Two legged cat thriving in new home

CHOCTAW, OK -- When we first introduced you to Deuce back in August, he'd just been discovered in Choctaw with both back legs and part of his tail cut off.  The veterinarian who treated him said it appeared he'd been surviving on his own with the traumatic injuries for about six weeks.

When Stephani Coker saw Deuce's story, she knew she wanted him to join her family.
"It just tugged at my heart strings.  I felt so sorry for him.  First he has this accident, then he's left out there for a month or a month and a half without food or water," said Coker.  "I just wanted to give him a forever home.  I knew I could love him."

And after two and a half months in her home, Deuce is doing remarkably well.  "He's a happy, wonderful little kitty.  I mean he's just like any other cat," said Coker.  Deuce can't jump.  But he can climb.  And instead of holding his stumps in the air, he's now actually walking on them.
He's warming up to Stephani's three other cats, including Finn, who's missing a leg himself.  "I knew hey if I can do a three legged cat then I can take care of a two legged one."

And while he's still guarded around most people, Stephani says he warmed to her immediately.
"It even surprised the vet.  He went right into the carrier.  He wasn't skittish toward me.  I just think he already knew that I was his mom," said Coker.

Stephani still doesn't know how Deuce lost his limbs and says she probably prefers it that way.
"It would just totally break my heart for him to know what he went through."  And she says Deuce is now even teaching her a thing or two.  "After everything he's been through and he's just happy to have somebody love him.  That's it.  You know he has a nice little bed to lay on and sleep on and he has love and that's all he cares about.  You know and it's really made me look at things differently," said Coker.

Coker says the vet that treated Deuce says the injuries appear to be the result of an accident.  She says his legs and tail were cut off in the same spot which led the vet to believe he'd gotten in the way of a blade, possibly from some type of farm equipment.

Click here to view a video of Deuce!

Cat Steals Dogs Bed

Starting a family doesn't mean giving away your cat

Celebrity couple Chris Pratt and Anna Faris faced a backlash when Pratt tweeted his intention to give his cat away as the pair plans to start having children, but couples across the country quietly make the same decision daily, often driven by unfounded health fears, experts say. While the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage and birth defects, it's very rare and virtually nonexistent in indoor cats, says internist Jeff Kravetz.

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/19/8385464-should-you-get-rid-of-your-cat-if-youre-pregnant

Medical Blog

Cats are master of disguise!

More than half of all pet cats in this country are overweight or obese. With this condition comes a myriad of health problems. So, if your cat is losing weight, it must be a good thing, right? Especially if Fluffy is battling the bulge, it seems logical that shedding those pounds should be applauded.

But what if Fluffy is not on a diet or exercise plan? What if Fluffy is mysteriously slimming down? This is a cause for concern because cats don't typically lose weight easily. Almost anyone who has tried to diet a cat will empathize.

Remember that cats are small creatures, so small weight changes are important. Ounces are significant, and pounds are alarming. A 15-pound cat that loses only 1.5 pounds has lost 10% of it's body weight.

Unexplained weight loss may be the only obvious sign that Fluffy is in the early stages of a serious illness. Very often, these cats are still playful, interactive, eating and drinking. But inside their bodies, something is changing so that they are not able to process food for energy as they have in the past.

Being aware of these changes and bringing them to the attention of your veterinarian might allow early intervention.

Whey does my veterinarian say it is necessary to bring my older pet in for a checkup two times a year.

The health and well-being of an aging pet can change rather rapidly. Conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, cancer and diabetes become much more prevalent as dogs and cats enter their middle to geriatric years (small dogs and cats more than eight years of age and large breed dogs over six).

The key to treating or managing these conditions successfully is early screening and detection. Veterinarians recommend twice-yearly checkups for elderly pets to increase the chance of catching illness at an earlier stage. This should include a thorough physical examination and a body-weight check, as well as laboratory testing (if indicating) such as blood work, urine testing, intestinal parasite screening and a check of the blood pressue.

Keeping your veterinarian updated on any changes in your pet's thirst level, appetite, activity level or body weight can also provide clues to adverse health conditions your pet may be experiencing. Twice-yearly checkups, together with open and efficient communications with your veterinarian, can make all the difference in keeping your pet healthy and happy for years to come.

Happy Cat Month

The CATalyst Council has declared September as Happy Cat Month. This month is dedicated to finding ways to keep our feline friends happy, healthy and purring all year long. Click the link below for the top 10 ways to keep your feline friend happy.
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