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Cats/newborn kitten leg deformity?

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Expert: - 5/26/2010


Question
Hello. A cat we found as a starving stray recently had four kittens. All of the kittens appear to be healthy except for one, which has very abnormally large feet, and one back leg that appears to be permanently flexed. Its leg is entirely straightened and it does not move it on its own. We haven't tried to move it because we don't want to injure the kitten.
Other than the leg, the kitten seems healthy. It's eating, plump, and its mother pays attention to it.

Is there a specific deformity that this kitten may be afflicted with? What does the future look like for this little cat? Is there anything we can do to help?

Thank you!

Answer
Mariah,

Remember, I am not a vet, but, in most cases, if you can bend the hind leg at the knee, you can do some physical therapy (i.e. just flex the leg at the knee about ten times) a couple of times a day and the use of the leg will begin to happen.  Also, by using a rougher cloth for bedding (like terry cloth), the kittens will push on the terry cloth which will give them exercise as they will not slide, but have their claws catch at the terry cloth. The kitten with the funny back leg will also get some exercise doing this as it pushes for a nipple.

A good idea would be to take the kitten into your vet for a check up, especially the flexed hind leg.  It is not uncommon ofr some newborns to have this problem, and, with a bit of physical therapy (just flexing the leg a couple of times a day) and the proper bedding, most kittens gropw out of it.

Please let me know what your vet says.

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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