Thanks for the welcome! Think I figured out pictures. I'm interested to see what the histopathology shows and if they recommend chemo. The surgeon says only about 5-25% of these cases metastasize, so it'll be interesting to see what they recommend based on the margins they got.

It's crazy out there in Veterinary land! I had a hard time getting Max seen. He presented with a small limp that I thought was a bruise or sprain or something. I called about 5 days after I saw no improvement and I had to wait over a week to get him in to my vet. The urgent care and emergency places wouldn't even see him if the leg was weight bearing (it was at the time). Then after the fungal results were negative (another week), I was referred to an oncologist... and the wait times were a month+ for a consult. I got on waiting lists all around the county and miraculously got a next day appt from a cancellation up in Carlsbad.

It was about 6.5 weeks total from noticing the limp to amputation. It gave him lots of time to get proficient on 3 legs!

It's funny, I guess he's considered Super Senior, but he doesn't act it. He has slowed down over the years, but he still has plenty of cattitude. I felt like I had to tell the oncologists that he has plenty of spunk and spice left so I could make the case for amputation, but luckily we were all on the same page. I also made sure they checked and rechecked for any arthritis issues that might affect his ability to recover. I haven't noticed any issues over the years, but that doesn't mean he wasn't compensating. They didn't find anything that would be a problem. He has a repeat echo in Dec (he goes every 6 months) for his heart to make sure it's still doing okay.

Please excuse the hodgepodge floor coverings! I donated my inexpensive yoga mats a while back because they sat rolled up under a bed for years. So we're using a rug pad with a towel on it (so it doesn't shift) and some foam interlocking thingies until some new cheapie yoga mats arrive. He does tend to slip around on the hardwood, so the extra traction is super helpful.

I hope if anyone is out there considering senior cat amputation that this helps! 

Eek! It's been a while. Max's surgeon was Dr Osmond at Cal Vet Specialists. He saw Dr Carter for his initial consult. Dr Osmond did a fantastic job! The histopathology showed osteosarcoma and they said that the amputation was curative- no chemo or radiation needed. They also said the prognosis is about 2-4 years. Eh, at that point he'll be 17-19 (if he lives that long), so that was fine with me.

I can't believe it's been a month. Wow. His 2 week checkup went well and they said I could stop the Gabapentin without weaning. I was wary and halved the dose. It didn't go well. He became very twitchy and super afraid of everything. It was weird. So we went back up and have been on a nice gradual taper the last few weeks. We switch to 50 mg per day today (he was on 200mg daily when we started weaning). I don't expect any issues.

We also got overexcited and I couldn't wait to get my sewing room back so we moved all his stuff out too soon. I forget he's old and change is hard. That resulted in some cat pee (luckily on his blanket). So we have been gradual and deliberate about it. That litter tray made it another week before I couldn't stand it anymore and we moved it back with the other litter box in a different room. I plopped him on the tray to show him where it was and that was that.

He's consistently pooping on the tray! Woohoo! I don't think we have plans to try to get him back in the litter box, even with the lower entrance that my husband cut. The tray is a big ol pain in the neck because the liner gets gross and smelly with cat pee, but he seems to like it and no messes outside the tray means I don't wanna mess with a good thing. We've gotten fairly adept at changing the liner under the litter every few days.

He and Gracie had zero issues reintegrating with each other, thank goodness. Sometimes Max can be a real tyrant but it hasn't happened. I often find them canoodling together and we've had no issues resuming feedings together.

The healing process has been mostly easy and without issue. Almost zero oozing from his scar. I know he's old and healing... but he wasn't really himself until a few days ago. I wondered if Max as I knew him was gone. Then, like a switch flipped, all of a sudden he wanted to spend extended periods of time on the couch and he looked longingly at his normal perches. I got him some pet stairs before the surgery (we have 4 sets now). I needed treats to show him how to go up and down, but he figured it out and seems to be happy with more freedom. He's not consistently using them, but I think he's still building strength. He was exhausted after my first attempt and and slept for several hours.

His fur is growing back nicely and all the scabby bits are (finally!) gone. Oddly, he didn't overgroom his scar, but he did overgroom some areas on the back of his neck which scabbed over and looked and felt really gross. So the onesie went back on for a few days. I think now that the fur is growing back he has more to lick and the issue hasn't happened again. We have really low humidity, so I think it's drying out his skin.

He really likes when I rub/ massage the whole area around his scar.

I knew he was really "back" when he wanted to chomp a plastic bag (UGH), go outside and roll around on the concrete, and sit on the bed with me for morning lovin. His old routines are slowly coming back, which makes both us of really, really happy.  I was trying not to get discouraged that he wasn't really himself, but I was having a hard time imagining another 2-4 years with an aloof Max. He just needed some time to heal and gain some strength. Thank goodness.

I'm so glad we did the amputation! I need to find the thread and check on how Chloe is doing (and I'm glad you found some vets who would operate!). I'm glad you didn't take No for an answer. Age alone should never be a discriminator.

Thanks Jerry and you're welcome! I'm glad it's helpful.

I think he really liked his cozy little recovery room and the routine we had going. He was just a bit confused when everything went away- haha. I didn't do a good job of showing him the new litter box location (totally my bad- I thought he could smell that stinky thing). But I also know he was super happy to have free roam of the house. But losing the onesie and the sleeping area under my sewing table and moving the litter box and the food bowls was a bit much all at once.

Another thing- I bought an orthopedic bed (the teal thing in the pic with the stairs) for his recovery. I shouldn't have. He hasn't touched it once. He much preferred an old folded quilt topped with the blanket we use to protect the back cushion of our couch. I tried covering the orthopedic bed with his blanket so it would have his scent but that was a no-go.

He normally slept on the couch with Gracie every night, which is why we didn't have a cat bed previously.

The stairs weren't cheap. But totally worth the investment to save his front leg from too much strain jumping down. I have been a bit paranoid that he's gonna injure his remaining front leg. I can tell he feels stable and they're nice and firm. They are Best Pet Supplies Foldable Pet Steps from Amazon. They have little rubber dots all over the bottom so they don't slide, which I really appreciate.

He's a trooper and I'm so proud of him!

Thanks Jackie and Huck!

Yup. He turned psycho kitty on us and freaked out, ran away at a gallop, and hid. Scared me too! I immediately increased the dose back up. The gradual wean has been much better. He still sometimes goes slightly psycho kitty (acts like I'm gonna chop off his head if I try to pet him), but we just keep him at that dose for a week and he normalizes. I don't think he needs the Gabapentin anymore, but don't want that crazy freaked out cat to return, so we're keepin' on the slow decline.

Our other cat was camped out in the guest bedroom with the regular litter box and her food bowls since she adopted that room as her own when we moved in 9 yrs ago. She hadn't been coming out to the kitchen to eat right after Max got home, so we made some modifications. Lots of changes. Max ended up in the sewing room so we could keep a close eye and he wouldn't disappear under a bed (not really his style but since the amputation he seems to be under the master bed more). We have a 1400 sq ft house, so it wasn't a far trek back to the regular litter area. I think he just got used to it being in the sewing room. Live and learn! I did a huge happy dance when that tray made it back to the guest room.

That's so awesome that you've been able to rehabilitate a feral AND amputee! Huckleberry sounds like a very lucky and happy cat!