Tripod's Adventures

Ok, so Tripod slept through the night. Not a peep out of him. This morning, I heard the hubby talking to him ~morning Tri, how was your night?~. What a guy. Got a picture of Tripod settling in last night. And this morning a few more. He did not need a bath like the last one. The vet said he is really healthy. I opened his cage to check on the litter box progress & out he zoomed. He is quick like lightning. Under the bed he went. Hubby had to take the bed apart & we got him out. Tripod is not growling or hissing & spitting. He is just happy to be warm I think right now. We decided after he escaped this morning, that we would try to put a harness on him. And happy to report that Tripod is good with the harness. He definately is a stray, & wants to hide. So until we are sure that he won't escape, Tripod will have to live with the harness. I put the leash on it & followed him around for a bit to see how he would do. He does need to get exercise & the harness/leash seem to do the trick for now. I wanted to see how he got around. He walks on his stub~it does have a good callus on it. But I still want to put some kind of covering on it. A newborn sock isn't going to work. Any ideas? In the one picture of his missing foot, vet said it was soft tissue not bone that is exposed. But looks pretty good. I really like our vet. He is spendy, but he is very good. And he was there for the ER visit. Will try to post pics later of Tripod with the leash. The first time I walked him, we forgot to put the card back in the camera. So hubby was taking lots of empty pics. But he definately picked the hubby as his human. Til the next update ...

Caliesmom  

    The Hubby (Bubbbers' & Tripod's Human) 

  Shadow 

  Bubbers  

Calie 

  Tripod   

OMG CONGRATULATIONS on getting Tripod inside safe and sound. AWWWWW he is a beautiful Blk./Wht. Tuxedo!!!! I feel so horrible that his foot got amputated by something Poor, poor baby and it is still healing.... did the vet have any clue as to what happened or how? OR if it was treated by a vet before? I am just curious..... I would just leave it open and since he is now living indoors - I think it will begin to heal very quickly and that open wound will begin to close up. I always wonder what their past entailed and why they were abandoned I am just glad you and your DH have saved this little man!!! My heart is just melting over this story. Please keep the updates coming. Are you going to name him something else? or keep his name Tripod?

Tripod did very well in the cage last night. He doesn't mind it at all for the night. He didn't make any noises during the night but this morning as soon as the hubby walked past his cage, Tripod let him know that he was there. This morning now, Tripod is getting lots of attention from the hubby. Bubbers did get close enough to have a look. They both growled at each other, looks like Bubbers won this time. She is twice as big as him & twice as heavy too. And now Tripod is laying on the floor at his human's feet sleeping. He is so not happy with a pink leash & a purple harness.

  We'll have to get him a more manly set up next time we head to town. I have talked to the lady who is trapping for us. Since we have a monster storm on the way, she will make sure not to set the trap. And she will keep feeding. The mother of the tortiouse kitten we had a few days ago is there. So looking like she might be our next rescue. She may be pregnant again. We will live trap her & make sure she is well cared for, feral or stray doesn't make a difference to us. But back to Tripod. He is a big cat. I had to set up a bigger cat box for him. And with his missing foot, he needs a box with one side low so he can get in. His stump is healing nicely.The vet did say that it looks like he got caught in a trap 2 months ago & he got out with just the missing foot. No medical attention was done to his leg. It has been healing on its own this whole time. The toenail still looks sore, but the antibiotic shot seems to be working. Tripod is another one that craves attention. It's funny to watch my hubby & him 'talk' to each other. And the more you rub his belly & scritch his chin, the more he wants. And thinking of keeping the name Tripod. He does look when we call him Tripod. It fits him.  mrbalnche ~ he seems to be doing fine with the missing foot. He walks on the stump with just a tad bit of pain. Our girls haven't had a chance yet to spend alot of time with him since Tripod isn't neutered yet. He still spends alot of time in the cage. After his surgery, he will be able to be out more. His stump must be hurting today because he doesn't want to walk. And Tripod doesn't sit still very well for pictures. We put him on the leash, & he right away layed down on the floor with a pet my belly look. Til the next update ...

Caliesmom  

  The Hubby (Bubbers Human)  

  Shadow 

   Bubbers  

   Calie   

   Tripod   

I love these stories.  Was it necessary to take apart the bed?  I thought that was kind of funny (sorry, I know it must have been frustrating for you).

AWWWW Tripod is just adorable!! Such a lucky baby - bless your hearts :heart3: for saving him. Please be very careful about that harness . I would not leave that on him full time. He could get caught up on something. Not a good idea. They do make collars that are break-away. Don't ever use a collar that is not break-away either. If a cat gets caught on something..... well..... it could be tragic :shame:....

Just love the wonderful updates

About how much of the foot is missing?

The radical, expensive solution would be to put in a permanently implanted prosthesis.  Another solution might be an artificial foot, something like a ballet toe shoe.

I'm so glad you caught Tripod!  He sure is beautiful!!  Are you going to keep him for sure?  Sounds like your Hubby has fallen in love with him and visa versa.  It's so sad to see cats on there own outside much less an injured one. You and your Husband are awesome people!  How many more are out there to catch? Well the best of luck with all of it and can't wait to hear more of Tripods adventures!!.....Cathy

Sorry, I forgot to add the picture ...  he does have a bit of an attitude in this one

Tripod needs a leg like Oscar the bionic cat! Maybe there is a simpler solution since it's just one injured paw and not both? I'm so happy he has a home either way!

Um...sorry... *slinks away*

No problem. A lot of new (and old) members aren't aware of the rule for videos.

2-25-12

We now have successfully got Tripod to use the litterbox outside of the cage too. He has his own litterbox~he does not have to share with the girls. And today we rearranged his corner a little bit. Got his safe zone (the cage) all set up for him differently so he doesn't have to put alot of pressure on his stump. And he loves it. We still keep him in the cage all night & he doesn't make any noise. Thinking he sleeps all night. The hubby is going to make a mini mocassin  today with a bottom pad for him until we can get him fitted for something more permanent. His stump is very tender. Our girls all checked him out this morning. And apparently they are finally ok with him being here. They say that now. Wait til he doesn't have to be in the cage at night. Then the girls might be singing a different tune. I can imagine what they think when they see him hobble around. 

 Yesterday Tripod did attempt to walk on his stump with his human acting like a crutch for him. He would take a step, then hubby had to step. Then Tripod, then hubby ... & on it went all the way down the hallway. 

 Hubby is trying to teach him how to walk on it. Being out on his own when the 'accident' happened, chances are he had no one to help him adjust. I now have the camera right at my fingertips & ready to catch Tripod & hubby when deemed necessary. 

 

AWWWWW Jumping for JOY on this update I JUST LOVE TRI :rub: :heart3: He is a very special baby - I can't imagine the pain he had to endure with that foot. POOR BABY He really IS a very, very special cat and your have been blessed I think in no time, he will be a big part of your family and playing with the other kitties . Good idea about the mattress. I always keep the mattress on the floor in my foster room. That way cat's can't hide in the box spring of the bed! This is just an incredible love story - Tri's story :heart3: :rub:

2-28-12

Tripod has had a couple of exciting days.  Hubby made him a leather foot~but it didn't work. I tried to get a picture

 of Tripod wearing it, but he is so quick & all were blurry shots. We noticed this morning that the harness is getting a tish snug ~ gots to be all the  

 he's finally eating. We give him can food twice a day & dry food is available all the time for him right now. Hubby & Tripod remind me of a magnet & nail, the way Tripod sucks up to him . And even right now, Tri is on the floor under his feet. I found Bubbers on top of his cage yesterday when Tripod was trying to take a nap. Then this morning Bubbers was following him trying to egg him on. Last night Bubbers did get close enough to check out his stump. And Tripod let her. It must be tough to go from being the top banana outside, to being the lowly bottom banana inside. So this morning when Bubbers was egging him on, Tripod decided to race after her. Since his appt. isn't til Friday, we didn't let the full out fur fight start. But Bubbers didn't do much. I just hope that eventually Bubbers doesn't teach him how to flush the toilet like she did with Calie. Calie is ok with him as long as he keeps his distance. And Shadow right now doesn't care one way or the other. Calie & Shadow have yet to check out his stump. He gets around pretty good. Jumps up on the chiars & up to the tv too. We did put Tripod on the bed this morning to see what he would do. He likes to be under the covers as close to hubby as he can get. So I think the slow approach we are doing with him & the girls will be a good outcome for all. A few times we have caught Tripod watching tv. And I even got a shot here of him trying to get as close as he could to whatever it was on the tv that he really liked. He sits on the hubby's lap watching tv. And if hubby turns the chair so Tripod can't see the tv, he will let him know. Tripod has turned out to be very vocal. Not in the middle of the night. But if you walk by the cage when he is awake from his nap, he will meow. And when he is out, I'll ask the hubby where is Tripod. I'll then hear him meow loudly & then he will shake is head & whole body like a dog who just got out of the lake. I swear he was a dog in his last life. The way he acts. We did get a new litter box for him yesterday too. One with a low side in the front & high on the back. He can get in & out of this one so much better. Now we don't have to help him in & out of the box. Ok, I will update more later. Thanks guys     

    

   

Just AWWWWWWW :lol3:. He is really a special, special kitty :rub:. I am sure Bubbers and Tripod will become fast friends. Bubbers sounds very interested in her new little brother So happy that each day things are getting better and better :bigthumb:

Tripod 3-4-12

Tripod went in on Friday to get neutered & his 1st set of shots. Little guy had a fever so they did a blood panel on him. Found no infection  

   but the vet said his stump was still a bit tender. So to be on the safe side, another antibiotic shot was given. Vet determined that we probably saved him from dying from this infection. Everytime they had a blood result on something, the vet would call me & give me a report. I heard from them 4 times in less than 2 hours. But he did finally go through surgery & was recovering nicely. We did have Tripod microchipped too. So now if he ever does get lost, we should get him back. When I got back to the vet's office to pick him up, I had to go over everything that was done on Tripod. They found out his injury is newer than everyone thought. Happened around the 20th of Dec. is the estimate. So when he was spotted hopping around foraging for food, is when he lost his foot I guess. But he now has fur covering his stump, & gets around great. No need for a peg leg at all. He woke up right away after the surgery & was ready to play. They brought him out to the front for me, & Tripod was bright eyed & hungry. I have never had a cat go through any kind of surgery & be that awake right after. Wierd but I guess normal for Tripod. Tripod gained 1.4 pounds from 3-22-12 to 3-2-12. He's gonna be a big boy. I got him home & settled into the cage. But he was climbing trying to get out. We were supposed to give him a little bit of water & more after 1/2 hour if it stayed down. Well, Tripod was into everything looking for food so we gave him a lilttle can food. Sucked that down in less time it took to set the bowl on the floor. And everything stayed down. Poor Tripod was a starving marvin. Now today he is laying on the floor looking at our newest rescue. So all is good now with Tri. He has settled in very well. But he still wants to be in the cage at night. Last night, Tripod was again very quiet, sleeping. And our newest rescue was hollering all night. Tripod slept through it all. Today all 4 are getting along pretty good.

I cannot believe what Tripod endured with losing his foot. Just makes me cringe Poor little man - how he survived, I haven't a clue. HE truly IS a survivor and made his way to you somehow, someway and it is a miracle. :heart3: I really hope he does well on the antibiotic's and if there is an infection, it will clear quickly. I am sure he was very tired after his day at the vet. I have a real soft spot in my heart for Tripod :heart3: I know you have found a very, very special kitty :rub: :heart2: