Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone,
Circumstances led me to adopt Eleanor, a 10-month-old kitten who had her left hind leg amputated. After extensive research, I am trying to modify my home to minimize any potential accidents that may happen to here due to attempting to jump onto my bed and other furniture (I previously had a furfriend with a front leg amputation and had to make little adjustments to her living environment). I understand a back leg amputation is harder for a cat to adjust to and would appreciate any recommendations on ways to make things easiest for Ellie. I am also searching for a cat tree that she can use as so many of them require lots of jumping.
Beulah, our 6 month old Siamese kitten, has taken to Ellie's arrival extremely well. I want to ensure they both have safe spaces to play.
I've added steps to get onto the bed but she still jumps off the bed. Does anyone have any advice on how to encourage her to use the stairs?
Thank you so much
Hello @sydknee, welcome. Your future posts won't require approval so post away.
Thank you for adopting Eleanor, that's pawesome! Did she have some kind of injury that required amputation? You'll have to share photos! Here's how adding images works.
It's soooo smart of you to ask about home mods. Being that you are a Tripawd parent again (yay!), you know that it's so important to preserve joints and minimize injury risk. Each type of Tripawd has their own unique challenges. For a rear-leg amputee, jumping will be harder as you know. So the more steps you can place around the home, the better.
Our e-book, Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats , has tons of great home mod tips, such as:
Protecting your cat’s remaining legs is critical. Always be on the lookout for ways in which your Tripawd is
at risk of injury in and around your home and yard. Things that your cat may have done safely and naturally
before, may be hazardous now.Although you usually can’t prevent your cat from doing things like climbing and jumping, there are many
things you can do to lessen the odds of an injury.• Keep your cat indoors.
• Build a Tripawd-safe Catio.
• Block off the tops of cabinets and other high perches where cats climb.
• Use pet stairs and other objects that offer safe climbing and descending opportunities
• Add carpet treads on stairs
• Put rug runners down on hallways and popular walking paths
• Install a Tripawd-friendly cat tree – something that isn’t too high or too challenging.
Our Tripawds Gear blog has lots of Trikitties tips too!
Stay tuned for feedback from others! We look forward to following along on your adventures.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh forgot to address
Does anyone have any advice on how to encourage her to use the stairs?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It is good to give your cat options but once the amputation has healed cats will be cats, they enjoy being lunatics and they do usually bounce quite well.
I would be relaxed about reasonable drops (i.e. from the bed), but would be more concerned with high falls where the lack of a leg could be dangerous.
- "what shall be done for these innocents? I have been warned not even to raise the question of animal immortality, lest I find myself “in company with all the old maids”. I have no objection to the company" - C S Lewis (The Problem of Pain)
- "Mr Toplady was touched by the cruelty of the scene, and exclaimed, ' Who could bear to see that sight, if there were not to be some compensation for these poor suffering animals in a future state' 'I certainly hope,' said my grandfather, ' that all the bulls will go to heaven; but do you think this will be the case with all the animal creation' 'Yes, certainly,' replied Mr Toplady, with great emphasis, ' all, all!" - Josiah Bull (recording a meeting with the great A. M. Toplady, author of "Rock of Ages" in "Memorials of the Rev. William Bull of Newport, Pagnel")
- "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God" Luke 12:6
Jerry gave you excellent advice. Ditto
Kudos to you for tripawd proofing the house we cant take back an accident. We do better safe than sorry! We had 4 legger fall off a kitchen table (compound fracture). Garfield was not a candidate for surgery & we had to let him go! We never want to see anyone in that position! Let alone on three! We need to protect the joints & remaining leg the best we can from wear and tear & any mishaps.
We trained Purrkins to use his steps once with treats going up and going down. That's all it took Purrkinsand his brother took right to them.
The placement is everything. Put the steps to any high place that would require the jump up or down. Try not to make the steps optional. I know that's tough at the bed but place them where you have seen them jump up or down. Watch and move if needed.
These are the steps we have at the bed the 4 steps
Aeromark International Armarkat Pet Steps Stairs Ramp for Cats and Dogs
Purrkins is a front leg amputee- he has a similar tree below.
New Cat Condos Spiral Cat Tree
They also have the best steps here; we own several of these. Make sure to measure carefully.
Front and leg amputees have different challenges, as you will see and as Jerry posted.
Thanks for adopting another tripawd & kudos for making the house tripawd friendly!
Best of luck!
Hugs, Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
My cat just lost her back leg 2 months ago, so I'm not an expert yet. And, my cat is older, so she seems to prefer going down the stairs. However, just in case, I also added dog beds to the floor near the points where she would jump off. That way she at least will land on something softer if she does jump.
I also put this ramp next to the stairs going to the couch. My cat goes up the stairs but down the ramp. Again, she is older so it was easy to train her. A kitten may not care about a ramp but . . .
Again, she is older so it was easy to train her. A kitten may not care about a ramp but . . .
There's no better time than the present to train a cat or dog at any age to use a ramp. All these things that we do for Tripawds are thing that would have to be done eventually for a senior animal to keep them injury-free. Ramps are awesome!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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