Invest in some baby whipes and wipe her butt after she uses the litter box to prevent infections. We have a 12 year old male cat who had a left hind leg amputation last year. Share. Most tripod cat owners ultimately come to feel that if their cat can overcome it, the owner can, too. If you want your cat to spend time outdoors, teach her to walk with a harness and leash, or construct a cattery to enable your cat to enjoy the outdoors safely. The fact that she's missing a back leg seems to have no effect. You can also give Feliway spray a try. 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. Prepare to become a local legend. Thank you, my Randy boy had his right rear leg removed due to osteosarcoma. Our very own fluffy boy Yoda is a tripod cat. So keep an eye on this spot! Keep indoors. Same love. How long does she have to remain in the cage for? For example, if it was due to a car accident, there may be lingering feelings of distress to deal with post-surgery. 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. I guess my question is, the other cats are whole and use the litter box fine, we dont want to have boxes all over the place..Ebony doesnt bury his wastecould that be because of the amputation? In the Tripawds Discussion Forum for Three-Legged Cats, Molly's mom @molmol shared the Goldilocks process to find the right litter box for her new Tripawd kitty. A cat wouldn't say that. Were on day 3. It hurt so much to have this happen. As the cat ran away I could see he was injured. Read this next: 8 Best Extra Large Litter Boxes. This helps to protect them from more injuries. So there you have it the essentials of tripod cats, including how to help your cat adapt to being three legged after a limb amputation. Your post gives me hope that, with some patience and lots of love, he can come out of this! We recently adopted a two month old hind leg amputee female kitten. Provide a lift. But very healthy. Elderly cats, 10 years and over, have the hardest time coping both mentally and physically. The key is to create a spot where your cat can heal but you still have access. They can be happy on three legs. says Rene Agredano, cofounder of Tripawds.com, which provides information, resources and support to owners of three-legged pets. If you feel overwhelmed, hire an accredited rehabilitation therapist to help teach you and your tripod how to build strength and protect the three legs remaining. Reasons Include Injury, Disease, And Why the Loss of a Pet Is So Challenging & Do You Really Want a Ferret? He may be sensing her distress as well and he is becoming upset over it. A litter box with stairs. flickr.com Trip Tria Trinidad Trinity Tres (Spanish for three) Triathlon Speedy Dochas Gimpy Trio Vietnam Star Humpback Skip Mittsu (Japanese for three) Hopper Triforce Feather wands are perennial favorites which cats adore. We usually just call him "Ass", though, because.he kind of is. Currently edited by. Any help would be appreciated. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was Bubby the 3-legged cat -- he was en route to the very house where he once found kindness. Amputee cats are still cats, they just need extra love from the people around them. This is due to their increased difficulty in escaping hazardous situations (such as other cats, dogs, cars, or other wildlife). Pingback: Keep Your Cat Purring For Several Years With These Tips. Cats dont always land on all fours (or threes), and tripods are at risk for additional injuries. Team Tripod is a three legged cat rescue and advocacy group. He has cancer and the prognosis is good if we remove his leg. Hes obsessed with keeping his animals healthy, happy, and even entertained. Have you brought up these issues with his vet? My niece adopted a three-legged shelter cat that is young and very active. Weve been searching for some advice; there are pretty scant resources online, oddly. She helped me learn some important lessons about tripod kitties. Ray Pinsent, who happened to be in the neighborhood, recognized the cat right away as he knew of the beautiful bond between the late man and his faithful cat. Knowing cats behaviors and personalities it would be "You summoned me slave". They also prefer to recuperate alone. Provided they are given proper love, care, attention, and affection by their pet parents, a cat with three legs can live a life just as fulfilling and engaging as its four-legged counterparts. I hope your kitty made it through! after that Java was in the kitchen for the 1st 2 weeks with me working in there with her all day whilst Bonnie (tripod) had run of the house and my partner who works upstairs was company for her, we did the slow introductions after 2 weeks and used the baby gates to separate them. Nine years ago, this stray, three-legged cat walked into a man's kitchen asking to be loved. All of a cats power to jump is in the hind legs, most cats never learn how to jump with only one back leg. Analgesics, such as morphine and its derivatives are usually injected or administered with a patch on the cats skin before surgery to block pain. SOMEWHAT GROSS! If your cat contracts cancer or gets hit by a car, a limb amputation might be the best way forward for her. Any advice?? Tripods can leap. She gets along with two other cats and a small dog and has very few limitations. This is a dedicated space for dogs and cats who have had a leg amputation, and has loads of free resources for you to dive into. Most pet stores seem to carry that but if you cant find it, it is available on Chewy.com. Use floor protectors, cheap rugs, old towels, heavy-duty . As we mentioned before, your kitty could turn to comfort eating during their adjustment to having three legs. That's s Texas sized 10-4. Being a care giver to a normal cat is also not as easy as you think it is. 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. Other changes may be simple shifts to help your kitty regain their stability and confidence. Feeling emotional. Theyre called tripod cats or tripods. Block off high areas in your home where your cat likes to jump. It took me months to get close to her but then the cat flu came through the feral colony. I'm more of a "let them enjoy the wild" type of guy. A lot of cat owners associate overstimulation in their feline companions with too much petting. 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. This initial period of time can be very distressing for both the cat and the owner. It is Monday, three days after, and he is purring, drinking, and eating. There are also tripods with a leg which had to be amputated when cancer or other serious illness developed. ), Hello Find out how to make your home accessible and care for your cat. Take a look at The Kitty Holster which even suits cats who have undergone a front leg amputation. If youre currently deciding whether your kitty should undergo amputation surgery, this may be a very emotional time for you. There will be differences in caring for a three legged cat. Only issue he has is cleaning his left eye which he loves me doing as he cant, Monitor his behavior. Age Depending on the age the cat had its leg removed will change how the cat initially reacts emotionally. We adore the little guy and make sure he plays and doesnt overeat. Dont let the cost of surgery sway you to make a painful decision, like euthanizing or surrendering your cat, instead of amputating his leg. Before our cat was unceremoniously eaten by, Read More 10 Amazing Gifts for High Tech Cats and Their HumansContinue, Every cat owner recognizes the warning signs of an upset feline stomach: the mournful meow, gagging and heaving retch. Sorry for the late reply, Tammie. It was suggested to put her down . Our goal is for every tripod cat to have a happy and loving home. 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. Then we tested the waters and Bonnie (tripod) started growling and smacking her instantly. My 10-year-old orange-and-white patched tabby Erma was born with all four legs but lost a hind leg as a kitten. There were so many days that I cried for Olive and the loss of her sweet, playful nature. One morning I took the dog out. NO!! Go Shop . Overstimulation is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, which is to say, being overwhelmed by some kind of stimulus. But their owners almost uniformly have appreciated the extra time they had together. Be committed to keeping your tripod indoors forever. If youre completely new to the world of tripod cats, you may want to check out the Tripawds community. 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. You could say that "jumping" is a vertical propelling into the air whereas "leaping" is meant to be horizontal. I just wanted to let your know that she will probably adapt just fine. He was afraid of people by nature but bonded with the man. Contact us: wags@fearfreepets.com Review Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, & Terms of Use, View and Search All Available Content >. Your fluffy kitty may also experience a form of phantom limb. And these changes may indeed be permanent. That's hilarious, I can almost hear the cat be like "watch out, I'm gonna spook you hohohoho". 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. There are a lot of very loving people out there, if it comes down to this, work with a no-kill shelter. There is likely to be many awkward and painful movements and the occasional accident. I like this method myself since it not only doesn't detract from my day, but it also reinforces that trademark feline independence in them rather than turning them into an animal that relies on you for everything (trust me, it can get very loud). Adjust the height of food and water dishes. We were blown away by how quickly he adapted to having three legs!). But many cats heal very well in a few months. Why Is My Dog Panting? The incision from the amputation will be somewhat gruesome. We slowly introduced him to 2 other kittens about the same age as he that we had fostered and then adopted. If your veterinarian says your cat cannot have a good life on three legs, get a second opinion. 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. 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 On this blog, learn how to travel safely and responsibly with your adventure cat while living a more eco-conscious lifestyle. About two years ago, my wife had found a small stray kitten who, by a freak accident, had irreparably broken its hind leg. I can't swear to this when it comes to a cat that has lost its front leg. So its important to keep them happy and active to keep those pounds off. Read more about cat health on Catster.com: My baby lost his leg due to a coyote attack I crated him for a month Letting him out a few times a day just in one room very lucky for me his personality was completely intact no depression and nothing holding him back he did amazing.my only issue now is trying to teach him that he is no longer an indoor outdoor cat that he must stay inside but he Jets out the door every time somebody opens it he doesnt Wonder far anymore but it makes me very very nervous when I cant get him back in. Which is why were so glad that youve taken the step to educate yourself on what life for tripod cats can look like. Only attempt to move an injured cat if you can keep yourself and the cat safe. Likewise, some cats may become frustrated after losing a limb. Teaching them differences on the outside dont change what is on the inside. He has been a stray all his life and will he adjust to living in a house and would anyone adopt a 3 legged cat? Its actually very easy to adapt to taking care of a 3 legged cat. To tackle this, theres a number of activities and toys you can try with your tripod cat. If it keeps bleeding, that is a risk for an infection. Until then, shes frazzled, tries to back up again, and falls and meows like somethings after her. Kitty Holster Cat Harness. It honours us four-legged frens who frequent this popular spot! My cat had to have one of his front legs amputated when he was only four. Place them on the usual paths your tripod takes to eat meals and use the litter box. As for climbing and general playing, they will adjust to getting around. One of her hind legs looks to be amputated, but not so sure because it's only half there. You can also try offering a different brand of litter (some cats are very picky with litter) or a different type of litter entirely, just to see what he prefers. Yoda became a tripod after receiving life-saving amputation and radiation therapy to treat FISS cancer. Pingback: Excellent Guidance And Concepts About Pets That Anyone Can Understand The Chausie. Frontline Flea Treatment For Cats. The pros can most definitely outweigh the cons. Thanks for your comment Mari. Although three-legged cats are very good at adapting to their handicap, they are still at a disadvantage when dealing with the dangers that face outdoor cats. A three legged cat may be very confused straight after surgery as to why they suddenly cannot easily do the things they used, like jumping, climbing, running etc. I hope he copes well if we have to proceed with amputation which I am already getting myself mentally prepared for. Thanks for your comment tete1965. In comparison, if like us you needed to surgically remove your cats leg due to a FISS there will be different emotional challenges involved for your kitty. The amputated area or stump may continue to be a sensitive spot 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. 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. To her she still had all 4 legs we just couldnt see the front right. Java seems to be submitting to Bonnie which is good but for some reason, Bonnie is not accepting this behavior. Signs of cat depression include refusing to groom themselves and becoming more aloof, despondent and lethargic.