Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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Hi there! My kitten is almost 4 months and has been a rear leg amputee for ar least 2 of those months (he was found last mont already amputated) and I was wondering how I could help him build up strength in his remaining leg for small jumps? I want to get him a small cat tree for more exercise, but as of right now he can't really jump. Any tips?
Thanks ahead of time!!
Hi Eclipse! Welcome! What a brave little cat to have gone through so much so young!
At two months out from surgery, it might take a bit of time for him to build up courage and confidence vs a four legged cat. When cats are feeling vulnerable they tend to stay close to the ground, but that won't be forever!
To get him used to the idea of being safe at higher elevations, maybe start with some very gentle, very sturdy ramps, and give him little treats to encourage him along. Start small and let him move at his own pace.
The most important thing is to make sure he doesn't jump down from wherever he is, especially while he's still healing and getting his footing. Maybe leading him up a ramp, giving effusive praise and when he looks ready to leave lead him back down the ramp so he knows he can get up and down that way.
I'm so glad your little kitten has someone like you in his life to make sure he's safe and protected while he recovers. You're doing great!
Senior trikitty Luanne had a right forepaw removed in May of 2022 and is still going strong! Here's our story.
Thank you so much for the tips! I'm not sure exactly how long it's been, or if it was medically done or not but we definitely have been taking it slower! I'll look into some ramp type things for him that won't bee too hard on him!
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26 April 2007
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Hi Eclipse! Thanks for adopting this sweet kitty. What's his name?
When a cat or dog loses a rear leg, they lose half of their propulsion power. Their rear legs are where all the strength comes into play for running and jumping. So he may not be as jumpy as other cats as he grows, which isn't a bad thing since we've had some members here whose cats have gotten injured from falling from high perches. I would definitely start training him now to use cat stairs and ladders, etc. Here are some posts about that:
The Purrfect Steps for Tripawd Cats (and Dogs!)
Three Tripawd Tips for Pet Steps and Ramp Training Success
Building good core strength is super helpful too! See these exercise tips:
Three Games for Tripawd Cat Exercises
And don't forget, our Three Legged Cats book is filled with tons of great info too!
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