Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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2 days ago my fiance and I adopted a 3 legged orange tabby who we named Captain Ahab as we work to move on from the loss of our previous cat a few weeks ago. Ahab is extremely sweet and cuddly and we could not be happier with our choice of cat, but he is also our first ever 3 legged cat and we are scrambling a bit trying to make sure he has everything he needs to live a comfortable and happy little kitty life. According to the rescue he came to them with 3 legs and they believe that he has been this way for at least a little while, so he has adjusted pretty well to moving around. He is missing his left hind leg, and because of that jumping isn't really his forte. We moved out mattress onto the floor so he can sleep with us while we wait for the cat ramp we ordered and he seems thrilled to be able to snuggle at night.
The big issue we are having right now is with a scratching post/cat tree. Most of them require some level of jumping to navigate and that doesn't work for him. He really wants to look out windows, but all the windows in our apartment are fairly high (around 3-4 feet) and he can't reach to see so we are hoping to get him something he can sit on top of to look out the windows. He's also a very big boy (currently weighs in at 15 pounds) so anything we get needs to be very sturdy. We are hoping this community may have some suggestions for our brand new baby! Any scratching post/cat tree recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Also, any other advice you all could offer on helping your 3 legged babies would be great! He's a sweet boy who has had such a hard time and we want to do anything we can to make sure he lives his best life!
Hello and welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away! We are so sorry for your recent loss. What a sweet, healing step you took to adopt Captain Ahab. Thank you! He's a lucky cat. We can't wait to see photos of him! Here's how adding images to the Forums works, let me know if you'd like help.
Meanwhile you ask some great questions! And you're observant: animals missing a rear leg lose 50% of their propulsion power. They can get stronger in time (especially with rehab therapy!), but overall they aren't great jumpers. You can do many things to help Ahab enjoy outside views though!
Any scratching post/cat tree recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Also, any other advice you all could offer on helping your 3 legged babies would be great!
Check out the Tripawds Gear blog for some Tripawd cat ideas and recommendations like:
The Purrfect Steps for Tripawd Cats (and Dogs!)
The Best Tripawds Gear List for Three Legged Pets (so far!)
Also, our e-book Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats has tons of tips so be sure to check it out. Stay tuned for feedback from the community!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wheeeeee! He is such a TIGER! Oh my gosh he's handsome! I'm so glad you figured out photos, Can't wait for more!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there,
It sure sounds like Captain Ahab has found a great home. And of course he is perfectly adorable too. A bit over over 4 years ago my cat, Tuxedo, lost his rear leg and partial pelvis due to trauma. He is a 14 year old big kid at almost 15 pounds, and like always, a real handful. I know that his jumping ability is less than what it was before that happened and rationally that it should be about half, but he is always getting up high somewhere, making me wonder how on earth he does it (think top of fridge & roof, etc). I made ramps, stairs, and various perches, which he occasionally uses, but for the most part, he ignores them just does whatever he wishes. He has never been much into cat trees or the like. But one of the things I got him was a scratch pad lounger and he does seem to like playing with it. Perhaps something like this might work?
Best wishes to you and Captain Ahab
-Dawna, Tuxedo, Lilly, and Angel Dazzle
BTW I am not on here often, so if you have any specific questions for me, please feel free to leave me a private message on the site.
Welcome Captain Ahab and familu!! Clearly Captain Ahab has won the Kitty Lottery when you took him to his furever home with you!😘
And I bet your Mitty who recently passed away had his paw on this "rescue". Sounds like you all have a good Guardian Angel wat over you now♥️
Dawna and Jerry have given you great tips. Let us know how things work ou.
The pictnof Captain Ahab are adoravle!!! I love his mug and the shape of his kitty mouth and nose. So cute. And he clear loves chin scratches 👍
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!
Hi and welcome! Huck's femur was broken in half back in 2017. He can scale a 6 foot cat tree.. serious. We have three of them in our house. We got ours on Chewy.com. They have 4 levels and three of the 4 levels have scratchers on them. You don't have to get the tall one, we have 2 different heights and they make them from 2 to 6 feet high.
I mention Chewy because in general, cat trees and things of that nature are just so expensive. They carry a huge variety for very reasonable prices that don't break the bank and they last quite a long time.
Huck has very powerful upper body strength. He has jumped literally half way up the tree, held on by his front paws and pulled himself up from there. He was also feral, lol. He is a handsome grey chunky monkey now, and he still does his cat scratcher stretches regularly. 
He often naps at the top of the tree and he adores watching life from above. He also likes the bottom of the tree in the sunroom where he can watch the birds, squirrels, racoons and wildlife in the yard.
He didn't start out at the top of the tree, but I left it to his discretion and for the first time in my life I have a cat that I do not clip claws on. I watch to make sure no nails get ingrown, but his front feet do a lot of work and he uses his claws for grip when he jumps up on things. If he slips his claws prevent him from falling and hurting himself.
I may have a different routine than the average cat (lol) but this is what works for us.
I wish you luck and congratulations on your new family member
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Here he is in action 🙂
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
You always give so much kitty input Jaxkie. And we get to see videos of Mr Adoravle as a bonus 👍
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!
Ha! The second one was the wrong upload, sorry. I was in a hurry trying to get dinner going. I will keep looking.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Super duper input! Thanks for mentioning the cat trees that you have, it's so nice there's a variety of heights. And what great Tripawd decor you have on that one too 😉
It's great seeing Huck and knowing that he's doing so well. Wish I had that kind of upper body strength!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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