How well do cats run, play, and jump with only three legs?

Question

My cat just had to have her back leg amputated. How well will she be able to do the stuff listed above?

Answer 1

I know a cat that has three legs, but missing the one in front instead of the rear. She was born that way. In all honesty, she could kick the tar out of her four legged sister any day of the week. That was one fast cat - she could race up a flight of stairs faster than any other animal I have ever seen. I think your cat will be fine, she will just have to relearn her balance and navigational skills. And since the back leg is coming off instead of the front, she might not be able to jump as high as before - since back legs are the strongest, but that won't stop her from playing or doing most normal cat things. Cats are great adapters, I think you will be amazed. And the best part is, she won't even have a concept of himself as missing a leg since cats don't think that way.

Answer 2

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. She will adapt and compensate in time.

I adopted two cats with physical disabilities caused by inhuman cruelty from our local shelter.

Minx was a kitten when she lost her eye. Fortunately, the director of the shelter gave her a foster home until she was ready to be adopted. She has compensated extremely well to the point, that when she plays, runs about, jumps and does other cat things, you would not know she is blind in one eye. The only limitation is that when I throw her toy and is lands on her blind side, it takes her a little longer to find it.

Lynx, my other cat's tail was injured. The vets tried to save it, but she pulled out the stitches and they had to amputate it. She also lived at the shelter for a year and a half. Her only limitation is that she can't jump as high as she could if she had a tail. She compensates by jumping on what she can, then, jumping onto where she wants to be.

Several months ago, I saw a featured cat on the shelter's sit who had lost a leg. According to the write-up, she gets along very well.

I love animals and read about them a lot. I have read about animals who have lost a leg and compensate. They have to learn to adjust their balance and, once they do, all is well.

She will relearn to run, play and jump and you might be surprised by the results. I wish you and your cat well.

Answer 3

I also had to have my cats back leg amputated. I was so worried about it. It did not make a difference at all.

I wish now that I hadn't worried so much about it. She could run and play and climb stairs, jump on the bed, etc. She didn't seem to notice she was missing a leg.

I think your cat will be just fine. Mine didn't like to be carried or babied either. It was like she was trying to tell me that she a normal cat as always.

Answer 4

I’ve never met a three-legged cat or dog but it is my understanding that they adapt quite well to losing the limb. You see animals all the time on the TV with three legs that get along just fine, including cats. While it will take an adult cat a little bit of time to adjust her balance, she will come out just fine.

Answer 5

My relative works at an Animal Shelter and there is a dog that got out of his yard and was brought in. He has three legs and was extremely active and friendly. His owners found him there an took him home.

They learn how to compensate just as people do. Just give her a lot of attention, love and encouragement.

Answer 6

They can get around very well, my neighbor has one that lost her back leg while she was a stray and she's pretty much just as fast and agile my 4 leggers The only difference I've noticed is that she has a hop-like run but she doesn't seem to care,she gets to where she is going regardless.

Answer 7

After a while they won't know the difference. My girlfriend's cat Jasmine is missing a front leg, but it only affects visitors who try to pick her up and she slips through their fingers because there's no leg to hold onto.

Answer 8

She'l find a way and it would'nt hurt for you to encourage her. She will be slow for a while so get a string and dangle it in front of her eyes to get her interested and when she's feeling better pull the string on the floor then stop then slowly move it some more her curosity will not let her ignore it and she will know your trying to help her and will love you more for it.