Six Legged Kitten- 2 Legs Too Many!
Our Six-Legged Kitten
In May of this year we rescued a tiny but heavily-pregnant cat who had been found wandering the streets of Byker in Newcastle upon Tyne. This little mum-to-be was barely more than a kitten herself when we brought her back to safety so she could give birth to her babies.
On 28th May Bridget, (that's what we named her), gave birth to her kittens, a tortoiseshell girl and a fluffy ginger and white boy.... Or so we thought. Both kittens were strong and healthy, although the ginger and white boy had a twisted back leg.
This twisted leg syndrome happens in the womb when there is over-crowding. As the developing kittens all fight for space, a kitten whose legs are awkwardly positioned may not be able to fully stretch them as they grow. The result is that the tendons and ligament contract, and the legs become twisted. This is what happened to our Henri.
Fortunately, we were able to help. We massaged his little leg every three hours and, before too long, Henri was walking almost normally. We thought all was well.... until it dawned on us that Henri was actually Henrietta. You see, Henri's little-boy bits-and-pieces were, in fact, Henrietta's extra legs, complete with tiny-weeny paws and claws. We had a six-legged kitten on our hands!
Henrietta is the sweetest little kitten you could imagine. She loves to play with her toys, her Mum and her sister, Lucy. She is a very bright, happy, outgoing character; friendly, affectionate and full of fun. The only problem is that, week by week, her little extra legs grow a few more centimetres, and then a few more, and then a few more! Clearly, if Henrietta is to flourish and become a proper grown-up cat, ready for her very own forever home, we need to make sure that she has only the usual, regulation number of legs … which is, of course, four and not six.
She's been to the vet for an examination and, happily, we have been told the extra legs can be removed. Henrietta will, of course, need an operation and lots of after-care. We have been told to expect some hefty bills. We are hoping to raise £1000 which will cover all of Henrietta's costs until she is well enough and strong to be matched to her forever home.
£1000 is a massive amount of money for us to find.
Feline Friends Charity was set up in June 2006 to care for the needs of cats and kittens who have been abandoned or are unwanted. We take the best possible care of every cat and kitten who comes to us and, when they are healthy, neutered, wormed and vaccinated, we find each one a safe and loving forever home.
We are a Registered Charity (No. 1123180) and we have no funding other than the donations we receive and the money we raise through our own fund-raising efforts. We have no other source of income, and every penny we raise is spent on meeting the needs of the cats and kittens who find their way to us.
Please, please help us to help Henrietta so she can have a lovely life with someone who will appreciate her and love her as much as we do. Thank you!
A MASSIVE, MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS
We have achieved our initial target and we are delighted to say that Henrietta will now definitely be able to have the operation to remove her two extra legs. Not only that, but we will be able to afford the best possible aftercare and make sure she is a completely pampered puss! She absolutely deserves the very, very best and we will do everything we can to ensure she is looked after and cared for 24/7.
Of course, none of this would be possible without YOUR help. Your gifts have made it possible for Our Henrietta to be able to look forward to a happy life where she can run and jump and play, just like her Mum, her sister Lucy and all her friends. We really can't thank you enough.
We had intended closing the campaign when we reached our target for Henrietta. However, since opening this gofundme we have rescued two more Mums with kittens and a Mum-to-Be who is waiting to give birth..... not to mention the other cats we have taken in during this period.
So, we are keeping the campaign running in the hope that people will continue to donate to ensure that all the cats and kittens in our care, (and there are many!) are looked after until we find them the right forever home. Every month we have vet bills to pay, (never small and manageable, as all cat people know!) and we have massive food and cat litter bills.
Once again, thank you on behalf of Henrietta. We will continue to provide updates on this page as to the timing of her operation and let you know, generally, how she is getting on.
Big Meows and paw waves from Henri and thanks from all the team here at Feline Friends.
In May of this year we rescued a tiny but heavily-pregnant cat who had been found wandering the streets of Byker in Newcastle upon Tyne. This little mum-to-be was barely more than a kitten herself when we brought her back to safety so she could give birth to her babies.
On 28th May Bridget, (that's what we named her), gave birth to her kittens, a tortoiseshell girl and a fluffy ginger and white boy.... Or so we thought. Both kittens were strong and healthy, although the ginger and white boy had a twisted back leg.
This twisted leg syndrome happens in the womb when there is over-crowding. As the developing kittens all fight for space, a kitten whose legs are awkwardly positioned may not be able to fully stretch them as they grow. The result is that the tendons and ligament contract, and the legs become twisted. This is what happened to our Henri.
Fortunately, we were able to help. We massaged his little leg every three hours and, before too long, Henri was walking almost normally. We thought all was well.... until it dawned on us that Henri was actually Henrietta. You see, Henri's little-boy bits-and-pieces were, in fact, Henrietta's extra legs, complete with tiny-weeny paws and claws. We had a six-legged kitten on our hands!
Henrietta is the sweetest little kitten you could imagine. She loves to play with her toys, her Mum and her sister, Lucy. She is a very bright, happy, outgoing character; friendly, affectionate and full of fun. The only problem is that, week by week, her little extra legs grow a few more centimetres, and then a few more, and then a few more! Clearly, if Henrietta is to flourish and become a proper grown-up cat, ready for her very own forever home, we need to make sure that she has only the usual, regulation number of legs … which is, of course, four and not six.
She's been to the vet for an examination and, happily, we have been told the extra legs can be removed. Henrietta will, of course, need an operation and lots of after-care. We have been told to expect some hefty bills. We are hoping to raise £1000 which will cover all of Henrietta's costs until she is well enough and strong to be matched to her forever home.
£1000 is a massive amount of money for us to find.
Feline Friends Charity was set up in June 2006 to care for the needs of cats and kittens who have been abandoned or are unwanted. We take the best possible care of every cat and kitten who comes to us and, when they are healthy, neutered, wormed and vaccinated, we find each one a safe and loving forever home.
We are a Registered Charity (No. 1123180) and we have no funding other than the donations we receive and the money we raise through our own fund-raising efforts. We have no other source of income, and every penny we raise is spent on meeting the needs of the cats and kittens who find their way to us.
Please, please help us to help Henrietta so she can have a lovely life with someone who will appreciate her and love her as much as we do. Thank you!
A MASSIVE, MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS
We have achieved our initial target and we are delighted to say that Henrietta will now definitely be able to have the operation to remove her two extra legs. Not only that, but we will be able to afford the best possible aftercare and make sure she is a completely pampered puss! She absolutely deserves the very, very best and we will do everything we can to ensure she is looked after and cared for 24/7.
Of course, none of this would be possible without YOUR help. Your gifts have made it possible for Our Henrietta to be able to look forward to a happy life where she can run and jump and play, just like her Mum, her sister Lucy and all her friends. We really can't thank you enough.
We had intended closing the campaign when we reached our target for Henrietta. However, since opening this gofundme we have rescued two more Mums with kittens and a Mum-to-Be who is waiting to give birth..... not to mention the other cats we have taken in during this period.
So, we are keeping the campaign running in the hope that people will continue to donate to ensure that all the cats and kittens in our care, (and there are many!) are looked after until we find them the right forever home. Every month we have vet bills to pay, (never small and manageable, as all cat people know!) and we have massive food and cat litter bills.
Once again, thank you on behalf of Henrietta. We will continue to provide updates on this page as to the timing of her operation and let you know, generally, how she is getting on.
Big Meows and paw waves from Henri and thanks from all the team here at Feline Friends.
Organizer
Lisa Davis
Organizer
England
FELINE FRIENDS LIMITED
Beneficiary