three legged cats

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anno

Golden Member
May 1, 2003
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one of my cats was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right front leg yesterday.. :(

but the more I read the more hopeful I become, apparantly this is not such a gloomy thing for cats as it is for dogs (much less likely to metastasize). they did a chest xray too and his lungs are clear, now..

and from what I read, he's got really good chances of surviving apparantly reasonably happily, for 2-4 years or even longer, if we have the leg amputated.

this is my favorite cat.. because he loves me best.. the other one prefers guys. :p so I really would like to keep him longer if I can.. if we don't do anything then we won't be keeping him very long at all.. but I need to be sure that whatever we decide, we're doing it for him and not for me.. or us. I want to keep him, but I don't want to make him miserable.

anyone have any experience with a feline amputee?

anno
 
datalink7

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
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I don't know about a cat, but my friend has a dog who got hit by a car when it was a puppy (couple of months old). They had to amputate its right front leg.

The dog is now approaching 10 years old, and it does fine. Can even climb stairs and go on walks.

It is probably different though because that dog lost its leg when it was a puppy so it doesn't really know what it would be like with a full set of legs.

Don't know if that helps...
 
biostud

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
20,245
7,369
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Well there was somebody in here who has a three legged cat, apperently it was all over the place seeming to be quite happy after it found out how to balance on only three legs.
 
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voodoochylde

Senior member
Feb 19, 2004
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The cat will definitely be able to adjust well to having a leg amputated. Animals don't focus on that sort of stuff the way us people do :D

I'm sorry to hear that your kitty has cancer but I am glad that you're willing to do something about it. Just keep in mind that it won't bother the cat NEARLY as much as it bothers you to look at it.

Speaking from a semi-similar experience: I have 13 cats, ranging in age from 4 months to 15 years (and the crazy ol' thing is still doing very well) and two dogs. One of my 2-year old kitties was sniffing around my oldest dog's food bowl one night...which really aggravated the dog. He growled at Vera (the cat) and she backed off. Few minutes later, she tried the same thing except he gave no warning this time, just snapped at her and bit her on the right side of her head. After emergency surgery and several scares (you've got to be very, very careful of watching your little one so s/he doesn't get an infection), little Vera has grown into a wonderfully adaptive, confident, and very playful solid black cat.

I had to do a lot of "special attention" stuff with her like giving her special food and medication (the meds were a whole 'nother world of chore...she hated it and was all against taking a pill. Lesson: Those little pill-popper things that your vet will likely sell you if you ask are your best friend) as well as more yucky stuff such as draining her shunt (got an infection at the site of surgery and developed almost a half-inch layer of necrotic tissue in her eye socket...which was, of course, removed with surgery). All-in-all, the only rough part for Vera was recovery. She acts just like the rest of the cats but she has a blind-side, obviously. I, however, make my oldest dog eat in my bedroom with the door closed so he isn't agitated into violence again.

In any case, good luck with your feline companion. It can be tough but it'll be worth it :D
 
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SynthDude2001

Lifer
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
2
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Originally posted by: biostud666
Well there was somebody in here who has a three legged cat, apperently it was all over the place seeming to be quite happy after it found out how to balance on only three legs.
Click to expand...

I believe that was KarenMarie. You (=OP) should PM her and get her advice.
 
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Lash444

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2002
1,708
64
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Well Im a three legged man, and I will tell you that I am a very happy person. Im sure your cat will be just fine.
 
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gistech1978

Diamond Member
Aug 30, 2002
5,047
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my friend had a three legged cat, named Swabby.

Swabby was very old. He got around suprisingly well for a cat with 3 legs.
He seemed happy enough.

He couldnt groom himself as well but i think its weight had something to do with that too.
 
jadinolf

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
Originally posted by: Lash444
Well Im a three legged man, and I will tell you that I am a very happy person. Im sure your cat will be just fine.
Click to expand...

Braggart!!!!!:D
 
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anno

Golden Member
May 1, 2003
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most of my issues (except the I wish this would just go away one) have been resolved since yesterday. I still wish it would just go away.

possum is going to have his leg amputated early tuesday.. they can't do it sooner for staffing reasons. he'll come home that same day. they'll do a biopsy after that.. just so we'll know exactly what kind of cancer it is, may be useful down the road. hope not, but.. better to know the enemy you're facing I guess.

breaks my heart, my poor kitty.. but everything I read, and everything people have told me encourage me that he can adapt and enjoy life with 3 legs.. I've asked a number of places and nobody has yet told me they had cause to regret going with amputation, so.. I guess that must say something. something positive and encouraging.

it's scary. but.. hopefully better choice than just giving up on him all together.. I hope this is the right choice. I'm sure I've weighed the odds and would play this hand if it was poker..


anno


 
Azraele

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
29
91
Best of luck to your kitty. There will be an adjustment period of course, for kitty and you, but I think as long as that stops the cancer, things will work out. Cats tend to bounce back in a rather amazing way from that sort of thing.
 
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BespinReactorShaft

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
3,190
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Your cat is relatively lucky and should do fine. I knew of a relative's dog that had gum cancer that practically ate away the lower jaw. Most unpleasant.

 
styrafoam

styrafoam

Platinum Member
Jun 18, 2002
2,684
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My mom told me a story about a cat on her farm when she was growing up, it had two of its legs caught in a grain auger early in life but still managed to live normally afterwards. It even had kittens.
 
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anno

Golden Member
May 1, 2003
1,907
0
0
Originally posted by: styrafoam
My mom told me a story about a cat on her farm when she was growing up, it had two of its legs caught in a grain auger early in life but still managed to live normally afterwards. It even had kittens.
Click to expand...

possum better not have kittens!

on second thought.. seein' he's a neutered male.. I might be rich, if he did.

thanks, everybody. I wish I could explain it to him.. seems kinda horrible, that he has no clue.. and then he'll just.. wake up without a leg. but... better than dead.

I'm kinda nervous about taking care of him while he heals and adjusts too, but, we'll deal with it.

anno
 
Azraele

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
29
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If you want to explain it to him, do so. As you talk think in a series of pictures about what will happen to him and why. Talk in a soothing tone.

You never know what he might pick up on, and if not, what have you lost?
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,408
8,596
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my cat had her leg amputated due to skin cancer and it was almost like she didn't notice. when i got her back from the vet she shot under the bed immediately, but by the next morning she was normal enough to have gotten a turkey leg off of the kitchen table and was eating it. bad kitty!
 
SaigonK

SaigonK

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
7,482
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www.robertrivas.com
Originally posted by: biostud666
Well there was somebody in here who has a three legged cat, apperently it was all over the place seeming to be quite happy after it found out how to balance on only three legs.
Click to expand...

My daycare provider has three legged cat (Franky) the kids love him, he got hit by a car last year and lost part of his tail and his right rear leg, you should see him go, it has nto even hindered him.

They will adjust, just like you or I would so dont sweat that part.
 
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