Three legged cats are just as adorable as their four legged friends. But owning and caring for a 3 legged cat can be understandably daunting.
Known affectionately to their owners as ‘tripod kitties,’ three legged cats can have some special requirements and you will have a lot of questions.
How do you give them the best care they need?
How will this affect their quality of life?
Are there dangerous complications to the surgery?
Amputation surgery is a decision no cat owner wants to make. Sometimes, however, we have no choice.
Here is what you need to know.
Cat leg amputation surgery
In cats, the most common reasons why your veterinarian might recommend a cat leg amputation are trauma and cancer.
Amputation is usually a last case resort once all other options are exhausted. The good news is that cat amputation surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure.
There are several different ways your veterinarian can amputate your cat’s leg. The exact surgical procedure they choose depends on the damage to the limb and the limb itself.
Cat front leg amputations are usually performed by removing the entire limb along with the shoulder blade. This procedure leaves your cat with a well-padded amputation site, and complete removal of the leg helps ensure ease of movement post-operation.
There are two main techniques used to amputate hind legs.
The first leaves a small stump midway through the femur. This is preferable to some owners, as it leaves your cat’s rump looking normal and provides your cat with padding.
The second technique removes the entire leg at the hip joint.
This is typically done when there is disease or severe damage to the thigh.
In some trauma cases, especially with car accidents, there might be more damage that your veterinarian needs to address before they can perform the surgery.
In almost all cases, however, your veterinarian will want to run bloodwork to make sure your cat is not at an increased risk of complications during surgery.
Cat leg amputation recovery
After the surgery is done, the real work begins.
Humans take much longer to adapt to amputations than cats. It probably helps that cats start out with two more legs than we do, but whatever the reason, cats recover very quickly from cat amputation surgeries.
Here is what you can expect.
Depending on your cat’s health and your veterinarian’s preferences, your cat may be hospitalized for a day or two following surgery.
When your cat does come home, it is very important for owners to keep their cats calm. Your veterinarian will most likely send your cat home with an Elizabethan collar, also known as the infamous ‘cone of shame,’ to prevent your cat from irritating the surgery site.
Your cat will also come home with painkillers to help manage the postoperative pain. In some cases, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection, or to control any existing infection.
Three Legged Cat Post Surgical Care
Whenever possible, try to keep your cat off slippery or uneven surfaces until she has figured out how to walk steadily on three legs. Stairs are also a risk for new amputee cats to navigate.
Your cat will have to go back to the veterinarian to have his sutures removed a few days after surgery. This is a great time to ask your veterinarian any questions, and allows them to make sure there are no complications developing.
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Most cats make complete recoveries and adapt very well to life with three legs. In a survey of owners of cats undergoing leg amputations, 89 percent of the owners thought their cats regained a normal quality of life. Those are pretty good odds.
Cats carry most of their weight on their front limbs. It might take a cat with a front leg amputation a little longer to recover than those with hind limb amputations.
It can also take older cats longer to adjust to an amputation than it does younger cats, but with time, they too should regain full mobility.
Cat leg amputation complications
There is no such thing as a totally safe surgery. There are risks any time an animal is under anesthesia. Veterinarians do their best to identify some of these risks through pre-surgery bloodwork.
However, cat leg amputation surgery is a relatively low risk surgery, as far as surgeries go.
The biggest cat leg amputation complications, besides the risks of general anesthesia, are hemorrhaging, postoperative infection, and wound breakdown.
In some cases, additional surgery may be required to deal with complications.
Along with these risks, owners could see some bruising and fluid accumulation along the incision. This should improve after several days, and your veterinarian may recommend using hot packs a few times a day.
In rare instances, nerve damage can result in a painful condition called neuroma formation that may require an additional surgery or pain medication.
There is little as an owner that you can do to prevent complications during surgery. To reduce your three legged cat’s risk of developing complications after their surgery, however, make sure you follow your veterinarian’s instructions, and don’t hesitate to call with questions or concerns if something doesn’t look, feel, or smell right.
Three legged cat care
Once the surgery is over, recovery beings. Here are some tips for three legged cat care for post-surgery and the rest of their lives.
Overweight cats are at an increased risk of developing joint diseases like arthritis, not to mention other conditions like diabetes.
It is even more important that your three legged cat stays slim, as this will reduce the wear and tear on your cat’s remaining limbs.
In fact, the most important thing you can do for a cat with three legs is keep them on the thinner side of normal, according to veterinarians.
You can help your cat stay trim by feeding an appropriate diet and engaging them in play.
Just because they have three legs doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy chasing a favorite toy, so help keep your three legged cat walking, running, and jumping with a little play time.
While cats typically manage very well with three legs, there are some things you can do to make their lives easier.
Making It Easy For Your Three Legged Cat
Place food, water, and litter boxes in convenient locations for your cat, instead of in hard to reach or elevated areas.
Learning to use the litter box with only three legs can be a challenge.
You can help with this by keeping the litter box very clean and by getting a litter box with higher sides to accommodate any changes in habits.
Your cat may need some assistance grooming, at first.
Grooming is a great bonding experience with your feline, and will help your cat feel better.
If your cat struggles to reach her favorite spots around the house, consider installing a ramp or her very own ‘catwalk’ to make it easier for her.
The most important thing you can do as an owner of cat with 3 legs, aside from weight management, is observe.
If your cat appears depressed, lethargic, or changes his grooming, eating and elimination habits, it could be a sign of discomfort or pain.
Your veterinarian may be able to help ease your cat’s discomfort.
Taking on a three legged cat for adoption
If you’re considering adopting a tripod kitty, you’re probably wondering if there are any additional considerations that come with 3 legged cats.
The good news is that most cats with three legs make a full recovery and adapt to life as a tripod kitty easily.
Your new friend should not have any problems performing normal cat behaviors like jumping, running, and playing.
You may find your three legged cat tires a little faster than a four legged cat, and if they have had a hind limb amputation, their jumping range might be a little diminished, but there are no serious concerns about mobility.
Three legged cats can use a litterbox, eat, groom themselves, run, play, sleep, and perform all the regular functions of four legged cats, although this adjustment process can take time.
Three legged cats should also be kept indoors or outside only when supervised to prevent further injury and to keep them safe from neighborhood predators.
Adopting a special needs pet is rewarding, and will probably save their life. If you see a 3 legged cat for adoption at your local shelter, talk to your veterinarian for any further tips on how to keep your new best friend happy and healthy.
Three legged cat problems
You may find that your cat develops some physical or behavioral problems during their recovery.
It can take a while for some cats to figure out how to walk on three legs, and resuming normal activities like grooming and using the litter box pose challenges.
Be patient with your cat and help when you can. Experiment with different litter boxes, and keep some baby wipes on hand to help clean your cat’s rear area if urinating or defecating are difficult at first.
Obese three legged cats are at risk of hurting their other limbs. Most cats adapt very well to life on three legs, but they prefer to leave life on two legs to humans. Keep your cat trim to avoid jeopardizing any of his other limbs.
Three legged cat life expectancy is the same as any other cat, as long as the condition that necessitated the amputation does not cause additional problems.
For the most part, life with a three legged cat is no more challenging than life with an ordinary cat – not that there is any such thing as an ordinary cat!
Three legged cat prosthesis?
Humans can have prosthetic limbs, but what about cats with three legs?
Currently, prosthetic limbs in cats are rare. Since cats recover so well from amputation, part of the lack of prosthetics could be simply that most cats don’t need them.
If your cat is missing two legs, however, they may require additional help. Wheelchairs are available for cats and dogs, but prosthetic limbs are not.
This may be about to change. Scientific advances in the last decade in connecting living tissue with artificial implants are helping veterinarians figure out how to make prosthetics for cats more successful – and more affordable.
Hopefully, these new discoveries will help scientists and veterinarians overcome the obstacles of infection and implant longevity, shaping the future of animal prosthetics.
For now, however, options are unfortunately limited.
Three Legged Cat
Life with a tripod cat might seem daunting at first, but your three legged friend is not very different from the other felines on the block.
Cat amputation surgery is generally low risk, and cats recover remarkably quickly to their new lives.
Your cat’s surgery will ultimately help her get back on track after an illness or injury.
You may even find that life with a tripod kitty is more rewarding than you imagined.
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Further Reading and Resources
- ‘Limb Amputation.’ American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Iowa State University. ‘Cat receives prosthetic legs, makes strides in recovery.’ Science Daily. 2015. - Forster, L. M. et al. ‘Owner’s observations of domestic cats after limb amputation.’ Veterinary Record. 2010.
- Grimm, K. DVM, MS, PhD, DACVA, DACVCP. ‘Anesthetic risk management (Proceedings).’ DVM360.com. 2010.
- Seim, H. DVM, DACVS. ‘Surgeon’s Corner: Forelimb Amputation.’ Clinician’s Brief. 2013
- Smeak, D. DVM, DACVS. ‘Forelimb Amputation.’ NAVC Clinician’s Brief. 2012.
- Tremayne, J. ‘Prosthetics Advance With Osseointegration.’ Veterinary Practice News. 2009.
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I have just adopted a beautiful kitty from the Humane Society. Another failed foster :). Luna is about 3 and had her back right leg amputated about 3 weeks ago. She is doing really well and is such a sweet and kind little girl. However, my biggest concern is her left back leg was damaged at some point as well and has a lot of muscle waste and athritus. She was found with one leg mangled and her other leg in a cast. Mangled leg amputated. She was picked up as a stray, but had obviously had some vet care because of the left back leg cast. Someone loved this little girl.
I want to help her get her strength back to her other hind leg, but do not want to overdo it and do more damage. Are there specific excersises I have her do without doing more harm than good.
Julie
Hi Julie
Our cat also has one hind leg. She had it when we adopted her and was about 9 years old. She has developed strong shoulder muscles where she pulls herself along the matting we have and she has a scratchpole. She is supervised in the garden but runs fast. However her tummy is too big and I really have to watch her weight. She runs in the house when I play with her using a plastic tape measure (metal ends removed) but playing regularly helps build some strength. She sleeps a lot but as it’s winter I don’t let her out after 8.00pm. She likes to hunt and sits in the bush in the garden. Have had to rescue some little creatures so hence she has me looking over her shoulder.
I went on this site to check out how I could make her happier but apart from cuddles I don’t know of anything else. She doesn’t alow any other cats in the garden or I would find her a little friend.
Sue
I just read that there is such a thing as a certified feline rehabilitation specialist. You may want to search for one in your area.
We had to have our kittie’s front leg amputated this summer. We were so afraid to allow any runnng, jumping etc on vets advice. Eventually we did take him outside where he quickly tried climbing a tree in the front yard. He got about half way up and fell down to his back. He tried a second time and succeeded. We quickly brought him in the house again. Today, 3 months later he is able to do whatever he wants. I guess my point is most cats are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.
He has learned his limitations and no longer crawls across the top railing upstairs but does the things where he knows he can without getting hurt. He now scampers around the house, eats and drinks well but does have a tiny problem in the cat box covering it up. That’s ok though, we can deal with that. And he doesn’t go outside very often. We don’t want him too comfortable out there.
BTW, his injury was due to a neighbor shooting him with a bow and arrow through his front leg. We live in the middle of 10 acres in a very rural area.
First of all – HORRENDOUS neighbour!
Secondly, thank you so much for writing this. My lovely cat is currently having surgery to remove his front right paw after some sort of trauma – we’re not sure what – and I’m obviously very nervous about bringing him home.
However reading your post is really reassuring so thank you!
OMG what an AWFUL neighbour! Did you prosecute him? Your kitty sounds very gutsy and brave, and as you say, cats are far more clever than we credit them for. After my cat lost her back leg in an accident, she soon learned, partly by trial and error, what she could and couldn’t do. She also soon learned how to do things that we didnt think she could do, ie. run along to top of our garden fence, on her three legs, confidently and without falling. She still controls the neighbourhood cats and dogs, as she used to before, ruling them with an iron paw! They need a passport before they enter her garden, lol.Your kitty will adapt, and be absolutely fine! just be there to catch him at first, when he has the inevitable tumbles. He won’t need you before long!
i am amazed at how unconcerned people are about letting cats run loose. wow. especially if limbs had to be amputated due to ‘accidents’. seriously , people, wake the hell up. keep them safe, keep them inside, for heavens’ sake.
Hiya my lovely ragdoll archie is thirteen months and he had his hind right leg amputated today, as he went out and came back limping turns out it had 5 breaks…. So heartbroken right now haven’t stopped crying. he’s home now all comfy and snug. It’s so horrid to see him like this I just want to make him happy, I’m not sure how! How long will he take to become my purring scatty archie again?? thanks for reading,
Vana xxxx
Hi Vana,
Don’t worry about Archie…he will recover and be just the same loving cute boy you already have! Cats reciover from limb sugery, in fact, any surgery much better than we do. He’ll soon adapt to having 3 legs, you only have to keep an eye on him until he’s fully fluent at getting around, which believe me wont take long! My cat Kucuk had a back leg amputated 3 years ago, and she gets around just fine. Her muscles have strengthened to accommodate helping her get around. She evn goes outdoors for a play in the garden and we found her up on the fence! She climbed up the plant netting! I let her crawl along the fence as I was with her, but now she is very clever at climbing and walking along the fence on her own; she has got her balance perfectly! Its safer for them to be indoors, but Kucuk is an outdoor cat so she needs some time outdoors occasionally. You may need to help Archie climb on to a bed or sofa at first until his muscles increase, and help him scratch his ear! Archie will be just fine, don’t worry x
I hope Archie is recovering well now. My lovely Rag doll has several acres to roam around on. But he went missing for several days. Staggered home limping he may have been shot. We will never know. His front leg was shattered, and 2 days ago the vet amputated the leg and shoulder blade. However – I’m positive our beautiful cats will live a long and happy life.
Hi,
My kitty came from Turkey, she was a street cat, extremely thin, you could see through her wispy fur to her skin, and even her ribcage! She looked about 8 weeks old, wandered into our house and looked up at us with her beautiful eyes, we were hooked :-). She didnt lose her hind leg until after we brought her back to the UK. One day she got out of the house. Being a street cat, she was used to being outdoors so we had to let her out occasionally into our fenced garden, but as we know, cats can beat almost any fence. Someone set an illegal rabbit trap, and she caught her foot in it, managed to free herself and hobbled home. Horrified, we rushed her to the vet.The vet said she had somehow knawed he foot free, and struggled her way home…cats are so incredibly amazing! We are astounded by her resilience and bravery. She had her leg removed, 3 years ago now, and I am happy to report that she lives an almost normal life, she’s happy, very lively, and able to “fly” up the stairs, faster than our other 4 legged cat! She can get around very well indeed.Occasionally she needs a help up on to the sofa, but she prefers to pull herself up. She also likes to have her ear scratched if it needs it, as she doesn’t have the corresponding back leg to do the job as before :-).I’ve noticed too how much more developed her shoulder muscles are now, as is her remaining hind leg, also her tail has become thicker and stronger, as it helps balance her. I wouldn’t have been able to stop her climbing and running around anyway as she’s always been an adventurous kitty. The only concern I have is that in future she may get arthritis due to the pressure on her remaining leg, but I think that if her muscles are kept working as she plays, and if I watch her weight :-), hopefully this wont be a problem. She’s honestly no more work than our other cat, and its very encouraging to see how well she gets on with her life, and I’m not worrying about her any more.
So I have a cat who had to get one of her back legs amputated. She has recently become pregnant. Do you think that she will be able to have the kittens without problems? Like maybe have a c-section of some sort?
We recently rescued a cat who was abandoned in a condemned house with a bunch of other animals. She appears to be less than a year old and is missing her front right paw. We originally thought she must have been born that way as the injury appears to be completely healed. However she hates it when we touch her paw and reacts as if it causes her great pain. Also sometimes after vigorous activity it bleeds a little. Any ideas?
It sounds like you need to speak to a vet about this one, as she could well be in pain. Cats are very good at masking discomfort, so it’s always best to get them checked out to be on the safe side. I hope she’s feeling better soon.
I just want to thank everyone for your messages.
My cat is 4.5 years old 20lb maine coon. He was attacked by a larger animal and as result of that his back leg is going to be amputated on 08/08/2018. My surgeon vet said he would remove a whole leg (to hip Joint) while only distal part of his leg was badly injured. I was browsing the internet to do more research for prosthetic leg for cats and found this web. I read all of your the stories that were so kindly shared. Now I feel calm and have faith into good recovery and adaption of a new life. It would be a new life for him and for my family.
Thank you so much cat lovers
Our 15 year old cat, Melvin had his back left leg and hip amputated after being hit by a car when he was running away from being shot with BB’s. He is an in door cat.Molly Our daughter adopted him from Petsmart when he was about 2-3 years old. They are out of the country and we are happily sharing our lives with Melvin.
Lately, he has been having trouble with the right leg. He was always a climber but now he has no strength in the right leg. Is there anyway we can help him? The prosthetic market seems for dog only. Thank you. Any suggestions appreciated.
I’ve recently adopted a 10 year old cat that had one of its front legs removed some years ago. I had low expectations of it’s abilities but was amazed by what it can do. On day one it jumped onto the windowsill and later jumped onto the cooker so jumping high isn’t a problem. He can also manage the stairs without any issues and has developed interesting techniques for opening doors. For anyone whose cat as had a recent amputation I would say try not to worry too much because it appears that cats are very resourceful.
Thank you for sharing
My 8 yr. old cat Noah came home with right leg hanging useless, 5 days ago. Took him to vet. Sent us back home. Discussed posible amputation, if it does not get better. Amputation was discussed. Nothing can be done at this time, till 3 weeks f rom now.
My baby is in pain and barely can walk very unsteady and sliding a lot on slippery floor. Thank u for rug suggestion. Husband and I are very old. Will have to be careful.
My car had her back paw amputated a month ago. Heidi is doing well but today she started having problems walking. Twice now she has gotten up to walk but seems to hop in circles as if her Rutter is broken! I’m wondering if this is spasms. Both times I was there, I rubbed her hip and thigh of her amputated leg and it seems to help. She just panickes when this happens. What else can I do to help her? Will this stop? What is causing this to happen?
We have a tripod missing front left. She very much wants to go outside. Our vet said walks would be good. I’m struggling with harnesses that she can’t squeeze out of. Any ideas.