A young rescue cat, given a second chance after being found malnourished in a scrap car, has undergone life-changing surgery to remove both his hip joints at a veterinary practice in Staffordshire.
From Scrap Car to Safe Home
The black cat, named Batman, is thought to be around 18 months old. He was discovered by a mechanic who noticed steamed-up windows in a vehicle destined for the scrap heap at a garage next to a forge in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The forge's owner, blacksmith and metal artist Genesis Rowley, opened the car door to find an extremely thin and nervous feline inside.
After extensive efforts to locate an owner failed, Mr Rowley decided to adopt the stray. He nursed Batman back to health over several months, helping him gain weight and transform into a happy, settled house cat. However, Batman's new life hit a sudden obstacle when he began showing signs of severe discomfort and started dragging himself around using only his front paws.
A Rare Diagnosis and Major Surgery
Mr Rowley rushed Batman to Charter Vets on Queen Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme, part of the VetPartners family. There, vet Dr Steve Calveley examined the cat and took X-rays. The images revealed Batman was suffering from a rare degenerative condition called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
This disease causes the head and neck of the thigh bone (femur) to become brittle and crumble. In Batman's case, the condition was severe, affecting both hind legs, and had already led to fractures in both hip joints. After discussing options, it was agreed that surgery to remove both hip joints was Batman's best chance for a full, active, and pain-free life.
"I haven't seen many cases of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease in my 25 years as a vet, and Batman was severely affected," said Dr Calveley. "The bone in both his hip joints had already crumbled, and surgery was the best option."
The Road to Recovery
The complex procedure involved removing the ball part of the hip joint and the neck of the femur, then filing down sharp edges on the thigh bone. The body then creates a new, functional joint from muscle and soft tissue. Due to the scale of the operations, Batman underwent two separate surgeries, starting with his more severely affected right hind leg, followed by the left five weeks later.
His recovery has been remarkable. "We're delighted with how well Batman has recovered, and he's gone from strength to strength," Dr Calveley reported. "Even a few days after his surgeries, he was clearly more comfortable, and he's built up muscle around his hindquarters." He praised Batman's owner for acting quickly and diligently attending follow-up check-ups and physiotherapy sessions.
Genesis Rowley is thrilled with the outcome. "It's incredible how well he is after having the joints removed," he said. "He's back to enjoying running around and playing, and he can easily jump up onto the sofa. He's like a different cat, and the surgery was life-changing for him. I love him to bits."
Batman continues to enjoy life as a house cat, with regular trips out for mental stimulation, including visits to the pet shop to pick new toys.
Charter Veterinary Group has four branches serving communities across Cheshire and Staffordshire. It is part of the Willows Veterinary Group and the wider VetPartners network.
