Question:
Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to be put down?? Gra
Response:
: Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens : appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards : its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never : noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it : was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but : does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to : be put down?? Why on earth would you put it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? Priscilla — "The bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love heterosexuals. It’s just that they need more supervision." — Lynn Lavner "Always a godmother, never a God" – Fran Lebowitz
Response:
I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. Cats are very adaptable. Debbie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I don’t see why this kitten should have to be put down. My sister had a cat who was born without a right front foot, and Footless did just fine. You never know — the vet may be able to help. If not, I’m sure the little guy will adjust fine. Please keep us posted. Good luck! Eva
Response:
Cat adapt very well to any handicaps they may have. I should know because I’m trying to type this with my three legged Petrie in my lap. Just wait and see waht the vet says. Cats don’t mind these problems so why should we. I share my home with four blind cats as well and they are just like oher cat with some differences. Twyla Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down?? >Gra
Response:
I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better judgement and knowledge. Gra
Response:
Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it might HAVE to be put down. Gra it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Priscilla
Response:
only logical choice, I don’t > understand why you have a problem with that.
I do not have a problem with it at all. do you actually read and UNDERSTAND what is written,because I think your immagination is running riot. Gra
Response:
I have a cat with a club foot, and it does not bother him (or me) one bit. In fact this cat has also broken both of his hips in the past, and if you saw him run and jump with the rest of the gang you would never guess that he isn’t completely normal!
Response:
There are cats that learn to live with only three legs, so I imagine this little fellow will be able to learn to live with a twisted foot. Please take it to the vet for xrays, etc. and see what the vet says. Good luck. Tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it > might HAVE to be put down. > Gra > it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? > Priscilla
Response:
Grit, for everyone’s information, I hope you’ll let us know what the vet says about possible treatment or just leaving the foot alone. — One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives. Mark Twain – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better > judgement and knowledge. > Gra
Response:
Hi, Tried to e-mail you – obviously wasn’t creative enough! I don’t know whether this is too late by now, but I thought you might be interested in hearing someone else’s experience posted last year. Unfortunately, the web sites with photos of the kittens don’t seem to be available anymore. However, the two posts are quoted within { }. I hope things will work out well and that your kitten will be fine. Good luck, M. { I don’t know if this is the correct place to post a question like this but I’ll try any way. Three weeks ago my cat had a litter of 6 kittens. They are all perfectly healthy except that one has a deformed hind leg. The end "segment" of the leg is kind of pointed backwards so that when it walks it is basically walking on it’s knee. At three weeks of age they are all surprisingly active and are already roaming around the house including the deformed one who even manages to run but topples over sometimes. I have called many vets to ask questions about this situation and all they want to talk about is money. Disgusted I just took the cat to the closest vet and wasted $50 and all they could tell me is the kitten is perfectly healthy but needs to see an orthopedic surgeon and that it will probably cost $1000 to fix the leg. As I am unable to keep these kittens I cannot spend this kind of money on the kitten to just give it away to a stranger in a few weeks. I would be willing to spend a couple of hundred or so but not $1000. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? What options do I have? Are there any vets out there who are not money hungry? Are there any rich animal lovers out there willing to give this little guy a nice home and the care it needs? Its an adorable little thing with blue eyes and double paws. Is my only option to take it to the vet to be killed? Tony Just thought I’d give an update on this situation of these now 12 week old kittens. The kitten "Tuff Guy" is happily running around on his repaired leg. I was bringing his sister "Twinkle" (the one that had to have her eye removed) to the vet for a followup to have stitches removed and I was putting her into the pet carrier when Tuff Guy jumped into the carrier also. So I took him along for the ride. After the vet removed Twinkles stitches he looked a Tuff Guy and said "OK Whats this ones problem." and I told him that he just came for the ride and that he was born with a deformed leg. So the vet said "lets have a look". He spent ten minutes watching the cat walk on the deformed leg and asked me to leave the cat for an X-ray. They called me later and told me they will be keeping him overnight because they were going to straighten the leg and cast it. Basically they simply bent and forced the joint and muscles and whatever to the position they should be in (OUCH) and put a heavy cast on and said to come back in a week. He wasn’t to happy at first with his cast (and maybe pain) but got used to it in a couple of days. When I went back in a week they removed the cast and put the cat on the floor and he immediately began walking around. The leg is not quite perfect (its almost in the position it should be in) but he seems real happy with it although he probably still needs to get used to it and excersise it. He was able to scratch his ear on that side for the first time in his life. Surprisingly the total cost on this was only $90. When he was first born I was told he would need to see a specialist and it would cost over $1000 with no guarantees of success and the other option was amputation. (I was made aware of the amputation option via newsgroup) not from the first vet. So I guess it pays to get a second opinon. He still has his web page at: http://members.aol.com/alg460/index.htm and I will add a couple of new photos showing his "new" leg in a day or two. Thanks to all for your name suggestions. One of you suggested Twinkle for the female. I Chose Tuff Guy for the male because he has huge forearms like a body builder or like popeye) and because of what he had to go through. Tony } – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 1:49 PM > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
>Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down??
Please, no. Don’t. When I was about five, my mother took me to a nearby farm where they had kittens. I was to have my choice of the litter. They had a kitten there, with all four feet curled up at the "wrist" so that the pads of the feet were against the kitten’s legs. It followed along behind its siblings and squeaked and meowed and was adorable. And I, because I was young and stupid and thoughtless, didn’t choose it. I chose a "normal" kitten. When my mother asked, the farmer said that they would "have to kill it." I have nightmares to this day about that kitten, trying so hard to keep up. I know that I could have saved it, but I had that stupid child’s fear of "abnormality." I will always regret it. So please, no. Don’t. — Julie Carter If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate.–Henry J. Tillman Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.–John Lehman
Response:
> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I am not sure why you are considering putting her down. There should be some corrective surgery available, although not to the extent with humans. Even if amputation is the only logical choice, I don’t understand why you have a problem with that. The cats that I’ve heard of that have had amputations are moving around well and sound perfectly happy. You couldn’t show a cat with an amputated leg but there is no reason it wouldn’t be a perfectly good pet for someone who can get past the amputation. Larry Osborne
Response:
I remember that case of the kitten’s mis-shapen/wrongly positioned hind leg/foot, too. The person also put photos of the kitten & its littermates’ on the web, & reported on its progress. Had a happy ending. Cathy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen > leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the > leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. > If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a > second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of > orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. > Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. > Cats are very adaptable. > Debbie > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to be put down?? Gra
Response:
: Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens : appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards : its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never : noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it : was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but : does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to : be put down?? Why on earth would you put it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? Priscilla — "The bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love heterosexuals. It’s just that they need more supervision." — Lynn Lavner "Always a godmother, never a God" – Fran Lebowitz
Response:
I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. Cats are very adaptable. Debbie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I don’t see why this kitten should have to be put down. My sister had a cat who was born without a right front foot, and Footless did just fine. You never know — the vet may be able to help. If not, I’m sure the little guy will adjust fine. Please keep us posted. Good luck! Eva
Response:
Cat adapt very well to any handicaps they may have. I should know because I’m trying to type this with my three legged Petrie in my lap. Just wait and see waht the vet says. Cats don’t mind these problems so why should we. I share my home with four blind cats as well and they are just like oher cat with some differences. Twyla Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down?? >Gra
Response:
I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better judgement and knowledge. Gra
Response:
Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it might HAVE to be put down. Gra it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Priscilla
Response:
only logical choice, I don’t > understand why you have a problem with that.
I do not have a problem with it at all. do you actually read and UNDERSTAND what is written,because I think your immagination is running riot. Gra
Response:
I have a cat with a club foot, and it does not bother him (or me) one bit. In fact this cat has also broken both of his hips in the past, and if you saw him run and jump with the rest of the gang you would never guess that he isn’t completely normal!
Response:
There are cats that learn to live with only three legs, so I imagine this little fellow will be able to learn to live with a twisted foot. Please take it to the vet for xrays, etc. and see what the vet says. Good luck. Tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it > might HAVE to be put down. > Gra > it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? > Priscilla
Response:
Grit, for everyone’s information, I hope you’ll let us know what the vet says about possible treatment or just leaving the foot alone. — One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives. Mark Twain – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better > judgement and knowledge. > Gra
Response:
Hi, Tried to e-mail you – obviously wasn’t creative enough! I don’t know whether this is too late by now, but I thought you might be interested in hearing someone else’s experience posted last year. Unfortunately, the web sites with photos of the kittens don’t seem to be available anymore. However, the two posts are quoted within { }. I hope things will work out well and that your kitten will be fine. Good luck, M. { I don’t know if this is the correct place to post a question like this but I’ll try any way. Three weeks ago my cat had a litter of 6 kittens. They are all perfectly healthy except that one has a deformed hind leg. The end "segment" of the leg is kind of pointed backwards so that when it walks it is basically walking on it’s knee. At three weeks of age they are all surprisingly active and are already roaming around the house including the deformed one who even manages to run but topples over sometimes. I have called many vets to ask questions about this situation and all they want to talk about is money. Disgusted I just took the cat to the closest vet and wasted $50 and all they could tell me is the kitten is perfectly healthy but needs to see an orthopedic surgeon and that it will probably cost $1000 to fix the leg. As I am unable to keep these kittens I cannot spend this kind of money on the kitten to just give it away to a stranger in a few weeks. I would be willing to spend a couple of hundred or so but not $1000. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? What options do I have? Are there any vets out there who are not money hungry? Are there any rich animal lovers out there willing to give this little guy a nice home and the care it needs? Its an adorable little thing with blue eyes and double paws. Is my only option to take it to the vet to be killed? Tony Just thought I’d give an update on this situation of these now 12 week old kittens. The kitten "Tuff Guy" is happily running around on his repaired leg. I was bringing his sister "Twinkle" (the one that had to have her eye removed) to the vet for a followup to have stitches removed and I was putting her into the pet carrier when Tuff Guy jumped into the carrier also. So I took him along for the ride. After the vet removed Twinkles stitches he looked a Tuff Guy and said "OK Whats this ones problem." and I told him that he just came for the ride and that he was born with a deformed leg. So the vet said "lets have a look". He spent ten minutes watching the cat walk on the deformed leg and asked me to leave the cat for an X-ray. They called me later and told me they will be keeping him overnight because they were going to straighten the leg and cast it. Basically they simply bent and forced the joint and muscles and whatever to the position they should be in (OUCH) and put a heavy cast on and said to come back in a week. He wasn’t to happy at first with his cast (and maybe pain) but got used to it in a couple of days. When I went back in a week they removed the cast and put the cat on the floor and he immediately began walking around. The leg is not quite perfect (its almost in the position it should be in) but he seems real happy with it although he probably still needs to get used to it and excersise it. He was able to scratch his ear on that side for the first time in his life. Surprisingly the total cost on this was only $90. When he was first born I was told he would need to see a specialist and it would cost over $1000 with no guarantees of success and the other option was amputation. (I was made aware of the amputation option via newsgroup) not from the first vet. So I guess it pays to get a second opinon. He still has his web page at: http://members.aol.com/alg460/index.htm and I will add a couple of new photos showing his "new" leg in a day or two. Thanks to all for your name suggestions. One of you suggested Twinkle for the female. I Chose Tuff Guy for the male because he has huge forearms like a body builder or like popeye) and because of what he had to go through. Tony } – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 1:49 PM > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
>Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down??
Please, no. Don’t. When I was about five, my mother took me to a nearby farm where they had kittens. I was to have my choice of the litter. They had a kitten there, with all four feet curled up at the "wrist" so that the pads of the feet were against the kitten’s legs. It followed along behind its siblings and squeaked and meowed and was adorable. And I, because I was young and stupid and thoughtless, didn’t choose it. I chose a "normal" kitten. When my mother asked, the farmer said that they would "have to kill it." I have nightmares to this day about that kitten, trying so hard to keep up. I know that I could have saved it, but I had that stupid child’s fear of "abnormality." I will always regret it. So please, no. Don’t. — Julie Carter If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate.–Henry J. Tillman Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.–John Lehman
Response:
> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I am not sure why you are considering putting her down. There should be some corrective surgery available, although not to the extent with humans. Even if amputation is the only logical choice, I don’t understand why you have a problem with that. The cats that I’ve heard of that have had amputations are moving around well and sound perfectly happy. You couldn’t show a cat with an amputated leg but there is no reason it wouldn’t be a perfectly good pet for someone who can get past the amputation. Larry Osborne
Response:
I remember that case of the kitten’s mis-shapen/wrongly positioned hind leg/foot, too. The person also put photos of the kitten & its littermates’ on the web, & reported on its progress. Had a happy ending. Cathy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen > leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the > leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. > If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a > second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of > orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. > Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. > Cats are very adaptable. > Debbie > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to be put down?? Gra
Response:
: Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens : appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards : its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never : noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it : was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but : does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to : be put down?? Why on earth would you put it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? Priscilla — "The bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love heterosexuals. It’s just that they need more supervision." — Lynn Lavner "Always a godmother, never a God" – Fran Lebowitz
Response:
I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. Cats are very adaptable. Debbie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
Response:
> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I don’t see why this kitten should have to be put down. My sister had a cat who was born without a right front foot, and Footless did just fine. You never know — the vet may be able to help. If not, I’m sure the little guy will adjust fine. Please keep us posted. Good luck! Eva
Response:
Cat adapt very well to any handicaps they may have. I should know because I’m trying to type this with my three legged Petrie in my lap. Just wait and see waht the vet says. Cats don’t mind these problems so why should we. I share my home with four blind cats as well and they are just like oher cat with some differences. Twyla Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down?? >Gra
Response:
I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better judgement and knowledge. Gra
Response:
Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it might HAVE to be put down. Gra it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Priscilla
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only logical choice, I don’t > understand why you have a problem with that.
I do not have a problem with it at all. do you actually read and UNDERSTAND what is written,because I think your immagination is running riot. Gra
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I have a cat with a club foot, and it does not bother him (or me) one bit. In fact this cat has also broken both of his hips in the past, and if you saw him run and jump with the rest of the gang you would never guess that he isn’t completely normal!
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There are cats that learn to live with only three legs, so I imagine this little fellow will be able to learn to live with a twisted foot. Please take it to the vet for xrays, etc. and see what the vet says. Good luck. Tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Please read the post- I never said I would put it down, I just asked if it > might HAVE to be put down. > Gra > it down just because it’s foot is imperfect? > Priscilla
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Grit, for everyone’s information, I hope you’ll let us know what the vet says about possible treatment or just leaving the foot alone. — One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives. Mark Twain – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am NOT considering putting it down, I will bow to the vets better > judgement and knowledge. > Gra
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Hi, Tried to e-mail you – obviously wasn’t creative enough! I don’t know whether this is too late by now, but I thought you might be interested in hearing someone else’s experience posted last year. Unfortunately, the web sites with photos of the kittens don’t seem to be available anymore. However, the two posts are quoted within { }. I hope things will work out well and that your kitten will be fine. Good luck, M. { I don’t know if this is the correct place to post a question like this but I’ll try any way. Three weeks ago my cat had a litter of 6 kittens. They are all perfectly healthy except that one has a deformed hind leg. The end "segment" of the leg is kind of pointed backwards so that when it walks it is basically walking on it’s knee. At three weeks of age they are all surprisingly active and are already roaming around the house including the deformed one who even manages to run but topples over sometimes. I have called many vets to ask questions about this situation and all they want to talk about is money. Disgusted I just took the cat to the closest vet and wasted $50 and all they could tell me is the kitten is perfectly healthy but needs to see an orthopedic surgeon and that it will probably cost $1000 to fix the leg. As I am unable to keep these kittens I cannot spend this kind of money on the kitten to just give it away to a stranger in a few weeks. I would be willing to spend a couple of hundred or so but not $1000. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? What options do I have? Are there any vets out there who are not money hungry? Are there any rich animal lovers out there willing to give this little guy a nice home and the care it needs? Its an adorable little thing with blue eyes and double paws. Is my only option to take it to the vet to be killed? Tony Just thought I’d give an update on this situation of these now 12 week old kittens. The kitten "Tuff Guy" is happily running around on his repaired leg. I was bringing his sister "Twinkle" (the one that had to have her eye removed) to the vet for a followup to have stitches removed and I was putting her into the pet carrier when Tuff Guy jumped into the carrier also. So I took him along for the ride. After the vet removed Twinkles stitches he looked a Tuff Guy and said "OK Whats this ones problem." and I told him that he just came for the ride and that he was born with a deformed leg. So the vet said "lets have a look". He spent ten minutes watching the cat walk on the deformed leg and asked me to leave the cat for an X-ray. They called me later and told me they will be keeping him overnight because they were going to straighten the leg and cast it. Basically they simply bent and forced the joint and muscles and whatever to the position they should be in (OUCH) and put a heavy cast on and said to come back in a week. He wasn’t to happy at first with his cast (and maybe pain) but got used to it in a couple of days. When I went back in a week they removed the cast and put the cat on the floor and he immediately began walking around. The leg is not quite perfect (its almost in the position it should be in) but he seems real happy with it although he probably still needs to get used to it and excersise it. He was able to scratch his ear on that side for the first time in his life. Surprisingly the total cost on this was only $90. When he was first born I was told he would need to see a specialist and it would cost over $1000 with no guarantees of success and the other option was amputation. (I was made aware of the amputation option via newsgroup) not from the first vet. So I guess it pays to get a second opinon. He still has his web page at: http://members.aol.com/alg460/index.htm and I will add a couple of new photos showing his "new" leg in a day or two. Thanks to all for your name suggestions. One of you suggested Twinkle for the female. I Chose Tuff Guy for the male because he has huge forearms like a body builder or like popeye) and because of what he had to go through. Tony } – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats.health+behav Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 1:49 PM > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
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>Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens >appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards >its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never >noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it >was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but >does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to >be put down??
Please, no. Don’t. When I was about five, my mother took me to a nearby farm where they had kittens. I was to have my choice of the litter. They had a kitten there, with all four feet curled up at the "wrist" so that the pads of the feet were against the kitten’s legs. It followed along behind its siblings and squeaked and meowed and was adorable. And I, because I was young and stupid and thoughtless, didn’t choose it. I chose a "normal" kitten. When my mother asked, the farmer said that they would "have to kill it." I have nightmares to this day about that kitten, trying so hard to keep up. I know that I could have saved it, but I had that stupid child’s fear of "abnormality." I will always regret it. So please, no. Don’t. — Julie Carter If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate.–Henry J. Tillman Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.–John Lehman
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> Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
I am not sure why you are considering putting her down. There should be some corrective surgery available, although not to the extent with humans. Even if amputation is the only logical choice, I don’t understand why you have a problem with that. The cats that I’ve heard of that have had amputations are moving around well and sound perfectly happy. You couldn’t show a cat with an amputated leg but there is no reason it wouldn’t be a perfectly good pet for someone who can get past the amputation. Larry Osborne
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I remember that case of the kitten’s mis-shapen/wrongly positioned hind leg/foot, too. The person also put photos of the kitten & its littermates’ on the web, & reported on its progress. Had a happy ending. Cathy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I remember a while ago that someone else had a cat with a misshapen > leg or foot. The vet put the kitten in a cast for a while and the > leg ended up fine. Maybe the kitten was cramped while in the womb. > If your vet doesn’t feel that he/she can help, be sure to get a > second or even third opinion. Maybe a vet that does a lot of > orthopedic work could help. Please don’t put the kitten down. > Even if they can’t straighten his leg, he could live a good life. > Cats are very adaptable. > Debbie > Help! We are all distraught to discover tonight that one of my cats kittens > appears to have a club foot. It is bent at right angles, pointing towards > its other front leg. The babies are only two weeks old, and it was never > noticed before, but this evening they were venturing out of the box, and it > was very upsetting. I will ‘phone the vet first thing in the morning, but > does anybody know whether this can be repaired as in humans? Will it have to > be put down?? > Gra
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