Help Needed: desperately seeking help for handicapped kitten

[maggs]

I am trying to rescue a 5 wk old kitten from
death...and wonder if you might be able to help me.
This wee lass has "seal legs"....her rear legs are
deformed and resemble seal flippers.The owner says she
will have the kitten gassed,because no one wants
her,and she is "useless". I told the owner I would
take her...but I cannot begin to afford the cart I
know she will need to get around.I presently have 3
rescued "babies"....and while I can afford vet care
for them,so far,(bless God) they have not had anything
as major as what this little girl has!

The kitten is 5 wks old,a black and white harlequin
furred longhair....pretty little thing....her poppa is
a manx,so she has no tail. The owner has given me two
weeks to either find a way to help, then adopt this
"thing" or she says she will have it gassed....I am
working against the clock....and am desperate to help
her(the kit,not the owner)
Do you know of ANY place where I can get a cart for
her? Some kind of assistance paying for one? If the
costs for me are too steep,of ANYone willing to take
this sweetie and get her the help she needs??? I
cannot bear the thought of her being put down simply
for her bum backside....she is otherwise healthy and
playful...everything
you'd expect a kitten to be!

ANY thing you can offer to help me rescue this
darlin will be greatly appreciated!!

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

get some children's building toys that have interlocking parts, and wheels, and cover in padded fleece fabric and use velcro. She's going to grow anyway, so you can modify until she gets bigger. But this is something you could work on right now, puttering, she could play with the parts as you engineer it.
You don't have to spend big bucks on such a tiny critter. In fact someone here mentioned before, go to the toy dept. in your store, look for a truck with a trailor (like a tonka) and use the trailor parts. Go to the cart site here to see how they are made, but you can rig something in meantime for this emergency.

[critters]

Absolutely you can make your own. My vote says just get the baby--the rest may fall in place. If something disastrous happens you can put the baby down later, but at least you'll have given the baby a chance.

money: (some may not do kitties or whatever; I'm not screening them all that carefully)
# cats
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
#
http://www.ourdds.org./work.html
# Help-A-Pet
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html
# hp
http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/help/
# http://www.carecredit.com/
http://www.carecredit.com/

# Pet Fund includes exotics
http://thepetfund.com/guidelines.htm
# United Animal Nations
http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html
# Goldstock general rescue fund
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/MainGeneralFund.htm
# Helen Redlus Memorial Fund
http://www.goldstockfund.org/TGF/HRMFund.htm
# Cats in Crisis (chronic)
http://www.catsincrisis.org/

also imom.org

Homemade carts:
http://www.handicappedpets.com/HomemadeCarts.htm


http://www.handicappedpets.com/HomemadeCarts.htm

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

[CarolC]

Hi Maggs,

This is a picture of Twobit:

As you can see, Twobit is a perfectly happy kitty without a cart. In fact, you probably didn't realize this, but most kitties who do not have the use of their back legs get around fine without a cart. Alisa's kitty Trixie does not use a cart. Angela's kitty Tarka never used a cart. Bean's kitty does not use a cart. Twobit does not use a cart. It is true, they can make a cart for a cat, and some cats do have them, such as Speedy Kitten and Little Dragginbear. But as many (if not more--never did a survey) do not use carts.

Twobit lives at Bendy Kitty's house. Here is a message from Bendy when Twobit arrived. Perhaps Bendy will come around to give you tips on caring for this kitten. When you click the link it will show you the message, and at the bottom of the message you will see another link to click to see all of Twobit's pictures.

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... 549">Bendy Kitty's message about Twobit</a>

I think you will need to determine if the kitten has any symptoms of manx syndrome beyond the short tail. There can be involvement of the GI tract and bladder with manx syndrome. If you are good at taking care of young kittens, then I see no reason not to take her.

[RichB]

I just built a cat cart, came out pretty good. The frame weighed less than a lb. using thin-wall 1/2" square aluminum tubing, with 8" wheels, strap saddle.

I am waiting for feedback from my client who just received it today.

I would be glad to share plans for it, or discuss building one for you when kitty gets a little bigger, at very low cost (shipping and minimal materials).
It may be possible to build a cart that "grows" as the kitten grows.

File my e-mail address if you do decide a cart is the way to go:
rbergins@earthlink.net

Rich B.

[Bendy Kitty]

it is no big deal, actually, just looks really strange. TwoBit was bor w/out hind legs, she has the first part, so she has a "base" she ca sit up on. she has one flipper she uses to scratch her ears. My site seems to be down right now, hopefully will be fixed tomorrow, so I will upload a pict here for you.

Twobit gets around great, she even climbs! Our biggest fear is her getting too fat and making it harder to get around. She balances on her front legs and runs around that way. She has a tail but doesn't use it for much at all.

There is NO reason to gas this kitten, gas the person instead.

WHERE ARE YOU????????

bendy kitty

[Bendy Kitty]

since i'm not around as much anymore.

if she does have bowel/bladder problems she will need a diaper. Still not a reason to put the poor lil thing down.

bendy

[Bendy Kitty]

the little dog who is needing a cart, and whose owner is being scr*wd by Doggone Wheels?

bendy

[Bendy Kitty]

it cost about $20, a kid's toy, some foam for padding, and vetwrap to hold her on!

bedy



Mimosa's Cart

[Weeble's :o~ mom Beth]

Bendy~ Just to set the record straight, problems with k9 carts not doggone. Have decided to go with Eddies,talked to Eddie himself today for a good hour, he really cares about building a cart that will help Weeble the most.
Thanks for thinking about him! He sends tumbles your way!

[Weeble's :o~ mom Beth]

no msg

[critters]

Can't wait to see a pic of the kitty in it.

[Dianne]

Wow,

Could you post instructions for your cart!!! Please....e.g. Parts list, how you made the saddle, etc. Looks great.

Dianne

[RichB]

Assuming we can get kitty to use it, she promises me pics.
Rich