Injured Oklahoma City Cat Adapts To Life On Two Paws

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- First, he lost his two back legs.  Then he survived in the wild for about a month.

When Deuce the cat was discovered on Monday, investigators thought someone had intentionally cut off his back legs, but his vet now believes he was injured in some sort of farm accident.

When you first meet Deuce he's kind of a sad little sight.  His back legs are gone from the knee down.

Still, aside from being malnourished, his vet at the Quail Creek Vet clinic said he seemed to be OK.

"He's a total miracle," said Beth Ruby, D.V.M.  "To think a cat could survive an injury to that degree and then be able to live out in the environment without any kind of food or protection or any kind of health care for four to six weeks."

So they started thinking about prosthetics, but Deuce doesn't like to have his injured legs touched.

Then, Wednesday morning, he started balancing on his front two feet and walking around.

"He seemed to have figured it out," said Ruby.  "He's compensating much better then we ever thought he would."

And unlike anything they have ever seen, making Deuce more like a one and only.

"He's kind of a motivator out here," said Dr. Ruby. "We figured if he can do it, anybody can."

And now that Deuce can walk on his own, that gives his doctors hope they can put him in a long term home.

First he will go to a foster home, so the humane society can see if he's adoptable, so don't call the vet clinic and try and take him home.

Sheriff's investigators are looking for information on how the cat was injured, especially if it does turn out to be animal abuse.

If that's the case, the U.S. Humane Society offers a $2,500 reward for information.