9 year old cat diagnosed with bone cancer, vet wants leg amputated. Anyone experienced this before?

Cats generally do very well adjusting to 3 legs. However, I would be concerned with having the surgery done and then finding cancer elsewhere within the cat's body. It is going to be a hard surgery regardless on your cat. You need to decide your cat's quality of life with and without the surgery.

Cat Leg Amputation

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RE:

9 year old cat diagnosed with bone cancer, vet wants leg amputated. Anyone experienced this before?

Vet said the surgery was really hard on them. Once recovered how hard is it for them get around on three legs?

I havent experienced this at all, but my cat is the same age. And she still acts like a kitten at times. I believe that when it comes down to it you do what's best for the cat to help it live longer. Vet says amputate(well get another opinion first) just let it go because there is only so much you can do to keep that cat alive. And also depending on which leg the cat should adapt just fine. Yes, surgery is hard on a cat, but the cat will see that it is living it is going to live longer and that its going to be ok.

Bone Cancer In Cats

I watch animal planet a lot, there are many animals that are rescued and some of the rescues are in need of amputation. Cats and dogs alike can live long and healthy lives on three legs. This is a member of your family and since cats live for 18 years sometimes just think of the time you will still have with your kitty.

They can adapt well to three legs. You'd be surprised. Years ago my grandmas cat got her leg caught in a hunters trap and severed her leg from the hip down. Wow, she could still hold her own!

I think the more important question is like someone else said, is the bone cancer limited to only the leg?! You'd hate like hell to take the leg, spend the dough and then find out it spread and you'll have to make that difficult decision all over again. Good luck!

Sounds like you did the right thing. She is probably just in pain and needs time alone. Just be gentle and quiet around her and spoil her a bit to get her affection back. As for the other cats, they will just need to get used to her again. She probably smells like the vet to them at the moment, and they'll keep their distance till this wears off. They may also pick up that something is a bit different with her but will get over this when they realise that it is their same old friend minus a leg. Good Luck

I had a three legged cat. He lost a back leg to a coyote attack. Barney was fineafter the mangled leg was amputated.

But Barney was a kitten when he lost his leg.

As to the bone cancer, I think my kitty died of it. She was eleven when the "arthritis" in her elbow was first noticed and died earlier this year at 13 years old. She was diagnosed as having arthritis, but as the "arthritis" got worse so did the rest of her health. I think it spread to her pancreas because toward the end she ate, and ate, and ate and got progressivly skinnier and lost control of her bowels....and it wasn't normal cat poop. I had to have her put to sleep in January.

You are in a dammed if you do, dammed if you don't situation. A nine year old cat is already "elderly" and may not tolerate such a major proceedure. And cancer untreated - in your case having your cat's leg amputated means your cat will not live too long.

I'd suggest, as long as your cat seems happy and otherwise healthy enjoy his company as long as you can. And when he shows signs of serious decline, then have him put to sleep before he really suffers.

I have a vet who has a wonderful black and white cat named Sylvester. I was finished with the visit, writing my check, and he hops up on the counter. I was petting him for about 5 minutes before I realized he was missing a leg.

The vet told me that he had been hit by a car, and when his family realized he would lose a leg they didn't want him any more. It's sad, because he was a wonderful cat, and he learned to adapt just fine.