Does anybody else have a tripod cat?

[riosyd]

Just wondering how they adapt with only 3 legs - Podger is having his leg removed tomorrow due to a growth (we're going to rename him Tripod Ger).

Here's a photo of him before his operation, he's an old cat but our vet is quite confident that he'll cope well (not sure how old because he was a stray that turned up on our doorstep 12 years ago!)


(he's not looking too pleased because he's at the vets)

[Jasandjules]

Cats are amazingly resilient.

[R1gtr]

Jasandjules said:

Cats are amazingly resilient.

^^^^ This, plus he looks healthy and not fat which would have made things harder to adapt, good luck tomorrow.

[N Dentressangle]

Our neighbour has one.

He's remarkably agile, and doesn't seem to hold back from much because of his lack of a back leg.

[Kays vRS]

I know a cat that lost a front leg several years ago when he got run over - it's slowed him down a little bit but otherwise he's absolutely fine and aside from climbing high objects he behaves the same as any other cat.

Edited by Kays vRS on Tuesday 6th March 20:42

[planetsurfer]

I had a cat called Snow.
He lost one of his back legs when he was about 2.
Major amputation. He lived until he was 12.
He just adapted, he spent most of his life living outdoors.

[gd49]

Most do incredibly well, and get close to pre-surgery levels of mobility. I know a friend's cat that still catches the local wildlife despite missing a front leg!

[Mobile Chicane]

Twelve year-old cats though?

Personally I'd be debating whether it was fair to put him through the trauma of such an operation.

What's the growth? Can it be controlled in any other way?

[riosyd]

Mobile Chicane said:

Twelve year-old cats though?

Personally I'd be debating whether it was fair to put him through the trauma of such an operation.

What's the growth? Can it be controlled in any other way?

Thanks for all the responses.

He's at least 16 years old - he's lived with us for 12 of those years. It's a soft tissue carcenoma that's spreading up his leg, he's been putting no weight on it for some time now and is now in pain. We're trusting our vet to give us the right advice (he's known the cat for 12 years) and the only options for us were to amputate or final injection (in some weeks/months time? ). The vet also said that it doesn't appear to transferred to other parts as his lymph nodes weren't enlarged.

[shoebag]

I have a tripod rabbit. She had her front left leg amputated five weeks ago as it was broken and the x-ray showed the bone was diseased. The results came back that it was bone cancer. Fergie (that`s her name)is doing ok but still having to wear a plastic collar to stop her getting to the wound. Last week she got out of the collar and ripped off the scab and had to be re-stitched. She is seven years old.
It has been traumatic. Yesterday I took the collar off for half an hour and watched her carefully and she was hopping around her soft enclosure and attacking the hay like she used to which was nice to see.
I looked on youtube and there are other tripod rabbits out there. I have also found a disabled bunny forum on facebook.
I hope your cat does ok.

[bexVN]

Bone cancers in cats are usually slow growing and tend not to be as aggressive as in a dog.

It's a bit harder for them when they lose a front leg compared to a back but they adapt given a bit of time.

He's getting on but if he has no other health issues it's worth a go. He may go on for another 6 months or 2 years, who knows.

And to the poster who questioned this op on a 12yr old. Can honestly tell you that this is not too old at all if the cat is in good health generally.

More and more cats are living until at least 16yrs plus (often 18) though 12 is classed as geriatric in reality they can still look and act a lot younger

All the best to your little cat

[The Nur]

I have a tripod cat called Jack. Got stuck in a rabbit trap at about the age of 2, properly messed his leg up and due to the vet thinking that he would be ok without a cast or anything he had to have his leg amputated about 6 weeks later

He is a resilient little bugger, strong as cats get and feisty with it too. Still catches birds, batters seven shades of st out of foxes and kills pretty much anything that takes his fancy. Has learnt very effectively over the years to get what he wants through emotional manipulation He sits in front of you and "scratches" with the leg that isn't there to get some attention, then once he knows he has your attention he won't leave you alone

Will dig up some pictures and post







He is missing his back left so not really too visible in the pictures, although there isn't really a lot to see. Just a space where a leg should be that has grown over with white fur

Edited by The Nur on Tuesday 6th March 22:56

[Who me ?]

Three legs -they manage. We've got one locally that makes friends with all . Looks rather funny running, but I've seen it up a tree . Animals manage fine with three legs. Also locally is a Springer Spaniel with three legs. She's more active than the other two the couple have .

[riosyd]

Well, he's survived the operation and has been eating. The vet is confident that he'll make a good recovery, the tumour was soft tissue, all encapsulated and separate from any blood vessels so it's unlikely to have transferred to other parts of his body.


(I apologise if the photo puts anyone off their supper )

[The Nur]

Poor sod. He looks a little bit miffed

[-Pete-]

Miffed is an understatement! I'm sure he'll adapt though, best of luck to him...

[riosyd]

The Nur said:

Poor sod. He looks a little bit miffed

Not as miffed as the dogs - it's their supper he's eating!!!

[The Nur]

riosyd said:

The Nur said:

Poor sod. He looks a little bit miffed

Not as miffed as the dogs - it's their supper he's eating!!!

He can't be too bad then

[bexVN]

Just make sure he doesn't lick that wound especially overnight. He could do a lot of damage very quickly. Do you have a lampshade cllar for him?

He looks great though, speedy recovery wishes to him.

Just out of interest did he have IV fluids during the op, his other leg doesn't appear to be shaved so it doesn't look like it but I'd be surprised if he didn't given his age.

[TonyTony]

I'm guessing they cope better with a back leg missing rather than a front though??

How did he get around to eating that? Looks like if he leans in to eat any he'll end up face planting it!