We have a soft spot for tripod kitties, who, despite losing a leg, live full, joyful lives with no limitations. Today, we’re sharing the story of Fiyero, a stunning silver tabby kitten who narrowly escaped euthanasia due to a leg injury. His journey is a testament to resilience and the power of second chances.
Fiyero’s Journey: From Desperation to Hope
Fiyero, like many cats in bustling cities, faced countless dangers. Even though he had a safe home with two siblings, he managed to get loose and returned four days later with a severe injury to his right front leg—likely caused by a car accident. Shockingly, his owners took him to the vet, requesting euthanasia.
Images and media via Instagram/lilfoserbabes and babykittenrescue
But this wasn’t the end for Fiyero. The vets at the clinic, who also worked as rescuers, refused to end his life over a treatable injury. They advocated for him, eventually convincing his owners to relinquish him. One of the vets drove him two hours to an expert foster provider, Pei, with Baby Kitten Rescue.
“[The] owner brought him into a vet clinic wanting to euthanize 😩😔😭,” shared Pei. “This happens a lot, pets discarded because the cost or care is too ‘burdensome.’ I’m not going to judge nor preach, I will just keep trying to educate that (1) spaying/neutering your pets solves a huge part of that ‘burden’ and (2) if you’re truly in a bind – ask for help – there are resources 🙏🏼💖.”
Despite his injury, Fiyero remained sweet and loving, showing no signs of the pain he was enduring.
A New Name, A New Life
To mark a fresh start, Pei gave him a new name—Fiyero, or Fifi for short, inspired by a character from Wicked. It was a fitting name for a kitten about to embark on a new chapter of his life.
Video via Instagram/lilfoserbabes and babykittenrescue
Fiyero’s Path to Becoming a Tripod
Fiyero’s leg injury was serious, resulting in a complete brachial plexus avulsion, which left him with no feeling in his right front leg. The vet explained that, unlike human arms, a cat’s forelimbs are attached by free-floating clavicle bones and muscle. This allows them to squeeze through tight spaces but also makes it challenging for nerve and muscle connections to heal if damaged.
To give Fiyero the best chance at recovery, the rescuers tried various therapies for two months:
- Weekly acupuncture
- Hydrotherapy
- Physical rehabilitation
- Acuscope treatments
- A corrective custom-made brace
However, after these efforts, an orthopedic specialist determined that amputation was the best option to prevent future pain and injury.
Video via Instagram/lilfosterbabes and babykittenrescue
A Bright Future Ahead
Following the amputation, Fiyero adapted quickly, showing no signs of slowing down. He’s as playful as ever, enjoying games like fetch, running, jumping, and climbing. His injury hasn’t held him back in the slightest.
“He will be able to (and already is) do all the fun kitty things like jumping, running, climbing etc! An injury like this does not hold a kitty back in the slightest 💪🏼👏🏼🔥,” Pei shared.
Fiyero Finds a Forever Home
After making a full recovery, Fiyero is ready to begin his new life in a loving home. The fact that he came so close to death makes his story all the more miraculous. His resilience and loving nature have never wavered, and now, he’s ready to bring joy to a forever family.
“It’s unbelievable to think Fiyero was so close to death, and so unnecessarily🥺. Especially seeing how he is literally the embodiment of love, life, silliness, and happiness,” said Pei.
“His trust, resilience, and loving attitude has never wavered through rehabilitation and surgery. I am so proud of him! 🥹🥰🙌🏼💪🏼”
To follow Fiyero’s journey and see more, including adoption details, you can check out Instagram and TikTok.
Video via Instagram/lilfosterbabes and babykittenrescue
Fiyero’s story reminds us of Nemo, an orange cat who needed his rear leg amputated. Thanks to a kind vet who refused to give up on him, Nemo now enjoys life as a happy tripod too!
