Our growing community of Tripawd kitties has so much wisdom to share with us. If your cat is about to lose a leg, rest easy knowing you’re surrounded by people with lots of experience who can help ease your worries.
For example, this Discussion Forum conversation is all about amputee cats missing a front leg. Whether your Tripawd is a dog or cat, losing a front leg is a different experience than losing a back one. Here’s how:
“Calling all feline front leg amp pawrents!”
Everyone gave Steve’s mom such great advice. Check it out:
How are Front-leg Tripawd Cats on Stairs?
“Stairs are no problem up and down. She bunny hops down and runs up very fast.” (Mona)
“Coming down the stairs is slower than going up the stairs.” (Smore)
Can Front-leg Tripawd Cats Balance?
“She also hangs out and walks hops back and forth along a half-wall (40″ high and 5″ wide and 12 feet above the staircase on one side). This makes me nervous mostly when she turns around.” (Mona)
“She has mastered the meerkat pose as well where she balances on her hind legs. In fact, she’s easily able to sit up and grab toys on wand toys and stuff them in her mouth with her front paw.” (Smore)
Can Front-leg Tripawd Cats Jump?
“I put a low box and a chair beside the bed to go up and down. The only time she uses the chair/box to go down is when she has used it to go up. When she jumps straight up on to the bed she tends to get down by sliding her front leg down, pushes off and then lands first on her hind legs then her front leg. Sometimes she just runs and dives off which makes me cringe.” (Mona)
“Smore also will slowly lower herself down until her front paw touches something. She will also just jump off things. She doesn’t seem to use the boxes I put up for her to help her down. It makes me nervous every time.” (Smore)
“Avoid high places if possible and give him ways to get down from places he insists on going. The less impact on his one front leg, the better. Especially avoid letting him get up high where the other cats might want to play / knock each other off.” (Sebastian)
What About Front-Leg Tripawd Cat Exercise?
“The chiro vet said it’s also important to keep a good range of motion in the front leg so one good way is to have the cat reach forward – like for a feather or food bowl. In this photo I was just trying to get Mona in her meerkat pose for a photo but she just grabbed the bowl. I hold the bowl high up so she does a good stretch with her front leg.” (Mona)
For more great three-legged cat tips and advice, check out our Tripawd Cat Bloggers and be sure to ask any questions you have in our Discussion Forums, everyone is happy to help.
Hey everyone. My cat had her front leg ambutated when she was 2 months old.. and she in a year old now and it keeps getting infected.. I’m so worried! I am at the vets nearly everyday.. don’t know ow what else to do. Was wondering if there’s anything I can put on her so she doesn’t keep leaning on it cs she actually uses her elbow to walk..don’t know ow why.. any advice? Taking her to a new vet tomorrow to have a second opinion..
Sorry to hear that Alexandra! Please post in the forums where you will likely get much better and faster feedback from members. Also consider consulting with Orthopets and asking if your cat is a candidate for a prosthetic.
Thanks !!!!! We’ve had a lot of cats , and recently had to have one of our two cats front leg amputated . He was really depressed for a while , but with love , encouragement and training on all our parts he is adjusting well . He is about 2 months post op and is adapting well , I still see some learning on his part and bouts of depression . However love and special attention seem to get him through . I had no idea there was support available , bless you !!!
I agree, this is great information. I think it can alleviate any fear that tripawd cats will have trouble getting around. My vet assured me it’s no big deal and these photos and video prove it. I know this took a look of work to put this together. Thanks for doing it!
Kerren
What a great “go ro” source for kitty tripawds. And what a great selection of tripawd kitty role models!
Great advice and adorable poctures!
Rock on kitties!!
This is a great post! I love that you compiled it all into a single page. I’m sure this will help lots of pawrents in the future. Will you be creating one for the read leg tripawd cats too?
Awww thanks! Glad you saw & liked it. Yes we’d love to do one for rear leggers too, we need lots more cat info here.