Amputee kitty

[halfwaynowhere]

I'm known at work as the cat lady, so last monday, i got a text from a coworker who's neighbor found a kitten in his backyard, only the dogs had gotten to him first. Long story short, his front right leg was broken, quite a bit of tissue was missing, and as I later found out, there was severe nerve damage.

The leg was amputated yesterday. His full story can be found on his blog: http://pumpernicky.blogspot.com/

I figured I'd put this out here to see if anyone has any experience with similar situations. My biggest concern right now is litter training. The week he was at home bandaged, he used the litter box once. The rest of the time he went on the floor. Not cool, but understandable. Now that he's missing one front leg, i'm thinking its going to be even more difficult to get him used to the litter box. Does anyone here have any experience with a three-legged cat at all? Any advice in regards to anything, litter box training or otherwise?

 

[melissa41927]

just keep putting him in the litter box. if he is very young it may take a while. but cats and dogs with missing limbs are still cats and dogs. he has that instinct to bury his feces and urine. it may just take a while.

 

[Katy]

One of my cats had to have one of her front legs amputated when she was about 6 or 7 weeks old. She gets along just fine. I've never had any trouble with her not using the litter box, but she can't bury it after she's done.

ETA: Yikes I just read your blog......and about what it cost you. My vet charged my $60 for everything....surgery included.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

Quote:
$60? Wow. I wish. I don't think any of the vets around here would do that surgery for less than $300, even the low cost vets.

Maybe I was overreacting to the litter box thing. First thing this morning, I saw him go in the box. He seemed a bit confused afterwards, he obviously wanted to cover it up, but couldn't. And then he just sat in the box for a few minutes, and I picked him up and told him he was a good kitty.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
$60? Wow. I wish. I don't think any of the vets around here would do that surgery for less than $300, even the low cost vets.

Maybe I was overreacting to the litter box thing. First thing this morning, I saw him go in the box. He seemed a bit confused afterwards, he obviously wanted to cover it up, but couldn't. And then he just sat in the box for a few minutes, and I picked him up and told him he was a good kitty.

I think they have that instinct to cover it, so it's confusing to them. He'll get used to it.

 

[Imp]

That's so nice of you to take him in. Now we need pixs

Imp- of the kitten , not the box

 

[jerseygirl1]

Price sounds about right - I found a kitten on my way to work a few weeks ago, ended up needing her eye removed - Total cost, without shots, only rabies given - $450 for surgery, msicellaneous visits prior to surgery - $220 - Total - 670 without the balance of vaccinations done yet - though, she was spayed at the same time as the eye removal - She is priceless, so the cost was insignificant

 

[halfwaynowhere]

Quote:
Yeah, I had the option to just leave the leg to heal, but there was nerve damage so his leg would always have dragged around, and he's so young and active that i didn't want it to hold him back. Having the leg in a cast, he wasn't able to run around, and i wanted him to be able to play and be a kitten.

We'll still have to deal with the neuter later, but I'm going to wait until he's a bit older for that. And shots will have to happen soon, too.

He's such a happy little monster, he's been cuddling with me all morning, and trying to play with all the other animals. he's kept away from them for now, though, because I don't need anyone playing too rough with him while he's still in stitches.

 

[crtrlovr]

Someone SHOT my Siamese cat with a .22 hollow point -- she had her R rear leg amputated and made a full recovery. She adapted very quickly, and could outrun just about anything else on this place. She climbed trees with total ease. Your kitty should do just fine.

Thanks for saving the little one and giving him a home.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

Pictures!!!

this first one was taken this weekend, Radar, my blind-in-one-eye kitty, was curled up with him, giving him a bath. Aw.

This next one was taken today. You can see his shaved stump. He wasn't cooperating with the camera, I was trying to get him to sit like a normal kitty, but he was being a cat, and was curled up and twisted into a weird position that didn't photograph well, so finally i just moved him sort of how i wanted him, and snapped the shot, lol.

and this one just melts my heart. <3