loss, hair pulling
- Lack of interest in things they once loved
- No interest in playing with you
- Change in vocal behavior (no purring/meowing)
- Staying in one place for very long periods
If you are concerned about feline depression, read about the most common signs here: 6 Signs of Feline Depression so you will know what to do next.
Don’t let a person hinder your thoughts of adopting an amputee cat. 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. Amputee cats are still cats, they just need extra love from the people around them. I would actually find it beneficial for a family with children to adopt an amputee cat. Teaching them differences on the outside don’t change what is on the inside. Four legs, three legs, even two legs… A cat is a cat all the same. Compassion, love, and understanding is what they need and something we all need a little more of in this world.
My Enzo had a front leg amputated 7 months ago. He’s recently developed a runny eye on the same side as the amputation. I’m thinking it’s because he can’t groom like he used to. Does anyone else have this problem or any helpful advice?
Thanks for your comment Laura. Cats are like humans in that they have a dominate working “paw” (right hand/left hand). If his dominant front leg was removed, this could certainly change his grooming habits. He may have an irritated tear duct which can be from lack of proper grooming on his face. Anything from litter to dust can cause irritation. If it is not clear fluid, he should be seen by a Vet asap as there could be an infection. If it is clear, you can help him by using a warm wet washcloth (no soap) and gently cleaning his face every day. There is a chance he may have had an accident and poked his eye as well.
I know I’m late to this discussion but my boy Oli lost his front leg a year ago today. The last week he’s been acting like he’s just lost it again? I don’t know what to do, he keeps having freakouts when he was fine a few weeks ago. He hisses at everyone in the house and meows like he’s dying, won’t let us touch him and moves his body like something out of the exorcist trying to get away from the leg that isn’t there anymore…is it an anniversary thin??
Thanks for your comment Lizi. He could be having phantom limb pain. This would explain why he freaks out. He is feeling pain where his leg once was and it is confusing him and is likely very uncomfortable. All cats react to pain differently just like humans. How old is he?
Hello, I have a female tripod, back leg missing, because of a birth defect. Or a mutated gene, in my own opinion. She is 10 and I think some backbisdues are now happening. She’s still eating, drinking, and moving around. But when I go near her back toward the tail she gets mad. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
Thanks for your comment Kathleen. It sounds like she may have developed some arthritis or may have a minor sprain. It is hard to tell without having this be examined. In most cases, this is a typical reaction to pain. Hindleg amputees have a harder time jumping (all weight is forced on one leg) and this can lead to strains and other injuries. Because she is an older adult, it is best she gets checked out by a Vet to make sure it is nothing serious. Until then, limit her running and jumping best you can. You can offer her an electric heating pad to lay down on. Just be sure it has an auto-off setting built in, you keep the heat setting on low, and you only let her use it under supervision (unplug it when not in use).
Hi my 4 year old cat became a back leg amputee in August 2017 so its only been 5 months. Shes not the brightest cat and gets into silly situations. She wont use the litter tray and prefers the floor not really an issue as its on a hard floor. She has periods where she looks like shes in pain, her walk seems a lot more ‘hoppy’ and she just appears to be sore. I would like to know what I could do to help her. I have 2 other cats as well, they always jump on her playfully but she gets very grumpy. Now she tries to avoid them as much as she can. She still very loving towards us and our dogs. The year before she was in the vets with a broken front shoulder. I am concerned that her shoulder injury gives her jip now she has all the extra strain of the missing leg. Do you have any suggestions? x Thank you in advance 🙂
Hi! I recently adopted a young adult cat that was hit by a car and had his left hind leg amputated. He seems to be doing well eating drinking etc. There are 2 concerns is seems when he urinates it is next to the litter box not in it & I don’t know what to do. The second is when he needs to poop he goes in the litter box but because he lost the entire leg it seems he has difficulty getting it to drop and then rubs his behind on the floor to get it off. I don’t know what to do to help him or if it will perhaps rectify itself as he is only about 2 months into being 3 legged. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your comment Megan Young. This can take some time. He is young so he will need to find his way. Hind leg amputation takes longer to adjust to as well. I recommend trying a low wall litter box that is larger in size. You can put a plastic lid or mat down under the litter box to make accidents easier to clean up. The issue with his poop can be down to stress. He may be constipated which is making it harder for him to fully release when going. You can see if he enjoys coconut oil (virgin) and if he does, feed him a small spoon of that daily to loosen his stool a bit.
Thank you! I will try that!
I live in the Houston area, and am the new mom of a 6 week old Harvey refugee kitten. He is missing one of his back legs, and we have no idea how he lost it. The vet said it was not infected, but he gave us some ointment for irritation. We have hard wood floors, and his leg is missing below the knee joint. When he rounds a corner or looses traction he hits that short leg and causes it to bleed a little. I was thinking of fashioning some kind of pad to use on the leg, but he keeps taking any bandages off. Any advice on what we can do? He also will use the litter box, but the litter gets stuck to his place on his leg. I appreciate any help I could get. Thanks
Thanks for your comment Nami. Is the leg still in the healing process? Unfortunately, if you cover it up he will continue to rip whatever you use off or it will prolong the healing and cause itching. Since he is still quite young, it is best to keep him in his own room for the time being. Do you have any clean carpeted rooms or maybe a room you can put down a full area rug?
As for the litter, you can try switching him over to a paper based litter. This will make sure he doesn’t get an infection in there or any irritation. Once he is healed up and more stable on his feet, you can switch back to normal littler. I recommend Purina’s Yesterday’s News (http://amzn.to/2xXCg5F) and since he is a younger age, he shouldn’t have any issues using it.
I wish I could be of more help but he is going to have to go through the process of adjusting. Just make it easy as possible for the little guy.
He wouldn’t have happened to have a brother with the same amputation would he?
Hello there. I have a 4yo rescue (neutered) cat (Teddy) who is missing half of one of his back legs – I adopted him 2 years ago. I was told by the shelter that he was born this way. He can run, jump (to a certain height – the vet has told me to keep it to a metre), play with no problems and is actually very playful. When I asked the shelter if he was okay to be left alone all day (I work full-time), they said “Yes, he’s best without another pet in the house too”. However, he was living with a bunch of blue heelers and other cats for most of his life and now seems a bit lonely. He’d been adopted a couple of times but always returned as he was “too shy”. I don’t know who decided that because he’s certainly not shy with me, or any of my friends! He’s actually the loveliest, friendliest, most talkative and most affectionate cat I’ve ever known. Anyway, back to the loneliness… I used to have a student housemate (who was studying to be a vet) so Teddy had good company for at least a few hours each day while I was at work. I now live on my own and I can tell from the look on his face each day when I leave for work (along the lines of “OMG, again???? Really???”) and also the neediness when I get home that he’s a bit lonely. He has a cat tree, lots of toys and we have a play session for at least half an hour each evening but I really think he’s missing the company. He’s an indoor-only cat because of the leg and I can tell he longs to go outside as he’s always trying – am in the process of looking for a pet enclosure for the balcony. However, I often wonder if I should have another pet so they could keep each other company. I recently saw a female kitten up for adoption who is missing one of her front paws. I’d love to give her a go but keep remembering what the shelter said about him being an “only cat”. What are your thoughts please?
Thanks for your comment Teddy’s Slave. This really comes down to the personality. Given that he is a male, I would get another male. Females tend to be more territorial instinctively. You do not need to get another special needs cat but I would recommend only adopting a kitten (young male) or an older male who is fine with other cats. The issue with adopting another special needs cat is that they do tend to feel more threatened so you will end up with two shy cats who do not know how to act in front of one another. You can also adopt a specific breed as well. Some breeds are very passive in nature such as the Ragdoll or the Birman. Those tend to be expensive but that is just another option I figured I would suggest. I would contact a shelter and see if they have any young kittens available (males) and go that route. Kittens tend to get along with other cats and even dogs the easiest. There is also less of a chance Teddy will feel threatened or get hurt. See if they will allow you to run a trial period to make sure Teddy is okay with the kitten being around. This way, if he gets upset, they will take the kitten back and find him a new home. Be sure to also have 2 litter boxes so there is no issue with territory. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks so much for the advice, greatly appreciated. 🙂
No problem, I hope it works out for you and Teddy 🙂
I don’t agree with that. I don’t feel he deserves to be alone because he’s an amputee. I would most definitely get the other cat if your wanting to give her a happy home. Could turn out to be two of the happiest cats ever! Good Luck to you and kitty!
Need some advice guys, I have a beautiful black cat, he is truly amazing!!! He is 17 yrs old and has developed a cancer in his tail,he is also blind, this just happened this past year, he is strictly indoors, his vet says that he will need to have it amputated, he really looks phenomenal for his age, my baby is very healthy and happy, the vet states that because of his health, she would recommend the surgery, he will need labs due to his age, my concern is that he is blind and he is 17, I am more concerned with his quality of life, he means the world to me and my family, I just want to do what is right for him, nor anyone else, he is a male with a very long tail, I have read that older Kitty’s have extreme issues with amputation, does this include the tail, really need some advice from some of my cat lovers out there, if he were younger and not blind, this would not even be an issue, I just want what is best for my boy, thanks guy’s for your help!!!!
Thanks for your comment Sandra. Amputation of the tail doesn’t effect walking or jumping directly, but indirectly. The tail is used for balance. When a cat needs amputation of the tail for whatever reason, they will have issues balancing without it but they will learn. Now I am not sure how this will effect your cat emotionally or physically but if amputating his tail means he will continue to have a healthy and happy life, it is likely more worth it. I wish I could be of more help to you,
Thank you so very much for your reply, this response helped me in realizing that the choice to have my big beautiful boys tail removed was in his best interest, I have noticed that his balance is a little wobbly, but he is adapting beautifully considering the fact that he is 17 yrs old and blind!!!! He is so strong, healthy for his age, for that, I thank the good LORD!!!! I am so grateful for your support and help, this forum is amazing, again, thank you so very much!
Thank you for the update, and I am glad I could help. Amen 🙂
Are you serious? Your cat is blind already and can’t see what it’s doing and you’re going to go ahead and completely throw its balance off and cut off the tail at 17? You people are really sick
Nobody removes a tail for no reason.. “and has developed a cancer in his tail”
I’m sorry!
I don’t know how THIS Comment made it through ‘Moderation’ . . .
Because quite honestly, I think the above response ‘IS SICK’!
NOT The People who S/He attempts to make reference to . . . But the ‘Comment’ itself & Perhaps the author, as well!
The more I think of it … The author isn’t quite ‘Right’ – Spewing replies such as that, to Individual’s who are struggling with serious Issues surrounding their Cats!
Shame on her/him!
CptKD ⚖
You did the right thing for your baby! We as fur baby parents have to decide and make these terrible decisions and look how well his is doing. He will probably get quite a few more years now to love you and you love him! Apparently someone negative below was what sounded to me like a suggestion of you putting the cat to rest. Very much shame on that person! I’m proud of you and very happy to hear that your boy is doing well! Good luck, Heather
Thanks for your comment Chloe. Unfortunately, surgery of any kind can be stressful for a cat just like it can be for a human. Since she has had several in a short period of time, it can be affecting her appetite. She may be in pain or have an upset stomach. It is best to get her in to her vet to be looked over. Dehydration is the main concern for cats who are refusing to eat as they get most of their fluid from their diet. This is why feeding cats wet food is important. Is she on a dry only diet? If so, you can try offering her canned food. If she already is on canned food, you can try something more appealing like Fancy Feast. The best thing you can do is just comfort her and love her through it. She is still young enough and it is rare for a cat her age to just give up completely. Very sorry that she is going through this and I know hard hard it must be on you. I pray she recovers quickly.
My 11 yr old cat had her left foreleg amputated 3 weeks ago, she has already had her right eye removed,so at a disadvantage, and last week had dental extractions….initially after amputation op appeared to be coping but between the op and dental noticed 3rd eyelid up and seems to be very depressed and down….emergency vet visit yesterday for fluids and steroid jab as dehydrated and lethargic, on returning home she did eat but today has refused every kind of food temptation offered, am so worried about her, due to return to vet on Wednesday but seriously thinking about calling to get her in tomorrow…its like shes totally given up…has anyone experienced this, any advice would be appreciated, many thanks
My cat Luna was hit by a car last night fracturing her right back leg and splitter her pelvis. I want to give her, her best shot possible. Worst case scenario I will go with amputation but right now repair is the plan. Vets have given me an estimate of approximately $7000. I know this isn’t relevant but I need advice on financial assistance. I’ve been researching online but none of this makes sense to me. I’m so overwhelmed with it all and just need a little
Bit of guidance . Please! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/977b293655c77dca9cf861ab9f76185c67e60e4665524119287b50ed1bd65a43.jpg
Thanks for your comment Harlot. I am sorry to hear your cat has to suffer going through this. My first cat had a shattered hind-leg and the nerve was still active so the doctor put a pin in it instead of amputation. The cost was very high even back then. I hope she is able to recover without it coming to that.
As for finical concerns, look for local shelters and animal care facilities that offer assistance. Many do and can sometimes cover half the cost or more. Some no-kill shelters may be willing to help as well. You can start up a Go Fund Me page for her and share it on Facebook and other social media platforms. I have seen many pets get proper care and financial help doing so. I hope you can find someone to help you out. I wish your kitty a speedy recovery.
call around to different vets – we found a huge range in prices – the one vet that we chose had a very fancy vet office in a posh neighborhood – she actually did the whole surgery for 450 dollars – I would have thought because her office is so fancy and the clientele was definitely an upper-class clients that she would have been the most expensive
my cat is almost 9 and he has bone cancer in his rear leg, we do not know what kind because I’m afraid to do a biopsy as they said it could break his bone which would mean immediate amputation, and I’m not ready to make that decision, he is not even acting sick yet! His other leg has the beginnings of hip displasia, he also has heart disease so amputation in itself could be risky although the vet says he will use meds that are not as likely to cause problems with his heart, he is recommending amputation, and I’m scared to death of what he might have to deal with for his last years (if they are even that long because of his heart issue). he has no pain and is acting completely normal, we found this by accident because they were looking for asthma in his lungs (which he also has), and checking for GI disease because he gets bloody stools. with so many issues, I’m reluctant to get his leg taken off and make his quality of life go down when he may not even have much longer to live for all I know. One of my biggest problems is that we have a dog that likes to play with the cats, and snuggle’s defense is that he will run away, jump up on furniture, he can’t do that if he doesn’t have both or even one good healthy rear leg! and I worry also about the litterbox, does anyone have experience with this, are they able to balance to use the bathroom ok? he already has trouble with bowel movements, strains to go so I am worried this will make it worse. this is a really tough decision!! thanks for your help!!
Thanks for your comment Sherri. I had a cat as a child who’s back leg was completely shattered. The vet wanted to amputate but thankfully his nerve was still showing he had feeling. Instead of amputation, he put in a metal rod. That may be an option you can look in to. I can’t remember what the procedure was called as I was only 11 at the time. I know amputation in older cats can be stressful so I understand your concerns about that. Even if he is not showing any signs of pain, he could still be in pain. You can try adding MSM (sulfur) to his diet and see if that improves anything for him. Sulfur is 100% safe for all animals and humans. Often times, horse owners give it to their horses to keep their muscles and bones strong. I gave it to my German Shepherd who was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and it helped him for awhile. It also helps with regulating the bowel so it would likely help his bowel movements go more smoothly. You can speak to the vet if you would like to about that first. If you have any other questions, or I didn’t answer something for you, please feel free to leave another comment.
Two days before Thanksgiving we found a cat who couldn’t use her front leg. We had seen her about 2 weeks prior and she was fine. It turns out that she had been shot. Once with what the vet assumed was a .22 and they also found a BB. We took her in and she became our tripod kitty…yesterday. This is something new for us. It was a front leg amputation. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for your comment Christine. I am very happy you decided to take her in as your own! I took care of a front leg amputee cat for a few years. They do have an easier time adjusting compared to a back leg amputee but you will still have to make sure she is able to freely access everything until she has it all figured out. The litter box seems to be the biggest issue. Be sure to use a low front entrance litter box that isn’t closed off. There is a good chance you will have to help her bury her messes. Just check the box a few times a day and use a scooper to cover it. This is something you may need to do for her for the rest of her life. Some cats never figure out a way to bury their messes and part of their instinct is to make sure the smell is contained. This can become frustrating for her. Another option would be to use an automatic litter box and cleans by itself to insure everything it getting covered for her. It is really up to you. For now, get a feel for her personality, what she likes and doesn’t like, and just show her all kinds of love. After she is recovered enough, encourage her to play but be gentle. She will tire out easily. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!
Thank you for the info! We did build her a ramp for the litter box! ? She is doing very well and is getting used to using the box. She does well digging an area to go in. She is trying to figure out how to cover, but is content when we cover it for her. She is quite the luv bug.
That is very good! Some cats are able to pick up on new routines with little effort. It sounds like she will be just fine mentally and emotionally. Oh, and one thing the vet may not have told you is you have to watch her nails. Since she only has one front paw, she can easily get caught on something and not be able to get out of it or get it off. Keeping them trimmed is a good idea. The one I was taking care of loved playing in my net hamper but she always got her nails caught in it so I had to get rid of it.
Another thing is to keep an eye on her teeth. When a cat has one of its front leg’s amputated, they can sometimes have a hard time jumping down from places. Your kitty will easily be able to jump onto your bed or kitchen table, ect. and she won’t think anything of it, but she will have to re-learn how to land when jumping down. She’ll be pretty unbalanced in the beginning and may smash her face into the ground a few times before she gets it. So just keep an eye out for a bloody nose and chipped teeth. Cats are pretty resilient, she’ll do fine!
Thank you for your comment Meowdith. This is also a very good point which is why it is important to use stairs and stationed stepping areas throughout your home. Places that cats may enjoy laying that are a bit higher up like near windows, on beds, and high sofas.
4th July weekend, 2016, we found the smallest little kitten, about 3weeks old and weighed less than a half a pound.. it was a hot day and found him lying under our car, naturally I went up to him to say hello, and appon reaching him I realized his hind leg was completely shattered (bone and meat sticking out) I burst into tears trying to imagen how hurt he must be, but he kept looking at me meowing and purring.. I took him home that night.. ofcourse no vet was open that weekend, so the next morning I thought for sure that he was not going to survive, he could no longer move, meow or purr, and had maggets all over his leg, he just lay there helplessly.. luckily a very kind lady in town help us, she took a look, when straight to a pair of scissors, heated them and amputated his leg, there was no other way to save him and he would not have made it another day.. that night I took him home again, he jumped right out of his box and started to explore his new home, I couldn’t believe my eyes.. he was the toughest little kitten I’d ever laid eyes on.. he is now 4months old and so full of life, he runs as fast as a bullet, jumps and plays.. I feel that he is more active than most cats I have met.. this cat has brought so much happiness and hope into my life and I thank God everyday for him..
Thanks for your comment Tasha and sharing that wonderful story 🙂 I am very happy there are people in the world like yourself and that lady who help animals like this in need.
Thanks for your comment Tasha and sharing that wonderful story ? I am very happy there are people in the world like yourself and that lady who help animals like this in need.
Our girl had to have her Ry back leg amputated 9 days ago. She is still on pain med but I have 1 concern, she has episodes when she goes backwards quit voilently at times. She meows like she has no control. The best was to describe this would be if some tried to pick her up by her tail and pulled her backwards. She cuddles, is eating and jumping up on furniture. I just hope it’s something that will pass. Any advice?
Thank you for your comment Jill. How old is she? This sounds like it can be a case of phantom limb. She may be feeling her leg there but not actually being able to put weight on it so it freaks her out. Does this happen right after she had been asleep? Humans experience this and say they get tricked into believing they have their leg, hand, arm, ect and go to use it only to remember it isn’t there. As long as she is eating, playing, purring, and so on I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Just be sure to adjust with her. Adding stepping areas to her favorite spots, making sure she can use the litter box easily, and so on. I would advise making sure she doesn’t over jump or jump too much. Since it is her back leg, half of her jumping strength is gone. I hope she adjusts well to this. Be sure to give her lots of love.
Sorry in my post above the 3rd line should sat ‘front paw’ not ‘frontage’ – can’t see to edit
We have a front leg amputee cat -I found him whist walking my dogs in the middle of winter abandoned on Cannock Chase. He has a front leg amputation at the scapula and a pin in his other frontage – as well as a tatty ear and lots of scar tissue round his ribs suggesting they too were broken. The vet says his pin isn’t a great job and as a result he walks awkwardly on the remaining front paw – he can’t really straighten it and to sit he defaults to his back paws only – like a meerkat ! He was very weak when we found him and both I and the vet wondered if he would survive. He did and we have now had him almost four years. It took him 18 months to be confident enough to go outside – but now he loves to potter around the garden and sit in the sun. He can’t really climb so can’t get out of our garden but is well able to jump onto a sofa or bed – but landings can be heavy as the pinned front paw does not absorb shock on landing properly. The dogs are fine with him and he with them .He is a lovely little cat – I wish he could tell me about his clearly eventful life but I am so pleased we found him and with patience given him a new life.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your cat’s story Maxine. I think it is very important that people see stories like this to know that cats can have happy and fulfilled lives in spite of missing a leg. I am happy you were patient and loving with him. I am sure he has a wonderful life now.
I must disagree with one thing: that a hind-leg amputee will *never* learn to jump with one back leg. You should see my 11-week-old kitten in motion. She’ll amaze you. She was born to the outdoor stray I’d fed all winter and suffered some accident when days old, possibly umbilical in nature, that took off part of her right hind foot and left her with a stump.
The first day she really tried to keep up with her brothers, I was worried; she wasn’t able to do what they did, and the look on her face as she watched then careening around was so painful. She’d try, fail, and just scream in frustration. But by the end of that day, she’d figured it out all on her own, and now?
She’s the hardest to catch (but comes when she’s called), is very speedy and quick to dodge and shift direction, and she jumps and rappels up the sides of things faster and more gracefully than her four-footed brothers. They actually look clumsy next to her. I’ve seen her jump in the air, taking off from the one good foot. Maybe not all of them will adapt as well as she has, but she bears the name of a greek goddess (Olympia) and she has the strength, bravery and capability to go with it.
Thanks for your comment Jeanne. I stated that “most” will never learn, not all. I took care of a cat for about 2 years that had 3 legs and she was the fastest cat in the house. They learn to do things on their own and sometimes they end up doing things better. It is different for a kitten to adjust than it is for a full grown cat. She was a kitten when she got her leg amputated like yours. Kittens are in a learning process so adapting to new things is not as hard, but for a cat who has been set in his or her way for many years, this is way the “most never learning” comes from. I can assure you I know that 3 legged cats can move, jump, play and do anything a cat with all legs can and in some cases do things better. It is very important for you to caution your cat as she gets older. Slowing her down a bit. The reason I say this is because as she ages, the stress of jumping on only one hind leg will hinder the joints and could easily damage them. Older cats in general tend to slow down but the ones that do not are more likely to suffer injuries. It is good she plays and wants to do everything like a cat should but feline amputees are still special needs pets and you have to consider her future. Using steps and other items now as an option will help her adjust as she gets older. One day it will be a lot harder for her to jump and you can’t imagine how depressing that day will be for her. I have an older cat with all his legs and he uses steps to get on my bed. He can’t jump good so I give him options to access areas I know he enjoys and this keeps him happy. I am glad you have a positive outlook on her life, but please just consider her future.
How do i help my very very old cat who had her hind leg amputate 4 days ago, make a poo in her litter box – how should I hold her to help? when I hold her she urinates – or is she still constipated from anaesthetic?
Thanks for your comment Serna. Stress can cause constipation in a cat just like it does in a human. Between the anesthetic and the stress of losing her leg, she will likely have minor blockage. Make sure she is eating and drinking normal and getting exercise to encourage bowel movements. Unfortunately, most cats like to be in privacy when going number 2 so she may not allow you to help her. Use a shallow litter box with minimal litter until she can figure out how to adjust. Since cats typically squat back on their hind legs, it is going to take some adjusting and getting used to. She may miss the box or go on herself so keep wipes handy. If she allows you to help, you can gently hold a towel under her belly for support when she goes but it is important she learns to do this on her own. You wont be able to be there every time she needs to go.
I am considering adopting a 20 month old female tripod. She recently had her back leg removed. I have an 18 year old female cat and a 15 year old male cat. I do not want to disrupt their lives but I really want to adopt her. My male is somewhat aggressive. Any advice?
Thanks for your comment Lori. Being that these cats are older, there is a good chance you would not have anything to worry about but you have to approach this with three things in mind. One being that your current cats will need to be cared for the exact same way by means of food, treats, and attention. Two is that you prepare yourself for the new cat. She recently lost her back leg and it is going to take time for her to cope physically, mentally, and emotionally. Three is that you never show favoritism. This can be hard because she will be a special needs cat. As far as your cats are concerned, they own your home and bringing someone new in the picture may very well upset them. I would get a second litter box if you don’t have two already which will help cut back on possible upsets. In the event things do not work out for her in your home, please be sure to have someone lined up who can take her. I would never advice anyone to adopt a special needs cat without a backup person in case something goes wrong. I hope this helps 🙂