Edmonton's six‑legged cat: A miracle surgery and a new home
An unusual cat came under the care of rescue workers at a shelter in Edmonton. It was discovered that two additional limbs were growing from the rear part of its body. In total, it had six legs, but only three were fully functional. The remaining limbs caused pain and restricted their freedom of movement. The cat needed surgery.
The cat arrived at "Furget Me Not Animal Rescue" in April 2025. The unusual number of limbs immediately caught the staff's attention, as it had six instead of the usual four. In a conversation with The Daily Mail, the organisation's director, Christine Koltun, confessed that at first, she couldn't believe it.
– When she [the rescuer - ed. note] mentioned the cat had extra legs growing out of its side, my immediate thought was 'that isn't possible'" – she emphasised.
It turned out that Bitsy, as she was named, was born with a congenital defect. The extra limbs were the result of a twin that she "absorbed" while still in her mother's womb. Due to this phenomenon, parts of the second foetus's body remained in the cat's organism. This is an infrequent occurrence, especially among cats.
Life with six legs wasn't easy
The unusual structure meant that the cat moved with difficulty, and even walking, lying down, or eating was a challenge for her. A simple task, like arranging her legs to reach the bowl of food, was quite a challenge, recalled Koltun.
Bitsy was neglected and dirty, with wounds on several limbs. Nevertheless, she immediately formed a strong bond with her caregivers. She was not wild; clearly, someone had taken care of her before.
A chance for a new life
Veterinarians from a clinic in Windermere decided to proceed with surgery. They realised that amputation was the only way for the cat to function normally and live without pain. A decision was made to remove three of the six limbs.
– The extra legs were attached to one of her back legs by an extra partial pelvis that had also not been absorbed, so we had to amputate the two extra limbs and the back leg to ensure the best quality of life for Bitsy – explained Mackenzie Sawatzky, a clinic employee.
The procedure lasted two hours and was a significant challenge, but it was successful. Just a few days after the surgery, Bitsy began moving more freely. – She had been unable to lie down properly pre-op; she had to splay her legs out to the sides like a spider – emphasised Koltun.
– Knowing she could lie in a cat bed comfortably for the first time in her life was extremely moving. Losing the dead weight put a spring in her step almost immediately – she noted.
The cat quickly recovered. She runs, plays, and even jumps on furniture. She also has a new home. Mackenzie Sawatzky, the office manager at the clinic where the surgery was performed, could not remain indifferent to her story and decided to adopt her.
– Bitsy has recovered beautifully. Her incision is all healed, and she has taken to having three legs so easily. She is able to run, jump, and play as any other cat would. She is free of pain and we expect her to live a normal, happy, and healthy life – Sawatzky emphasised.
– Had Bitsy not been rescued, who knows what her story could have been. She has been given such an incredible second chance at life because of Furget Me Not Animal Rescue," to whom I extend my heartfelt thanks, she added.
