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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Hello! Me and my attitude factory are heading into 6 months post-op after he lost his front left leg to cancer. Aside from the usual recovery issues, his adaptation to his new life has been seamless.
Due to previous health issues and some stress-induced crystallization in his urine during the 2-3 month diagnosis journey - he is on a very high water diet. Two cans of wet food daily served w/ distilled water. And two Hydra Packa daily. The man just will not drink from a fountain.
Which means, frequent trips to the litter box. We currently have 2 extra large litter boxes for him but even with daily cleaning, it’s hard to keep them clean and without his front paw, covering up his left behind gifts is no longer occurring. Which means upon re-entering the litter box later in the day, he has to walk through his previous deposits.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone found an automatic litter box that is large enough for a tripawd to move around comfortably.
2. Any recommendation on better litter that will absorb his urine without the need for covering.
We are currently using standard clumping clay. We had been using Pretty Litter prior to the operation but that could barely keep up with his bathroom habits and after the suggested 4 weeks, was difficult to clean out. He also refuses to use the pellets. We used the suggested newspaper pellets post-op and he refused to go in the litter box.
Any help is appreciated as I’m currently having to mop or clean up clay paw tracks daily.
Glad to hear your kitty is foing so well. What's his
name?
Your post has been approved so others more knowledgeable than I on the subject will be chiming in with some suggestions.
Here's a link to help uou get started. https://downloa.....-cat-tips/
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!
Jackson! He’s a very talkative tuxedo who will be 11 years old this August. I’ve had him since was 2 weeks old - so the diagnosis to surgery was very rough for us both. But this group definitely helped answer a lot of questions and got us through those first, few nights post-op. Figured they could help us again!
Here he is celebrating Christmas on his favorite set of stairs / giant cat tree. Which he isn’t even phased by on 3 legs.
Jackson is as cute as can be! He's sitting proud and handsome on his stairs. It truly is amazing help being on three doesn't phase them a bit. Thanks for sharing the photo of your gorgeous boy.
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!
Yay, another tuxie! My tuxie Jet is a talker, too. He's a rear-leg amputee, so a little different - he's never had much difficulty using the litter box.
I've never tried an automatic litter box, so I'm not much help there.
I've been using World's Best litter for years, been pretty happy with it. It's corn-based. More expensive than clay, but seems to last longer. Less dusty. Clumps well.
Hope that helps!
Hi Ryan and Jackson! Super happy to know your "attitude factory" 
is doing so well.
Two questions:
1. Has anyone found an automatic litter box that is large enough for a tripawd to move around comfortably.
2. Any recommendation on better litter that will absorb his urine without the need for covering.
These are great questions and I'm looking forward to feedback from the cat community, since I don't have one of my own. I know, I'm missing out, but our Nellie K9 doesn't agree 
Good to know his background on what you're using for litter, and what he prefers:
We are currently using standard clumping clay. We had been using Pretty Litter prior to the operation but that could barely keep up with his bathroom habits and after the suggested 4 weeks, was difficult to clean out. He also refuses to use the pellets. We used the suggested newspaper pellets post-op and he refused to go in the litter box.
I wish I had better feedback! Most questions here in these posts about litter boxes and urine are about non-automatic litterboxes, but you might find something in there that helps in the meantime.
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