Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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2 week old kitten (Milo) had to have front left leg removed. I don't know how I'm going to litter box train him when the time comes! Graduated from syringe feeding to bottle feeding. Surgery was 1 week ago. Very risky procedure due to his size but we had to try or he wouldn't have survived. I'm proud of him and our vet. I don't know how to post a picture but he's pretty cute.
Hi Jolene, welcome to you and Milo. What was the reason for his amputation?
You probably won't need to do too much as far as training. Animals are so resilient you will be amazed at how well he learns how to adapt. These litterbox tips may help make it easier:
Three Legged Cat Litterbox Tips for New Tripawd Cats
Have you seen our book about caring for three-legged cats?
https://tripawd.....-cat-book/
This is how adding images works in the Forums.
Basically you need to:
- upload a photo somewhere like your own Tripawds blog, or a public image hosting site like Imgur.com or Imgbb.com
- then copy the image URL (or just tap the image and copy it if you're on a mobile device)
- return here, and paste the image into your forum post.
Hope that makes sense. Let us know if you'd like help! Can't wait to see your little guy!
Thanks Jerry. My daughter found him all alone tangled in some tall weeds. His arm was broken, bone sticking out, and had turned black at the paw, major infection.
Oh that is a cute kitten! And he's very lucky to have found your family.
Warning! CUTENESS OVERLOAD!! CUTENESS ALERT!!!
Milo is absolutely adorable!! Those eyes are beautiful! This little kitty had the luckiest day of his life when your daughter found him
Can't even imagine the hurdles he has already overcome and still to face. Thanks to you and uour daughter though, he has a chance to thrive. Does the little fella' have pain meds while healing during recovery? Can't even imagine how a little guy like this would even have a dose little enough.
Thanks so very much for sharing him with us AND for sharing those adorable photos.
Keep is posted and let us know how things are going.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
LOL I'm MELTING with 
! Total mush puddle here, what a CUTIE!!!!
Do you mind if I share one or two in the Tripawds photo gallery?
Milo is so lucky to find his way to your daughter and you. What a win for everyone! Thank you for sharing.
One thing to keep in mind is that when a cat or dog loses a leg at such a young age, they haven't developed motor skills yet. His balance and strength will be off kilter as he grows and he might develop some bad habits over time, through no fault of his own of course. It's just how they compensate on their own. But there's lots you can do to help offset that. Feel free to take advantage of the Tripawds Foundation 's rehab reimbursement program which can pay for your first rehab visit . These experts can evaluate him, and show you the best ways to help him grow strong and stay injury free. I would call a rehab therapy center now, to find out when would be a good time to have him evaluated. They might want you to wait until he's a little older, or see him now. I have no idea! But either way the foundation can pay for that first visit so that he gets off to a great start mobility-wise.
We look forward to following along with his adventures!
Kittens, they're always so adorable!
About the litterboxtraining: I think there's no real difference between a three-legged kitten and a four-legged kitten when the kitten is that young losing his leg. He's not truely walking yet, just crawling. The lost leg hasn't been in his 'bodyscheme' for long, so probably the brain totally forgets there supposed to be four legs instead of three. When his motor skills (coördination, balance, muscle tone and strength) are developed enough to stand, walk (belly of the floor) and lift his front paw, he probably will develop the skills to use the litterbox automaticly too. Maybe balance wil take a little bit more time then a fourlegged kitten because of the asymmetry. But I think that's all.
As a cat parent of Freek, who came to me as a solo kitten at 5 weeks, I want to give you some other advice: Consider taking in another kitten! Especially when there is no other cat around.
Freek did have an adult cat (Vicky) around, but I've regretted not taking in another kitten. Kittens need other cats for their social development, especially for learning boundaries (setting and respecting). Adult cats can learn them those things, but difference in age also gives difference in energy and strength. When Freek was a todler, Vicky liked to play with Freek, but when he got older, Vicky didn't like it anymore, because Freek was 'to much'. His rascal personality didn't help, but I also think being a solo kitten, encouraged him being a rascal because of the lack of boundarie-setting by peers.
Kittens need playmates, just to vent all that energy inside. I made the mistake using my hand as a playmate. Nowadays, when I want to pet Freek, most of the times he thinks I'm inviting him to a wrestling game, using his frontpaw(s) and jaws (in a friendly way). I don't really mind, but it scares other people off when they try to pet him.
Try to get in touch with people who are experienced in fostering kittens from a young age, they can tell you more about the socializing benefits of having at least two kittens at the same time and maybe can help you tot find a kitten near in age of the one you have. If you don't want to have double trouble about bottle feeding and litterbox training: in my experience you can do without all of that at the age of five weeks. Freek could eat solid food and drink out of a bowl at that age and directly understood using the litterbox.
What a beautiful and strong kitty! Go Milo (and mom) - you got this!! I was so amazed how well my 15 yr old cat handled her front paw amputation. There is no doubt Milo will rock life on three legs.
ksobell said
What a beautiful and strong kitty!
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