Adopt a 3 legged kitty-maybe?

So for the past few weeks there has been a 3 year old female spayed cat in the paper. WHy is she still there? She only has 3 legs. Anyone have any experence with 3 legged cats? Any ideas on specific care for 3 legged cats. Any help is greatly apprciated!

This is a bit long and complicated but I need to fill in a bit of background. Some years ago we were publicans, at one time we did locum pub work, running pubs when the managers were on holiday etc. One pub had a busy restaurant and a three legged cat.
Just imagine Friday evening, full restaurant, three legged cat with live mouse!!!!!!
Only having three legs did not seem to impair her quality of life at all, she was a lovely cat.

Cats are extraordinarily adaptive creatures, and everything I've ever seen or heard regarding 3-legged cats has lead me to believe that there is no extra or special care needed at all, as long as the cat is healthy in all other ways. They don't know they are "handicapped" like human do, and they can run, play, do whatever they need to do.

I would even think that if a back leg was missing, they would probably figure out a way to use the litterbox with no problems too.

Check out this site:

http://messybeast.com/disabled.htm#amputee

I don't have any experience with 3-legged cats, but I've only heard positive things from those who have! I say go for it!!

I know at least one of our members, Rockcat, has a three-legged cat. Why don't you PM her and ask for tips?

As a child we had a 3 legged poodle. It was a front leg missing. You would never realize he had 3 legs he ran and jumped just like a normal dog.The front leg was very muscular compared to if he had of had both front legs.I would imagine it would be the same thing as a cat. They compensate and usually do just fine.

I've known some tripods...it's an easy relatively special need to deal with. Cats adapt very well and often romp around as if they had all 4 legs. Occassionally, we see tripeds who have some nerve damage and that may have other effects you'd have to talk to your vet about. But generally, the tipeds I've met have been very healthy and have adapted quite nicely.

Thank you!

Im even more convinced to get her now, i havent even seen her, and i think that i just could give her a loving home without problems.

At the vet I boarded Miki at, they have a handful of cats just running around the office. One of them is a tabby with three legs. She/He is such a lovable cat. I didn't even know s/he had three legs until s/he turned around. The cat jumps up on things and runs around actually more than thier large orange cat.

I have a friend with a three legged dog. You would never know it unless she told you...the fur covers where the missing leg is. And the dog certainly doesn't seem to realize it is "disabled"!

People like you, who will reach out to an especially needy animal are so special. You make rescue possible!

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I have a friend with a three legged dog. You would never know it unless she told you...the fur covers where the missing leg is. And the dog certainly doesn't seem to realize it is "disabled"!

People like you, who will reach out to an especially needy animal are so special. You make rescue possible!

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Thank you *tears*

So....have you called about her or been to see her yet?

Two years ago a stray I was caring for (lived in my garage) was shot by my evil neighbor (long story). Anyhow when I took him to vet they felt they damage would be difficlut to repair and didn't know about problems afterswards so they recommended amputation. This is the reason I joined TCS as I wasn't sure what to do!! His left rear leg was successfully amputated. When I went to vet the next day he was up and eating in really good spirits. I brought him home a couple of days later. I had created a place in my garage so he couldn't get out-I was wrong he was home no more than 30 minutes he jumped over a 40" barrier!!! I ended up borrowing a extra large dog crate as he was an outside kitty and he liked the outside (just not the crate!!) After a couple of weeks when the stitches were removed I let him explorer right around the house-then he made a "run" for the veg garden. He moved really fast!! Unfortunately a couple of months after surgery he took ill and it turned out he have a false negative on his FELV test and a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE case of worms which weakened him that survival wasn't going to happen. But those couple of months it was hard to believe he had only 3 legs-steps weren't even a big problem for him.
So the moral of my story is GO FOR IT!!!!

Aaw, I'm sure the kitty will be super sweet and so loving. Just think of how amazing you'll feel giving her a loving home when noone else would give her a chance. Wow, good for you if you decide to open your home to her.

I know that many people have covered this already, but I thought that I might write as well (as I don't frequent the forums very often nowadays).

I am the proud owner of a three legged cat who I adopted after finding her down my street with a very badly injured leg (we have a lot of strays around here). She coped wonderfully after the amputation, even though at the time she was malnourished and had worms. She was very frustrated with the amputation at first, because she couldn't move as easily as she could before, but about ten months down the track and she is climbing again and runs around with our other cat!

There is very little I do differently for Trinity but one thing I would recommend is a very deep kitty litter tray. She has trouble balancing in the tray and with a regular tray with no lid, the litter went everywhere. I actually bought a big plastic container so she can now lean against the side and the litter wont go all over the floor. I have not experienced any other problems with her at all.

Good luck!

I think its wonderful for you to consider adopting a handicapped cat. The only experience I've had is meeting a 3-legged cat in a HHP show. From talking to the owner, the cat doesn't know its really missing a limb. Not sure if this one was born that way from the beginning or was an accident; but you never knew it till it stood up.

They learn to balance on 3 legs and can do modified climbing (depending on if its a front or back leg). If front leg they probably can do more climbing then if its a back one. Same for jumping - two back legs work better.

Bet you'd be surprised as to how much they can do on 3 legs I'd just be sure to keep kitty inside all the time to protect her.

Oh Lina..........that is a wonderful thing. I would absolutely adopt a 3 legged pet..........I hope you get her and we can see some pics!!