Bionic Cat Gets Two Legs Up

A nasty encounter with a combine left Oscar, a British cat, without his two rear legs. Oscar’s owners rushed him to their veterinarian. Cats don’t tolerate wheeled devices like dogs do, so the doctor referred the case to a neuro-or thopedic surgeon. With the help of biomedical engineering experts, the surgeon gave Oscar two metal prosthetic implants with custom-built faux paws that mimic a cat’s natural gait. The implants, which cost almost $3,000, were coated with a substance that helps bone cells grow directly over them. Oscar’s own skin even eventually grew over them, preventing infection. After four months of rehabilitation training, the cat was back on all four of his feet. “Oscar can now run and jump about as cats should do,” his surgeon said.