After losing front legs, T-Rex the cat seeks new home

Kyle Mitchell
·2 min read

Editor’s Note: This article contains images of an injured cat before and after amputation surgery.

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — The Al-Van Humane Society in South Haven is trying to get a prosthetic for an injured cat who had to have both front legs amputated.

Staff received the cat on Monday after someone found him under their boat in Covert Township.

“We didn’t know the extent of his injuries while he was in the carrier and then we pulled him out and said, ‘Oh, boy, that’s not one that you see every day.’ And we immediately got him looked at by our shelter vet,” Madison Steffens, intake and medical coordinator for the Al-Van Humane Society, said.

The cat, who the shelter calls T-Rex for short, had to have his legs amputated.

“Given his great disposition and he’s supper friendly and purring and wanting food and pets, we were like, he deserves a chance because he certainly has the attitude,” Steffens said.

The staff says they do not know what caused the injury.

“It’s possible that he could have gotten caught in like a snare trap that you would use for coyotes, or other animals. It’s also possible somebody did it to him intentionally,” Steffens said.

T-Rex has already been neutered, so the staff thinks he was likely someone’s pet, though no one has claimed him.

While the humane society has treated animals who needed amputations in the past, it has not seen anything to this degree.

“We’ve not had a cat that’s had both on one side amputated. It’s usually been one limb,” Jessica Forrest, the lead kennel attendant, said.

Tyrannosaurus Rex the cat had to have his two front legs amputated. He will get prosthetics after recovering from surgery.
Tyrannosaurus Rex the cat had to have his two front legs amputated. (Courtesy)
Tyrannosaurus Rex the cat had to have his two front legs amputated. He will get prosthetics after recovering from surgery.
Tyrannosaurus Rex the cat had to have his two front legs amputated. (March 14, 2024)

The agency has already seen a lot of interest from people considering adopting T-Rex. It is looking for a home that can manage his needs.

“We are hoping that maybe we’ll be able to raise the funds for prosthetics or find someone who is willing to make prosthetics for him, maybe,” Forrest said.

T-Rex is still on pain medicine while he recovers from the surgery, but is already showing signs he can adapt to not having his front paws.

“He’s definitely gonna have some challenges ahead. He’s already figuring out kind of the balancing and he sits more back, more on his back legs. Once he gets that figured out, I think he will be in a much better spot,” Steffens said.

If you want to donate to help support the shelter and the care of T-Rex, you can visit the Al-Van Humane Society’s website.

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