Amputated Leg

Q.    My cat may have to have a front leg amputated due to a tumour. Is this cruel? Will he cope?

A.    We see a number of cats each year that require limb amputation due to cancer or trauma. Most bone tumours are extremely painful, so removing the affected limb provides pain relief. The other problem with bone tumours is that they can be extremely aggressive, rapidly spreading to the chest. Prompt amputation, provided a chest x-ray shows no evidence of secondary tumours, can therefore prolong his life.

Cats, being relatively light, cope remarkably well on 3 legs; just make sure you adjust his diet accordingly to avoid any weight gains.

TC, opposite, has three legs and he copes very well!