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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Three Legs

24 replies

TheGriffle · 30/09/2023 19:08

My wonderful boy broke his hind leg last night and we’ve had to make the decision to amputate. There’s only a 30-40% chance of the vets trying to fix it working and we don’t want to put him through that to have it amputated in the end anyway.

He’s only a year old so very young still and will hopefully adapt but can anyone give me any advice if they’ve been through similar? What to expect etc and life with a tripawed cat?

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Brabant93 · 30/09/2023 19:16

Our 1 year old cat had a front leg amputated, and lived a very happy life still going outdoors and able to jump up etc. She passed away at the grand old age of 21. She was miserable for a couple of days after the operation, but then just got on with it. Hope it goes well for you all.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 30/09/2023 19:41

Thanks @Brabant93 thats reassuring. I’m dreading it buts it’s a better decision than putting him through surgery that has a high chance of not working to then have it amputated anyway.

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SadCelticBunny · 30/09/2023 19:49

One of our boy's doggie friends had an accident at around the same age.

He's wonderful, it hasn't impacted his agility at all.

Good luck OP, I hope all goes well.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 01/10/2023 08:37

Thank you @SadCelticBunny he managed to pull his bandage off his bad leg last night almost immediately but he seems more comfortable and more able with it off and we’re back at the vets Monday to confirm amputation so we’ve left it. He has managed to get up and walk about on his 3 good legs and has done a wee and 2 poos in his litter tray overnight which we’re ridiculously proud of him for. He’s also eaten both lots of food, one last night laced with his pain killer and one this morning with his antibiotic. I was worried he wouldn’t eat them so we’d have to try and manhandle the medication into him.

Hopefully the vet will book him in asap for the amputation as I think once it’s done he will recover quite quickly. Just need to prepare my girls for how he will look.

This was him with his bandage on when we brought him home. He’s such a loving cat he’s given us lots of fusses even though he’s in pain.

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Freezingcoldinseptember · 01/10/2023 08:45

We also had a black and white dcat who had a back leg off! He was totally fine! He became the ultimate 6 dinner Sid... Everyone loved him!

Toddlerteaplease · 01/10/2023 19:29

Amputation is definitely the route I'd take if it was my cat. I've met several very happy tripods.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 02/10/2023 18:08

Amputation is booked for tomorrow. I’m just keeping everything crossed he will be ok. He’s already hopping about on 3 legs, using the litter tray etc so it will be so much easier for him once the broken leg is gone.

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Brabant93 · 02/10/2023 18:21

Good luck. He will adapt quickly hopefully.

ThreeLeggedCat · 02/10/2023 20:02

We had a three legged cat. He lost it before we got him so we never knew how it happened. He lived a long and happy life with us. We never really noticed that he only had three legs. He could do everything that all other cats can do except jump on the worksurface.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 03/10/2023 08:10

Thank you. He’s going in this morning so I hope that he will start to recover quickly. Just want to give him a cuddle which I’ve not been able to do for fear of hurting his broken leg. The videos I’ve seen on YouTube, cats are up and walking about 24hrs after and from there just get better and better so I’m really hopeful for him. He’s so young and fit and healthy he should have no problems.

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Original poster

TheGriffle · 03/10/2023 19:41

He’s home. He’s really not happy with us and in a bit of pain/discomfort despite the pain killers. He despises the buster collar so I’ve ordered a soft one to come tomorrow to see if that is any better for him.

Its a bit shocking to see him in this state and I wish I could just pick him up and cuddle him and make him understand but hopefully now, every day he will get a little bit better.

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Thisweeksname · 03/10/2023 19:48

Aww bless him, what a gorgeous boy! I hope he feels better soon, give him lots of treats 🐾I think cats adapt very well to three legs, once the soreness has worn off he will probably be up and about.

RumNotRun · 03/10/2023 19:56

My cat has her back leg amputated at a similar age. We tried a plaster cast first but the bone still moved so the vet said amputation was the best option. She was up and about before the stitches had even dissolved. I was surprised at how well she adapted, nothing stops her and she is fast! I'm sure your boy will heal just as well. My cat assured me that copious amounts of Dreamies help with the healing process 😉

BumblebeeBum · 03/10/2023 19:57

Hey. One of our cats had to have one of his back legs amputated in 2020 and he is def living his best life. He can jump 6 foot fences nd is living his best life.

A couple of bits of advice - the wound looks pretty brutal straight afterwards. It scared my daughter who was 7 at the time.

We were advised cage rest to start with, so maybe think about somewhere quiet you could put a cage where you could keep an eye.

We were told some tripods struggle to aim when using the litter tray so were advised to get one with a top. Other than a couple of issues straight after the op, he has been fine.

We have installed baby gates on our house so that he can get away from the dog more quickly if needed.

The vet told us to keep an eye on his weight as excess weight can cause issues with the remaining joints. We also had an issue where he burnt his paw and while it was recovering he hopped around on two legs no problem at all. But obviously we kept a very close eye, more so than we would have if he had 4 paws.

I think that’s it for tips. Thinking of you, it’s a difficult thing to do, but cats are amazing and very adaptable.

Runnerduck34 · 03/10/2023 19:59

Sorry you are going through this, its very upsetting but from our experuence i think amputation is best way forward.
Our cat was run over at 1 year. Front leg crushed, pinning wasnt viable and vet admitted even if it was recovery would take a year plus and she'd need a series of ops.
The leg was amputed. It was heartbreaking but literally within 24 hours she escaped by jumping out an upstairs window and clambering down climbing plant! Her recovery was amazing! Having 3 legs hasnt held her back. She still even manages to catch mice

IWantToLiveOnTheMoon · 03/10/2023 20:03

My sister has a 3 legged cat and since his amputation and done absolutely fine. He has adjusted really well, l think she was in shock at first, but now he runs around with the other cats and to be honest we hardly notice that he only has 3 legs now.
I hope your cat makes a speedy recovery.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/10/2023 20:05

A cat uses more weight through their front legs than the back legs so with his back leg gone he will not have any issues once he is used to it. He will be running and jumping really quickly when he is allowed.

He is a gorgeous boy.

Marylou62 · 03/10/2023 20:09

I know you are asking about a cat but we have a small Cavapoo who was born without a back paw...she had an amputation at 8 weeks..
She's amazing and manages very well.. jumping on the sofa and able to get upstairs..
Good luck...

Callmesleepy · 03/10/2023 20:10

My favourite pet cat had a three legs, made absolutely no difference! I think he used to forget about it. If it happens young their tail gets chunkier for balance.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 04/10/2023 20:51

Thank you so much for all the replies! It’s lovely to hear all these positive stories, makes me feel so much better.

He’s doing brilliantly. We’re keeping up with his pain killers, he’s kept his buster collar on for 24hrs ow despite getting out of it numerous times at the vets straight after his op. He’s in a big cage with his food and little to keep him safe and we let him out tonight for him to have a little wander. He came to each of us for a fuss and even used his scratching post, we were amazed. He’s still a little out of it with the pain killers but he was hopping along fine and the main thing getting in his was the collar.

We had warned our DD’s what he would look like and showed them videos on YouTube so they were somewhat prepared but it is a brutal looking wound. He’s such a gorgeous boy I can’t wait for him to start feeling better.

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Original poster

TheGriffle · 04/10/2023 21:27

Here is the Cat Tax but also, he got up on the sofa all by himself!

Sensitive content

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RumNotRun · 04/10/2023 22:16

He is very handsome! Ghostie sends love from one tripod to another.

A cat rescue I support had a three legged cat and introduced me to "Amita" I asked what made them choose that name for her. The answer - three feet equals a metre. 😁

Mrssplodgers · 05/10/2023 21:40

How’s he doing OP?

Another proud tripod mum here. Mine’s been 3 legged since he was about 9 weeks old (ex feral), he’s 4 now. Same leg as your boy. I honestly don’t think he realises, he still tries to scratch his ear (you can see his tiny stump moving) and chases round after the other cats quite happily. He just can’t jump, and sometimes looks a bit confused if one of the others manages to get somewhere high up, bless him. But, he’s really not the brightest 😂 Gorgeous, purry and an absolute sweetheart yes, but he wasn’t anywhere near the front of the queue when cat brains were handed out.

Original poster

TheGriffle · 06/10/2023 21:00

😂@Mrssplodgers that made me laugh. Our boy isn’t the brightest button bless him either!

He is however doing fantastic. Things are healing nicely, he can jump up on the sofa and windowsill, he went upstairs for the first time today but Dh got worried and carried him back down as we’re not sure he could get down himself.

He had his first check up at the vets and they’re very happy with him. It’s just the cone which is getting in his really but the vets want it on until he’s pretty much healed up.

I had to run and grab him in this picture as he nearly slid himself off the sofa!

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