Although the amputation of a leg is a traumatic experience for both cat and cat owner, unlike humans, cats learn quite quickly to live with and cope with their missing leg. Help during the familiarisation phase and plenty of care and attention are important for the cat's recovery.

 

The most common reason for amputation of a leg or foot in cats is a serious injury that cannot heal. In these cases, removal of a shattered limb is the best way for the cat to recover. Occasionally, malignant tumours are a reason for amputation.

After the amputation, the cat will be in pain as soon as the anaesthetic wears off. The cat owner must provide the cat with painkillers exactly as instructed by the vet. They must also change the bandages regularly and prevent the wound from becoming infected. This is the worst phase for a cat. As soon as the wound has healed properly and the pain has subsided, the cat has time to get used to its new life. During these first few weeks of recovery, the cat must be kept as calm as possible and must not lick its wound.

As soon as the cat has recovered, the phase of re-acclimatisation to life with only three legs begins. In the beginning, it will try to get up and walk as usual and fall over more often. The cat owner must help her during this time and protect her from injury. She should not try to jump onto cupboards until she has learnt to live on three legs. It helps to confine the cat to one room at first and cushion it so that if it falls, it does not injure itself.

To prevent the cat from jumping, you can build sloping ramps to its favourite places. The litter tray may need to be adapted to the disability.

The cat can be rewarded with cuddles and its favourite food for a while, but it must not gain too much weight due to lack of exercise.

Cats quickly come to terms with their fate and learn to live with it. Within a few weeks of the wounds healing, the cat is soon able to move normally and learns its physical limits.