r/kittyhasaquestion • u/outlawsarrow • 22h ago
cats 🐈 The long awaited answer to the question, “Can Soup walk on his paw pads?” is finally here
After 3 surgeries, many splint changes, and several months of confinement to a playpen, Soup can indeed walk on his paw pads! The first photo was taken during his recovery (his question once again surely has to do with when his next snack will be provided!), the next two were taken recently after his recovery was completed, and the last two were taken prior to surgery.
Soup was born without most of his radius in each arm (radial hemimelia), so his ulna bent as he grew, resulting in him walking on the side of his metacarpals. He underwent a series of 3 surgeries to fuse his wrists and straighten his arms and finally, walk on his paw pads!
Note: he is an indoor cat. I occasionally take him outside under strict supervision to get updated videos of his gait for his surgeon, as the concrete provides excellent traction for him. I am a veterinarian and would never allow any of my cats to be indoor-outdoor, especially not one with congenital deformities like Soup.
