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After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

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It is not news to hear that temperatures in Siberian Russia drop to severe lows once winter arrives. Though people are used to the extreme cold and have prepared for it through the years, not all animals are as resilient. Pets with frostbitten paws are not a rare sight in Siberia and unfortunately, most often, that is a death sentence for the poor pooches. However, this kitty was lucky enough to have an owner that had completely different plans for the pet.

Ryzhik (Ginger or Redhead in Russian) lost all 4 paws in January as temperatures dropped in Tomsk. Its limbs were so severely frostbitten, with gangrene setting in quickly and the vet had no other option but to amputate them. However, Ryzhik’s owner didn’t give up on the kitty and decided to make his life as comfortable and long as possible and took him to a clinic in Novosibirsk that specializes in implanting artificial limbs.

h/t: The Siberian Times

Ryzhik lost all his paws to frostbite and was fitted with artificial ones

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

The cat was fitted with 4 artificial paws there. They used computer tomography and 3D modeling to manufacture limbs that would be most comfortable for the feline.

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

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Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

Surgeon Sergey Gorshkov reported that Ryzhik “is definitely the first cat in the world who experienced such surgeries,” making it very likely that the kitty is, in fact, the first cat in the world to have all 4 artificial limbs. Quite impressive!

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

The surgeon went on to explain that the cat’s limbs were made of titanium and attached to the bones. The part that is connected to skin and bone is spongy to allow the tissue to grow around it.

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

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Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

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After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

The footage shows Ryzhik walking around and going down the stairs using his new artificial paws. As he is not trying to remove or shake off the prostheses, it suggests that the cat is comfortable with his new modifications.

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

The kitty is not yet running or walking with confidence, but specialists report that it’s likely temporal and with time, Ryzhik will get used to his new paws and will walk much easier in the future.

After This Cat Lost Its Limbs To Frostbite, People Set Him Up With 4 Prosthetic Ones

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Image credits: Vesti Rossiya

Watch the video about Ryzhik below

Surgeon Gorshkov’s clinic specializes in helping animals in trouble that previously had no easy solutions and they’re pioneering new methods to save them. Attaching new limbs and rebuilding parts like beaks for parrots and hoofs for cattle are some of the procedures that the clinic does.

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Giedrė Vaičiulaitytė

As a writer and image editor for Bored Panda, Giedrė crafts posts on many different topics to push them to their potential. She's also glad that her Bachelor’s degree in English Philology didn’t go to waste (although collecting dust in the attic could also be considered an achievement of aesthetic value!) Giedrė is an avid fan of cats, photography, and mysteries, and a keen observer of the Internet culture which is what she is most excited to write about. Since she's embarked on her journalistic endeavor, Giedrė has over 600 articles under her belt and hopes for twice as much (fingers crossed - half of them are about cats).

As a writer and image editor for Bored Panda, Giedrė crafts posts on many different topics to push them to their potential. She's also glad that her Bachelor’s degree in English Philology didn’t go to waste (although collecting dust in the attic could also be considered an achievement of aesthetic value!) Giedrė is an avid fan of cats, photography, and mysteries, and a keen observer of the Internet culture which is what she is most excited to write about. Since she's embarked on her journalistic endeavor, Giedrė has over 600 articles under her belt and hopes for twice as much (fingers crossed - half of them are about cats).

What do you think ?

Kathy Baylis 5 years ago

For those thinking the cat is in pain, it appears to still be early days with the prosthetics, so the little guy is still adjusting. If the author of the article does an update in a couple months, things might look very different. Believe me, if he didn't like them, he'd be trying to shake them off, and wouldn't be walking at all. Time will tell if he's a success story or not.

29points

Cris Şerbu 5 years ago

I have mixed feelings about that, 'cause paws aren't just for walking...

11points

SirPatTheCat 5 years ago

But it's better than nothing at all. It would be impossible to recreate fully functional new cat paws

13points

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panda_legerdemain 5 years ago

I once saw an episode of bionic vet where a sweet cat lost his legs to harvester. They fitted him with titanium ones, but he was so comfortable with them that he actually started to run and jump a little right after the surgery. This does not look the same.. M not sure if this poor cat is uncomfortable, in pain or just getting used to it..

10points

Pumbaa 5 years ago

He's also missing part of his tail and ears. I think he just feels uncomfortable in general.

5points

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Kathy Baylis 5 years ago

For those thinking the cat is in pain, it appears to still be early days with the prosthetics, so the little guy is still adjusting. If the author of the article does an update in a couple months, things might look very different. Believe me, if he didn't like them, he'd be trying to shake them off, and wouldn't be walking at all. Time will tell if he's a success story or not.

29points

Cris Şerbu 5 years ago

I have mixed feelings about that, 'cause paws aren't just for walking...

11points

SirPatTheCat 5 years ago

But it's better than nothing at all. It would be impossible to recreate fully functional new cat paws

13points

Load More Replies...

panda_legerdemain 5 years ago

I once saw an episode of bionic vet where a sweet cat lost his legs to harvester. They fitted him with titanium ones, but he was so comfortable with them that he actually started to run and jump a little right after the surgery. This does not look the same.. M not sure if this poor cat is uncomfortable, in pain or just getting used to it..

10points

Pumbaa 5 years ago

He's also missing part of his tail and ears. I think he just feels uncomfortable in general.

5points

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