Stray Cat with Six Legs Becomes Rescue’s “Most Unforgettable Case”

When Furget Me Not Animal Rescue got a call about a cat in distress, no one could have predicted just how extraordinary this case would be. It was April when a former adopter spotted a cat alone in her yard, obviously in pain—and oddly, with more legs than usual. The cat wasn’t just injured or ill; she had six legs.

The rescue organization rushed into action. What they discovered left veterinarians both challenged and inspired. They named her Bitsy, and her story turned into one that the staff will never forget.

Discovering a Cat Like No Other

The alert came from someone who had known or adopted cats from Furget Me Not in the past—a woman who noticed this cat limping around with abnormal legs, clearly in discomfort. Supposing the extra limbs might be a tumor, or maybe a stray with injuries, the call was urgent.

“When she mentioned extra legs growing out of its side, my first thought was, ‘That isn’t possible,’” says Christine Koltun, founder and executive director of the rescue.

But yes—it was real. The cat living in the yard had two extra legs, giving her six in total. Bitsy looked like no stray they had seen before. She was dirty, had sores on several legs, was clearly in pain, and yet, gentle enough to allow rescuers to scoop her into a carrier. Evidence pointed toward the fact that she had once been cared for—she wasn’t feral.

When the rescue took her in, they worked to understand what was causing this extra anatomy. Was it a genetic abnormality? A mutation? They suspected something known as twin absorption—where a twin in utero is absorbed by the other, but some parts survive. In Bitsy’s case, some limbs survived the absorption process.

From Pain to Healing: Surgery, Recovery & a New Life

Once the rescue had her, the next step was assessment. The furthest extra limbs were on her back end, near her pelvis, and not all were functional. In fact, X-rays and ultrasound showed that three of the extra legs could not bear weight, were reversed or misaligned, and were causing Bitsy significant discomfort. Moving, eating, and lying down were all harder than they should be.

To relieve her pain and improve her quality of life, veterinarians at Windermere Veterinary Hospital, in cooperation with Furget Me Not, made the difficult but necessary decision to amputate the non-weight‐bearing limbs, including what was essentially an extra partial pelvis. The goal was to help Bitsy walk, rest, and move without pain.

The surgery took about two hours. It was not a routine operation; this was the first time Windermere had dealt with a cat in this condition. But thanks to surgical planning, X-rays, veterinarians’ care, and a skilled foster to assist afterward, Bitsy made it through.

Post-surgery, observers immediately saw a change. The relief was almost visible. Bitsy, for the first time, could lie down in a bed without having to splay her legs sideways like a spider. She could rest in comfort. Her foster, Mackenzie, recalls sending a soft bed to the vet clinic—something Bitsy could use properly now that her extra limbs were removed. The first days after the operation, Bitsy rarely left that bed, simply because she finally had something comfortable.

Gradually, though, she found more strength. She began using her remaining three legs to walk, jump, run, and play—and with less or no pain than before. Her wound healed, mobility improved, and her spirit—clearly always there—became more visible. Her demeanor lifted. The “most unforgettable case” label from the rescue wasn’t just about her anatomy; it was about the transformation.

A New Chapter & Lessons Learned

Today, Bitsy is home with Mackenzie, who has fostered her through the recovery and will adopt her permanently once her post-surgical care is fully done. She’s no longer burdened by limbs that didn’t serve her; instead, she’s freed into a happier, healthier life.

She’s running, playing, receiving love. Even doing things that might seem normal—a cat bed, comfortable rest, moving around without pain—are significant victories.

Bitsy’s situation also sparked a lot of attention. She’s become fairly well known in the rescue community and online. An Instagram account was started so people could follow her progress, her sad moments, her healing, and ultimately her joy. Bitsy’s fans cheered after each update.

That kind of community support matters—not just for shares and likes—but for awareness. It reminds people that rescue conditions vary, and unique cases need special care and compassion.