my cat's leg amputated

Hello everyone, last monday one of my cats got his caught in a trap, we took him to a vet, got a cast put on him.  So Today we took him in to have it's check and was told they can see the bone because the skin around it were completely dead and is infected so they would have to amputated his leg, my mom would rather to put him down just because it's cheaper but i'm not going to get into that. my worry is since he an outdoor cat, will he be able to live his life as normal? what about defending himself if he needs to? 

Is there anyway you can have him become an indoor only cat?  Or can rehome him to an indoor home?

Which leg, out of curiosity?

I have a tripod cat! She was a stray I found at a local park that had an injured hind leg that had to be amputated. She became my indoor cat after I caught her, so I can't speak to how well a tripod cat would do outside. However, Meko adjusted very well to having only three legs. She was a little klutzy at first and avoiding jumping for the first month or so, but she now does everything the other cats do. Jumps just as far and high, even though she has one less leg to doing the jumping with. Most people don't even realize she's missing a leg and just ask me if I noticed that my cat was limping. XD There's definitely no reason to put down a cat missing a leg because they tend to adjust very, very well to it!

I don't really know the situation where you live or how safe it is for a three-legged cat, but I would plan to keep him indoors preferably for a few months at minimum until he heals from the amputation and gets used to missing the leg. It would be easier to see how it is healing, prevent further injuries, and give him a safe environment to get used to his new situation. Once you see how he's doing, it would be easier to evaluate from there. If it were me, I'd keep him inside, but I'm paranoid about all of my cats being outside, haha!

Cataria said:

 
Which leg, out of curiosity?

I have a tripod cat! She was a stray I found at a local park that had an injured hind leg that had to be amputated. She became my indoor cat after I caught her, so I can't speak to how well a tripod cat would do outside. However, Meko adjusted very well to having only three legs. She was a little klutzy at first and avoiding jumping for the first month or so, but she now does everything the other cats do. Jumps just as far and high, even though she has one less leg to doing the jumping with. Most people don't even realize she's missing a leg and just ask me if I noticed that my cat was limping. XD There's definitely no reason to put down a cat missing a leg because they tend to adjust very, very well to it!

I don't really know the situation where you live or how safe it is for a three-legged cat, but I would plan to keep him indoors preferably for a few months at minimum until he heals from the amputation and gets used to missing the leg. It would be easier to see how it is healing, prevent further injuries, and give him a safe environment to get used to his new situation. Once you see how he's doing, it would be easier to evaluate from there. If it were me, I'd keep him inside, but I'm paranoid about all of my cats being outside, haha!

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The front leg, my vet said she has a outdoor/indoor cat with amputated front leg who does just fine, catches mice with his one paw. so maybe my cat will learn how to catch mice with his one paw. honestly i think he will do mostly fine outside, im just worrying if he needs to defend himself from a roaming cat. the main and the only reason she wanted to put him down is because the amputation cost $250 vs around $80 to put him down. she told me to "use common sense" but as i said im not going to get into that and plus it's irreverent to this thread.  also im the same, i'd rather keep my cats indoors if i could but my parents won't allow it, although i guess they would have to make a exception for him and i really dont want to rehome him 

Cat's do really well after amputations.  My cat can run around just as well as the 4 others.  In fact, he is the alpha at my house.  I have stairs for him to use so he can get on the bed.  

I assume you feed him and aren't making him solely rely on catching mice, right?  

He should be an inside cat because he won't be able to defend himself as well as he did, however, all outdoor cats have a lot of risk anyway.   

And I agree with what was said.... at the minimum, he should be indoors while recovering.  

we just got him home yesterday and he's doing quite well. i'm going to keep him inside for at least few months, and i'll try to make him a inside cat if possible if not i'll consider rehoming him, now i have a question about the rehoming fee, should i ask more because of the cost of the amputation?

Sad to hear this...

One leg maybe a Spare with dog's cat's both ~ sending good thoughts on a speedy recovery.

Can anything be done about these TRAPS ?!?  another innocent pet could be injured, child, children ? did you do a story in your local paper, TV news?  Best to let Everyone know this is happening in your community Kitty and You deserve some support.  

The amputation cost is something you have to absorb because you had it done because you care about him. You should ask for a small fee to ensure someone isnt just collecting free animal meat for nefarious purposes. You dont want to charge too much since you actually want people interested in adopting a 3 legged adult cat. For example if i had a spot open because one of my cats died id be fine paying shelter level adoption fees to take in your cat but nothing like $200.

Seventhheaven said:

 
Sad to hear this...

One leg maybe a Spare with dog's cat's both ~ sending good thoughts on a speedy recovery.

Can anything be done about these TRAPS ?!?  another innocent pet could be injured, child, children ? did you do a story in your local paper, TV news?  Best to let Everyone know this is happening in your community Kitty and You deserve some support.  

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well we live on a farm, and my dad was using the traps to catch rats but he is not going to set them anymore so that's good

kittyluv387 said:

The amputation cost is something you have to absorb because you had it done because you care about him. You should ask for a small fee to ensure someone isnt just collecting free animal meat for nefarious purposes. You dont want to charge too much since you actually want people interested in adopting a 3 legged adult cat. For example if i had a spot open because one of my cats died id be fine paying shelter level adoption fees to take in your cat but nothing like $200.

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okay thanks

Years ago, my outdoor kitten was caught in a trap and died.

Amputeed cats do very well and the cost is minimal considering hiw much life he has left and that he can have a very good life! Think about all the love youve gotten from the kitty and how much hea been through...hes deserves a good life, not death.

However, I absolutly would notlet him be outdoors anymore. As others said, he wont be able to defend himself and both being outdoors and missing a leg makes him far more prone to injuries. If someone goes after him, all he can do is try running away, and Im sure hell be slower. Of course, climbing will be limited also. As an outdoor cat, he is bait. BUT as an indoor cat, he can be safe and happy. He is free to roam, play, and heal. He can live a very good life.

If for some reason you cannot keep him in, this is one of the rare times where I woyld suggest finding him a wonderful indoor home.

So sorry unfortunate accident, 

Very special kitty to make it    

Love your kitty pictures.  Please keep updating...

he is doing very well, walking and jumping on stuff just fine, eating well

You must convince your family to keep him inside. I know how farm families are about keeping animals in the house, but this is a case concerning a disabled cat. He has no business being outside anymore. Cats make fine house pets; they are not cattle, pigs, or even dogs. They belong in the house. Please do everything you can to keep him in the house permanently.

the problem is that the vet told my mom that she has a indoor/outside cat with a amputated leg and said she does just fine outside, so that made convincing them even more difficult

mwallace056 said:

the problem is that the vet told my mom that she has a indoor/outside cat with a amputated leg and said she does just fine outside, so that made convincing them even more difficult

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I think most indoor/outdoor cats are mostly indoor, but allowed to roam outside. They eat inside, sleep inside, etc. Maybe you could point that out to your parents? I don't think he'd do as well living exclusively outside with only one leg. If all else fails, you could always try to use the cost of the amputation. Why risk letting him outside where he could easily get hurt when they just spent that much money on him? (Not the way I usually look at things, but it might help convince them)

" Why risk letting him outside where he could easily get hurt when they just spent that much money on him? (Not the way I usually look at things, but it might help convince them)"

That is an excellent angle.  

​You can share with your parents that I adopted my cat ONLY because the two vets we got opinions from firmly said a three legged cat must be indoors to remain safe.  I had no intention of adopting a cat but I didn't trust anyone else to keep him inside...  

Just because the vet has a cat that has done fine, it doesn't mean it's safe (it's like saying smoking is ok because my uncle smoked and lived until 100  -- I'm making that up but I've actually heard people say that before

Best of luck!!!!

mwallace056 said:

 
we just got him home yesterday and he's doing quite well. i'm going to keep him inside for at least few months, and i'll try to make him a inside cat if possible if not i'll consider rehoming him, now i have a question about the rehoming fee, should i ask more because of the cost of the amputation?

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that is kind of your family. I hope he turns out to be a wonderful pet. I hope you can keep him inside

i would think that this boy, since he'd been an outdoors cat prior to his leg being amputated, would make an excellent mouser...to keep mice/rodents from taking up residence in your house! mice and other rodents do look for indoors places to live during the cold weather months. so really, this boy would be 'earning' his place inside the house by catching any rodents that got in and deterring rodents from trying to come into your house.

mwallace056 said:

 
the problem is that the vet told my mom that she has a indoor/outside cat with a amputated leg and said she does just fine outside, so that made convincing them even more difficult

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As I was reading through this thread and someone asked which leg, I was honestly hoping to read a hind leg.

While a 3 legged cat, whether front or back does very well and basically lives and gets around just as well for the most part, losing a front leg is slightly different for life outdoors.

Losing a front leg, running speed will decrease, tree climbing will change, things like hopping a fence fast, etc.

These same things don't seem to change at all really when it's a hind leg.

So my thinking is the cat's surroundings where they will want him to live.

If there are cat aggressive dogs, or any wildlife/predatory type cat killers, he stands a good chance of getting nailed.

If it's more like a calm, controlled farm, lower keyed, and not much chance of danger for him, then it might be okay, hard to say without seeing the scenario.

I don't just say this because I am an indoor only thinking cat person, you know that I have many colonies I care for in town where I have TNR'd, so while I do worry sometimes, I'm, used to them living outside too, I actually do have a 3 legged cat in one now, and he does very well but it's a hind leg gone.

 I knew he would do fine there because it took so long to trap his butt to get his leg removed, I watched him get around there perfectly for close to a year with a dangling leg, and it has been just fine since. 

Also, it's not completely up to us either, often times once a cat has spent much of his life outside and free, they are not going to be content with indoor life always, and will whine for that freedom back.

He may very well clearly realize his limitations and stick close to the house too, hard to say on that one.

Of course indoors only is best, but it may not be possible.

I think if there are some dangers for him on the farm, and they just refuse to allow him to live inside, I hate to say this but rehoming may be the only safer solution.

He might become an indoor outdoor guy where he comes in at night when there are more dangerous situations that might occur too. He WILL know he is not what he used to be, that he is more vulnerable and might not feel safe living outside. Hard to say.

just got home from his sutures removal and saw this, is this normal? other then that he's doing well.