Leeds stray kitten bounces back after leg amputation
A stray cat handed in to a Leeds animal shelter was discovered to have such a severely broken leg that amputation was the only option.
Six-month-old Tiptoe was admitted to Cats Protection Leeds Cat Centre in a sorry state with very little known about his circumstances.
It quickly became apparent that the black-and-white moggy could not bear any weight on his left front leg and he looked to be in immense pain. An x-ray revealed a severe break and a dislocated shoulder, with a fall from height suspected as the cause of the injury.
Vets believed it was not a fresh injury and that Tiptoe may have been suffering for some time. The decision was made that his best chance at a full recovery was to amputate the damaged limb.
Deputy centre manager Elizabeth Day said: “When Tiptoe first came to us his background was a mystery, but we could see he was suffering so immediately set about getting him the help he desperately needed.
“While a leg amputation may sound extreme, it was the quickest and kindest way of getting him back on his paws.
"It’s very difficult to keep a lively kitten still enough for a broken leg to set properly.
"He has proved how amazingly resilient kittens are by bouncing back strong and independent – nothing can stop his playful spirit, not even the loss of a leg. Everyone that meets Tiptoe falls in love with him.”
This year is already proving to be incredibly busy for staff and volunteers at the Leeds Cat Centre in Gildersome with an ever-growing waiting list of cats needing to come into care.
A major operation like Tiptoe’s unfortunately comes at a hefty price, and a fundraising appeal has been set up to help cover the cost: www.justgiving.com/page/leeds-tiptoe
Liz added: “The charity relies on the generosity of its supporters who step in to help with cases like Tiptoe.
"We are grateful to anyone who is able to donate to the cause; they can be assured that any additional money we’re lucky enough to raise will go towards helping unfortunate cats like Tiptoe as we get them on the road to recovery and into new, happy homes.”
To find out more about the work of Cats Protection Leeds Cat Centre visit www.cats.org.uk/leeds