Deformed Kitten Gets New Start

By Amy Sinatra Ayres

Stockings, an orange tabby, was born with backwards hind legs, leaving him unable to stand or walk. He was brought to the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago when he was just a few weeks old. "He had so much pent up energy! He wanted to run around like other kittens and play," said the shelter's Jenny Schlueter.

The shelter contacted an orthopedic veterinarian, who performed three procedures to turn the kitten's legs forward. Now, Stockings can run and play like a kitten should. "Our goal was to make his feet functional so he could live a happy, pain-free life," Dr. Steve Neihaus said. And Stockings' story has a happy ending: he found a forever home with a vet tech who fell in love with him when she fostered him after his surgery. - Read it at Chicago's ABC 7 and watch Stockings play via Vimeo

See More on vetstreet.com:
* Why Does My Cat... Ignore Me?
*
10 Common Cat Behavior Myths Decoded
*
6 Foods to NEVER Feed Your Cat or Dog
* 4 Best Places to Pet Your Cat, 1 to Leave Alone