Catcart helps paralyzed kitty
One little kitten with a sad start to her life has a much brighter future thanks to the robotics club at a Colorado high school.
By Kristen Seymour
The Conifer High School robotics club came to the aid of Flipper, a 9-month-old cat at the Aspen Park Veterinary Hospital, by building the longhaired kitten a customized cat cart, reports the Denver Post.
The hospital is a regular donor to the club, and when they approached the high school crew, the students were ready for the challenge.
Flipper came to the hospital months ago with a broken back that left her unable to use her hind legs. It took the robotics club a few months and numerous prototypes, but the end result has been well worth it.
"There's been significant improvement and that supposedly doesn't happen," veterinarian H.C. "Doc" Gurney said.
Bing: Photos of cute kittens being funny
The partially paralyzed kitten wears the device for about two hours a day, during which time she gets around fairly well, although she occasionally takes a corner a little too tightly and hits a wall. She's in good hands, however; the hospital intends to keep here there so they can continue to care for her.
More from Vetstreet:
Why does my cat… have a tongue like sandpaper?
Top 10 kitten names
4 best places to pet a cat and one to leave alone
Kitten born without bones in front legs
12 most common health conditions in cats
Greetings: Send an ecard for Groundhog Day.
Photo: Courtesy of Vetstreet
pics, advice, info and stories for pet lovers
-
Puppy survives alone in car for a month
Tow lot employee finds abandoned pup.
-
10 reasons pets make better partners than people
Animals, says Dr. Patty Khuly, are the best listeners in the world and don’t care that you’ve just been dumped or laid off.
-
11 celebrities who speak for animals
With all the glitz and glamour that comes out of Tinseltown (not to mention the endless tabloid fodder), it's not always obvious that many celebrities are animal lovers, too.
-
How to break 7 common bad dog habits
"No! Bad dog!" How many times have you scolded your misbehaving canine with those words? Probably too many. But before you fly off the handle, one of the most important things to understand about correcting bad behavior is that punishment doesn't work.
-
Should your pets ride loose in the car?
Your dog loves sticking his head out the window, but imagine the tragic results of disregarding his (or your) safety.
-
How this vet talks to kids about pet death
Death is a natural part of life, but it's never easy to understand. Here are some tips when the time comes to talk to your kids about pets passing.
-
Dog vs. cat: which pet is better?
Are you a 'dog person' or 'cat person'?
-
8 most wrinkled dog breeds
Whether they're on small pups like the Pug or huge ones like the Mastiff, adorable wrinkles are the envy of many a dog lover — which is exactly why we set out in search of the canine world's most wrinkled breeds.
-
Top 11 questions you should ask yourself before you adopt a pet
Adopting an animal is a major commitment. Yet all too often people put more effort into researching what kind of car to get than the type of pet that would best fit their lifestyle.
-
20 animals that are going extinct
From certain species of butterflies, zebras to horses and cockatoos, you might be surprised that some of our favorite creatures are dying out.
-
Multifunction feline design: Furniture for both you and your cat
Creating a cat-friendly home means incorporating elements that accommodate your cat’s natural instincts to climb, scratch and rest. Why not look for furniture that gives kitty what she needs and offers function for you too?
-
10 household plants that are dangerous for dogs and cats
You may not realize that these are toxic to your critters - keep your pets away from these household plants.
