If you’re wondering whether or not you should adopt a Tripawd cat, this story about Icelyn the Trikitty will convince you to take the leap! After losing her leg to frozen temperatures outside, she’s now living the good life, safe and warm inside with her furever family.
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Icelyn’s Tripawd Rescue Love Story
Here’s her story as told by her human, Karen G.
Tripawd Tuesday Q&A
How old is your Tripawd?
12 weeks (approximately). Born around October 17, 2025.
When and why did your Tripawd lose a leg?
Icelyn froze her paw to a bucket, was rescued and taken to the Tama County Humane Society.
Infection had begun & it was deemed necessary to amputate the entire front left leg. Her surgery was done as soon as she reached 2 lbs.
I came into her story on December 8th when the humane society reached out to donors to help with the cost of her care.
From the very first moment I saw her picture I knew she had to be part of our family, and I visited her almost every day from that point, seeing her with the damaged limb on December 9th, being there during surgery on 12/12/2025 & taking her home on 12/17/2025.
It was reported to me that Icelyn ate & used her litter box normally following surgery. When I arrived the next day I was met by a kitten who wanted to play & used her remaining 3 limbs as if they were the only ones she ever had.
Her first 6 days post-op were spent at the humane society.
The vet had prescribed gabapentin which kept any pain at bay, although I never saw her in anything resembling pain. She was just a happy, playful kitten that happened to have three legs.
Icelyn spent her first week in our home confined to a “Pack & Play” playpen without much room to do more than eat, drink, use her litter box & rest. I found it necessary to allow her out of her confinement several times each day so she could play & burn off some of her kitten wiggles.
she wanted to be more active than either the vet who did her surgery & the vet I will be taking her to throughout life wanted. I did use a child’s sleeve to cover the incision as she was so tiny.
On 12/24 she was moved to a larger 3×3’ playpen until her stitches were removed. Icelyn’s surgeon removed her stitches 2 weeks after surgery.
Upon returning home, understanding she could begin normal life, I opened the playpen door. She ran across the room, climbed the Christmas tree, and chased her 10 lb brother up the stairs. She’s never slowed down.
I find it amazing she jumps onto furniture, scales the cat tree & easily runs up & down the stairs.
How did your Tripawd adapt to life on three? Did the reality match your expectations?
Icelyn appears to look at life like 3 paws are all she needs. Maybe that’s because she is so young. What she expects of herself is far greater than what I could ever have imagined.
She tends to slide down heights greater than a chair so yesterday I installed another basket below the top on the cat tree.
Now from the top basket she hops to the newly installed one, reaches over & hops to the back of the chair, slides down the back of the seat & hops to the floor.
What are your Tripawd’s favorite things to do?
Play like any other kitten, terrorize her cat brothers and sit in high places like the cat tree or backs of furniture.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your Tripawd so far?
She’s a normal kitten who just needs to find creative ways of descending from wherever she’s climbed.
What is your best advice to someone who is about to go through amputation with their pet, or someone who is thinking of adopting a Tripawd?
Speaking as a Tripawd kitten mother, don’t allow amputation be a deciding factor for adoption.
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