Handicapped Cats: Dublin, Nickel + Tara's Story

When Tara adopted three-legged Dublin, she knew quite well what she was getting into. A lover of animals, she had previously loved and provided a home for another three-legged cat named Nickel who, unfortunately, died in 2015. When a friend called her to let her know there was a three-legged cat at a shelter in which he was volunteering his photography services, Tara certainly wasn't expecting to bring any new cats into her home. "I had already adopted two other four-legged cats after Nickel died," she says, "so I was hesitant, but I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I finally broke down and went to meet him." She ended up bonding with him immediately, decided to adopt him and brought him home that very same evening.

Her adoption of Dublin was similar to how she adopted Nickel years earlier. "I had gone to an SPCA with a friend to see a cat she found injured under her car ... and while we were there, she noticed this adorable gray kitten (he was maybe six months old) who seemed to be reaching out to us through the bars of the cage with his paw." It wasn't until Tara and her friend got closer to the cage that she realized the kitten was actually missing part of his paw. Since the shelter was waiting for an owner to claim the cat, Tara put her name down on the waiting list to adopt. When they called days later, Dublin's health was failing, and he had developed a fever. "I picked him up, took him straight to the vet, had what was left of that leg removed and then brought him home. Maybe three days later, still on pain killers, still all bandaged up, I found him on top of my armoire. To this day, I never figured out how he got up there, but nothing ever held him back."
Cats with disabilities search for love and affection from their owners just like any cat would, but Tara thinks this is especially true for amputees. "I have no idea if this is typical of three-legged cats, but (Dublin) is my lap cat, and so was Nickel. He is so friendly and warm and playful in a way that's just different than four-legged cats." She also finds that her amputee cats are very patient. "Dublin is—as Nickel was—the friendliest of the cats in our home, the most patient with my four kids, (9, 7, and 4-year-old twins), so that's saying a lot for any cat."
When asked what challenges she faces in caring for Dublin, she said, "The only concerns I really have with him are the extra stress on his remaining front leg ... and the kids accidentally getting too rough with him since he has one less limb to spare!" Dublin is very agile, so Tara isn't concerned about how he gets around or interacts with the other animals. "He has no problem running, jumping, or tussling with the other cats. He holds his own in a spat. As the youngest feline (he's about 3, my other male is around 4, and my female is 13 or so), he's full of energy and tends to be the instigator with the other cats."
Cats with disabilities, whether they are amputees or have any other type of disability or illness, deserve the love and attention these three cats enjoy. Just because they may not be as mobile as four-legged cats, they are likely to show the love back for taking a chance on them. While it can take some getting used to these cats are just like other cats and need a loving home like all other cats do. So, if you're considering getting a new cat, don't shy away from one that needs a little extra care — you might just find out that they are more affectionate and loving than you could ever imagine and be just what you wanted all along.