My tripaw kitten has a missing paw. Will he need a leg amputation?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend taking Gray to a vet for xrays of the foot to see what malformation it is. If Gray is still able to move well and not in pain, then I would let it go without treatment. Cats (and dogs) do well on 3 limbs if necessary but if he’s in pain it needs to be addressed. Once a vet sees the malformation they can discuss treatment options if needed. Good luck and kisses to Gray!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Simba. Wow that paw is quite swollen and I'm concerned about infection. This can no longer be treated at home and is now a medical emergency. He has to see a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

I would have Nubs (love his name!) seen by a vet. Be sure to bring along his litter mates and mother as well. If the stub of the leg is scabbed and may have dried blood on it, it could have been injured and it's worth having it looked at and cleaned by the vet.

It is best to bring Simba to your vet ASAP especially if the wound is painful or he won't let you touch it. Your vet can safely sedate Simba so that the wound can be thoroughly cleaned, drained and sutured as needed. Your vet can also provide you with some pain medications and antibiotics to keep the wound from becoming infected and keep Simba comfortable. An Elizabethan (cone) collar is also a good idea to use to prevent Simba from licking or chewing at the wound which can make it worse.

This is not normal at all. You have to have Simba seen by a vet for this problem. Without seeing him in person, I cannot diagnose what is causing this, and therefore cannot suggest a treatment. Please take him into a vet in the morning.

He really needs an x-ray of the leg. If there are broken bones sometimes just a cast for few weeks will fix it. The wound does not look that bad but antibiotics may be needed to heal it. I do no think you have to worry about an amputation but if he does need that cats do great with 3 legs. It sounds dramatic but they really adapt well. The first step is getting the diagnosis. If you want to post again with more information about your location we can try to help find you a low cost vet clinic.

It is impossible to know what is causing him to be lame without an examination. The best thing would be to have a vet take a look at him to do an orthopedic examination and take an xray, if needed, to determine the exact cause. He could have an infection, fracture, or strain/sprain. Once diagnsed, your vet can decide the best way to treat his problem. He may just need an antibiotic and/or an anti-inflammatory/pain medications. I hope Smokey feels better soon!