British Amputee Cat First to Get Bone-Grafted Exoprosthetic Paws

Hope he doesn't look at himself in the mirror again...anymore bad luck and he might lose his front legs.

Now that's one cool cat.

Curious. I wonder what the elevated chances of infection, bone damage, and chronic pain are.

Gentlemen, we have the technology to rebuild him, but I don't want to spend a lot of money.

the 4 posted comments are IMHO lame. Oscar is a lucky cat and the research appears very useful.

The researchers have done a very good job. They have addressed all the pertinent problems. Their results will benefit mankind.

No, really, seriously. The risk of infection and pain are real concerns not addressed in the article. If there are effective solutions, then this is an extremely interesting piece of work, and the human trials hint at that, but numbers would be nice.

It's not a dig at the research or the article. It's just something you kinda have to ask that makes or breaks the tech.

And this is an extremely intriguing piece of work. The cat just seems to have adjusted completely, and while I doubt he can do some of the things he's used to (say, tree climbing) his walking isn't awkward or hampered. He's all like, "I's walking, stop its with camera," and then he's all like, "cheezburger?" and then he's like, "No? Then stop its, don't do inter-vues," and goes on with his little kitty life.

I'm thinking about getting metal legs. It's a risky operation, but it'll be worth it.

Dirk Mcbratney, they didn't explicitly state it during the article, but the line:

"biomimicking design inspired by the way that deer's antlers anchor to bone and then extend out through the skin"

Is a reference to the revolutionary design that should allow the metal to coexist there without infection or unusual problems, giving them a direct-to-bone attachment point for the prosthetics. At this point, as far as they know, infection won't happen - the cat's bone and skin had already grown-into and healed around the metal pegs acting as attachment points before the feet were attached.

The potential for applications in humans is awesome as you can imagine, and giving the little cat a chance to walk again while he tests it out for us is a win-win scenario.

Obviously the next step is to locate an individual with exceptional healing capabilities and use this process to fuse nearly indestructible metal to his entire skeleton.

Poor little cat lol to me it looks like it tried to slip into some really really small boots, if you think about it and look closely lol

I think it's great to see things like this happening to one of my favorite animals. If only I had the technology to help my 3 legged kitty. I almost think its similar really. My cat has 3 legs. Technically 3 1/2, and its pretty cool because although she only has half of her one front right arm. She still has the elbow and 1 claw that still grows at the end of her arm. Pretty interesting if you ask me. =)

There is an article that goes into the details of Oscar's operation here:

http://io9.com/5572364/cyborg-cat-walks-on-bionic-feet

Titanium can fuse to bone, and before the doctors attached any prostheses the skin had completely healed around the new metal instead of infection and rejection, which is incredible.

Well, sweet. If it's really that safe, then this is a big step for prosthetics.

cat...the other white meat.

but seriously folks....this could be a great stepping stone (hehehe) in human prosthetic design.

Apparently, cats do have a use after all.

kam

My cat got his hip cut out because of an accident...he's the biggest hunter I've ever had...I resced him, he has no claws, bad teeth and no hip but he can still hunt. Maybe he should of gotten a bionic hip and he could hunt bears! I've had bunny's, birds, lizards and snakes (so far) in his little short life.

How do those work out for itching behind the ears? Perhaps, you should put little flea combs at the ends.

One word!
Euthanasia...
OMG!

I'm thinking about getting metal hands.It's a dangerous operation, but it'll be worth it.and it very costly.

Investment Support

I'm thinking about getting metal hands.It's a dangerous operation, but it'll be worth it.and it very costly.thanks.........

I know an individual with Titanium prosthetics and they do feel something similar to arthritis.

This feeling is only associated with cooler climate.

One of Guillermo del Toro's cats just escaped the labyrinth.

Interesting!I hope that everyone has (or had) a happy Fourth of July!

Now that's one cool cat.
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