Is it really cruel?

merlin68

Took cat to vet on friday because he came in pouring with blood and looked like he'd got glass in it. vet reckoned he'd done it days ago and infection had set in. Don't think so as surely we would have noticed. He had the antibiotic injection and got to go back in morning to see. Where his done it is a hard place to heal and his foot is swollen.
Anyway he might need his leg of, if infection isnt under control. Mum said my sister done this and wish she hadnt as cat never recovered from it and was always in pain, and would have been kinder to have him put down.
So whats kinder to the cat any views, and is it cruel to let a cat live with 3 legs.

Transformers

If you trust your vet then follow his / her advice.

Every animal is an individual - some will be more resilient than others - only you know your cat.

littleredhen

Definitely ask vet, they will tell it like it is although won't tell you what to do, hope things work out

merlin68

Had him when he was only 4 weeks old, my friend found him in a carrier bag on the railway track, dumped.

littleredhen

merlin68 wrote: »

Had him when he was only 4 weeks old, my friend found him in a carrier bag on the railway track, dumped.

How sad, you will know what is right to do for him after you have spoken to vet. You have to try and take the emotion out of it, hard but you will do what's right when the time comes,

splishsplash

We acquired a stray with a paralysed front leg. We had it amputated and he had a grand life. He was well able to run and jump and play and was better without it than with it getting in his way. He never seemed to be in pain and died of old age.

I appreciate your circumstances are different, wait and see what the vet says. Hopefully it will heal and you won't have to make that decision.

fairy_lights

I've known a few three legged cats and they've all coped amazingly well and have been as fast and nimble on their feet as any other cats. So I don't think the loss of a leg in itself is the issue, it's more the surgery and recovery - obviously that will be a painful time for the cat and it won't understand why or what is happening and you may feel it's not fair to subject him to that.
Have you spoken to your sister directly about her three legged cat? maybe there were complications that meant it was always in pain.

merlin68

His not done much since friday, just laying on the ebd and not eating or drinking. Not even pood. Foot now seems to be going black.

Slinky

That doesn't sound good. Is there a phone number at the vets you can call for advice?

GwylimT

What did your vet say when you called them about a lack of food, keeps us updated at the emergency vet tonight, we'll be thinking about you and puss.

I had a three legged cat, he got on perfectly fine, the only problem we had was people constantlt catchinf him and taking him to the vets as a stray, it happened twice in a week once! One good thing, as it was a front leg he couldn't catch as many mice and birds, his was due to a bite wound, he was a long hair and I didn't notice until he changed, and cats are very stoic so by that stage it was quite bad.

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh dear, that doesn't sound good

I would ring the emergency vet for advice now - I would be worried the infection was spreading

I've known several cats with 3 legs and all have adapted very well

Good luck and trust your vet .... let us know how he gets on