r/specialaww • u/Framesjanco11 • May 15 '23
Cat with paralyzed back legs, is a wheelchair worth it?
This little baby cant feel anything past her middle spine and only walks with her front legs. She gets around fine, but our house is very vertical so I wouldn’t want to make stairs even more difficult for her by adding a rig to her.
My only concern is I think her upper body gets super tight and sore, she takes an opioid for pain and when she’s on that she doesn’t seem bothered at all.
Is it worth investing in wheels for her? I see a lot of cats with similar disabilities that don’t have them. Does anyone have experience with this?
7
u/RoseMarmalady May 15 '23
I'd skip the wheelchair. My hind-paralyzed girl HATED hers and it was a total waste of money. Its one thing with dogs where they're on the ground anyways, but cats really like to climb and flop/roll around and such and they can't do that as easily with a wheelchair dragging them down.
3
u/uberschnitzel13 May 16 '23
If not a wheelchair, do they just drag around their back half? Isn’t there risk of injury or infection in the private areas?
3
u/Framesjanco11 May 16 '23
She got a pretty bad infection under her skin when she was little, but with diapers on pretty much none of her skin is dragging along the floor. Injury too, her back left leg was normally stuck straight out but isn’t visible in this picture cuz I had it amputated. I came home one day and she had just broken it at the knee like it was nothing
6
u/kat_013 May 15 '23
I’d start with borrowing or making one instead of buying. Especially for a cat the construction is pretty simple. Some cats adapt great and some prefer to keep on dragging
3
u/ringaling11 May 15 '23
I’m sure a cat is different and my dog is scared of everything but my dog hates being put in her wheelchair and hides her face in the corner so I can’t get the harness on but ones she’s in it she likes it.
2
u/ArwenandEowyn May 18 '23
Yes! Our vet is a huge advocate of wheels for paralysed dogs and cats. It helps with bowel movements and circulation. It also works their lungs. We have a paraplegic girl as well, and she complains every time she's put in her wheels 😆 (we do about 1-2 hours a day), but after that, her bowel movements are always better. The exercise helps build up the body as well.
1
u/Islandcoda May 19 '23
Such a sweet kitty, thank you for caring for her and wanting to better her life❤️❤️
2
u/Framesjanco11 May 19 '23
I took her home from the vet office I worked at, if I didn’t she would’ve been euthanized that day when she was just a scared little thing. Almost a year later and she’s still going strong 😎
2
u/Islandcoda May 20 '23
It must be challenging in many ways, I’m sure. But it’s rewarding and the bond can be extra strong too, though. Just recently lost a special needs guy I had for six years. That little guy was amazing. Much love to you two and give some scritches from me❤️❤️
1
u/CobraStryke3 May 20 '23
If they will put up with it Never seen a cat in one I know a lot of times people donate chairs to dogs Why not cats? Try
9
u/dieselengine9 May 15 '23
I had a CH cat that couldn't walk well when it was a kitten (he adjusted as he grew and now gets around....okay) and thought I'd make him a cart. He didn't like it. AT ALL. If you're going to try it I'd start low budget or try renting/borrowing. If he likes it you could always take it off at night or something.