3/4 week old kitten missing a foot. suggestions?

Hey guys. I just joined because I needed a little insight from other points of view. 

Two days before Christmas my dad found a kitten in our backyard, all alone. So we took him in and we noticed he was missing one of his back paws, cut off at about the ankle. It wasn't oozing with blood or anything, it was only a little red and raw. So we guessed he may have been born with it like that. He didn't seem like he was in pain either. So since we had a few holiday parties to go to we decided to take him to the vet a few days later. 

The vet told us it could have been born that way, or possibly cut off at a very young age. He's quite small still, only maybe 3 or 4 weeks old. They also said other than his missing paw he was a completely healthy little guy. Which was a relief. My family has had a lot of cats around my whole life, so we are no strangers to them at all, but this is for sure the first time we have found a cat with a disability. So I'm a little lost at how to treat this. It's only been a week and he's already proving to be a tough cookie. The vet didn't give us much option other than leave it, or amputate the entire leg (which they suggested), but I honestly don't want to amputate it unless it's an ABSOLUTE must. They told us if we leave it, while he walks on the stubb he will probably end up opening the wound often. I have very indifferent feelings about both options. I really don't want him to cut the leg off completely because I feel he can do much better with it. I think without it, it will be very hard for him to get around with only one back leg. On the other hand, I feel amputating it would, in the long run, be a better choice in hopes of lessening vet trips for an opened up stubb wound. I have no idea what entails having a legless cat, so I don't know if anyone has experience with just a PAWLESS cat or not. I don't know if as he grows older the wound will heal, or no matter how old he gets it will continuously be a hassle. 

So... I'm not sure. Any input would be appreciated. My mom and sister would prefer NOT to amputate him, they has high hopes that they can heal him and keep him going with maybe a leg wrap or something. We tried putting a small bandage wrap around his leg to see is he could walk better without opening it. But I think his legs are way too tiny to put anything on right now. They just fall off and he fights it. It also concerns me because he sometimes bites or itches his footless leg, and causes it to bleed a little bit because it's still a bit raw. It formed a scab at one point but as soon as he started walking on the blanket (we only have him on a soft surface, not the tile floor) the scab feel off and it was raw again...

Thank for any answers or ideas! I just need somewhere to start on taking care of a limbless kitten! 

Victoria

So glad that the kitten found you and you are trying to help out with wee one.

My mother and father had a cat without a back leg when they adopted her, and until the very end stages of CRF etc. she did very well with her 3 legs (a bit tougher in her final months for her). But still, I do know what you mean about preferring to keep the leg if you can. Are there no specialist places for pets that can at least provide internet advice if not devices etc. for pets with disabilities? Just imagining that there must be a place somewhere with this kind of expertise.

This is a very young kittens.  I feel that basic wound care along with wait and see is the best course of action at present.  A friend has a feral cat with a similar problem and the skin on his stump has become tough and he walks on it.  She trapped him and the vet examined it when he was being neutered.

Do make sure you use soft litter and keep it really clean.  The only kind of dressing that will stay on is the stickys stuff the vets use - you could ring your vet and ask about it.

Do remember that if he does have to lose the leg he will do just fine without it.  Cats are very adaptable, they don't have the 'poor me' thoughts we might, and they do better without a back leg than without a front leg.

It's my understanding that it would be better to amputate the leg.  With just the paw missing he will continue to try to use the leg which is probably why it is a little raw looking.

Google tripod cats.

MY dad has a cat who is missing most of one of his front paws.  He barely uses the leg and he gets sore on it.  It may be best to amputate.  My dad has had a tripod (3 legged cat) before and she did just fine, was able to do everything normal cats were able to do.

I would try and see if you can get it to heal and then see how it works. The cat would be better off with the leg especially when he gets old so it is worth a try. You may have to keep the cat in a room with only carpet and even use a cone to allow it to heal and then see where things go from there. Cats are very adaptable so it could easily learn to live with a missing leg but it would be easier on the cat if he still had a footless leg.

Thank you guys for all the advice! I will take it all into consideration. 

I think for now I will definitely wait and see how he fairs with it. He is still super young so I want to let him get a bit older and see how it goes.

"Disabled" cats don't know they're "disabled".  When he's a bit older, I'd have the leg amputated and he'll get around like a champ.  There are tons of happy tripod kitties out there who jump and run and climb and are just as mischievous as their 4-legged counterparts.