Latest news with #Bitsy
CBC
19-05-2025
- General
- CBC
#TheMoment an Edmonton cat with six legs got life-changing surgery
Edmontonian Christine Koltun recounts the moment she rescued Bitsy, a six-legged cat, and the remarkable road to recovery after life-changing surgery.
Global News
16-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Edmonton cat born with 6 legs recovering after surgery
Bitsy the cat was born with nine lives, six legs and one loving heart. Christine Koltun says the one-year-old cat is well on her way to having a new lease on life after a recent surgery to remove three of the legs. 'I'm just so happy for her,' said Koltun, the founder and executive director of the Edmonton-based cat rescue Furget Me Not. 'Very grateful that we could help her.' Koltun said her organization met Bitsy, named after the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' nursery rhyme, after staff got an email last month about a stray cat with extra legs growing out of her side. Koltun was baffled. She had seen cats with paws like lobster claws and 'vampire kitties' breaking out in sores in the sun, she said, but never a feline with extra limbs. Story continues below advertisement 'There's no way that there's a cat with extra legs. Cats only have four legs,' she said. 'Then I got the pictures and went, 'Oh, my God! This cat has extra legs.'' Koltun sprang into action. She brought the cat home and almost immediately realized that Bitsy was an affectionate, extremely loving and people-oriented kitty. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy As it turned out, Bitsy absorbed a littermate while she was in the womb, gaining two extra legs and a second pelvis that grew as she did. One of the main four legs didn't work and also needed to be removed. At first, Koltun said, she wasn't sure if Bitsy could be helped. 'I had a little bit of a cry when I first brought her in. Because it was just so overwhelming thinking, 'Where is this going to take us? Will we be able to help her? Will we be able to fix this?'' Story continues below advertisement Veterinarians at Windermere Veterinary Hospital took X-rays and determined surgery would significantly improve the cat's quality of life. After a procedure that took a little more than two hours, Koltun said Bitsy is recovering well. 'Within less than a day, Betsy was up using the litterbox, drinking the water all by herself. So we really couldn't have asked for a better outcome,' she said. Bitsy still has stitches and is taking some pain medicine but is slowly being weaned off, Koltun added. She said a staff member at the vet clinic has been fostering the feline and may keep her. 'We're really happy for both of them that they've formed this amazing bond, and we're hoping that Bitsy's story ends up with getting to stay with her foster mom.'
CBC
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Edmonton six-legged cat on the mend after surgery
Bitsy the cat was born with nine lives, six legs and one loving heart. Christine Koltun says the one-year-old cat is well on her way to having a new lease on life after a recent surgery to remove three of the legs. "I'm just so happy for her," said Koltun, the founder and executive director of the Edmonton-based cat rescue Furget Me Not. "Very grateful that we could help her." Koltun said her organization met Bitsy, named after the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" nursery rhyme, after staff got an email last month about a stray cat with extra legs growing out of her side. Koltun was baffled. She had seen cats with paws like lobster claws and "vampire kitties" breaking out in sores in the sun, she said, but never a feline with extra limbs. "There's no way that there's a cat with extra legs. Cats only have four legs," she said. "Then I got the pictures and went, 'Oh, my God! This cat has extra legs."' Koltun sprang into action. She brought the cat home and almost immediately realized that Bitsy was an affectionate, extremely loving and people-oriented kitty. When Edmontonian Christine Koltun received an email about a stray cat with six legs, she almost couldn't believe what she was reading. She is the founder of an Edmonton-based cat rescue called Furget Me Not. As it turned out, Bitsy absorbed a littermate while she was in the womb, gaining two extra legs and a second pelvis that grew as she did. One of the main four legs didn't work and also needed to be removed. At first, Koltun said, she wasn't sure if Bitsy could be helped. "I had a little bit of a cry when I first brought her in. Because it was just so overwhelming thinking, 'Where is this going to take us? Will we be able to help her? Will we be able to fix this?"' Veterinarians at Windermere Veterinary Hospital took X-rays and determined surgery would significantly improve the cat's quality of life. After a procedure that took a little more than two hours, Koltun said Bitsy is recovering well. "Within less than a day, Betsy was up using the litterbox, drinking the water all by herself. So we really couldn't have asked for a better outcome," she said. Bitsy still has stitches and is taking some pain medicine but is slowly being weaned off, Koltun added. She said a staff member at the vet clinic has been fostering the feline and may keep her.
Toronto Star
15-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Edmonton cat born with six legs on the mend after surgery
EDMONTON - Bitsy the cat was born with nine lives, six legs and one loving heart. Christine Koltun says the one-year-old cat is well on her way to having a new lease on life after a recent surgery to remove three of the legs. 'I'm just so happy for her,' said Koltun, the founder and executive director of the Edmonton-based cat rescue Furget Me Not. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Very grateful that we could help her.' Koltun said her organization met Bitsy, named after the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' nursery rhyme, after staff got an email last month about a stray cat with extra legs growing out of her side. Koltun was baffled. She had seen cats with paws like lobster claws and 'vampire kitties' breaking out in sores in the sun, she said, but never a feline with extra limbs. 'There's no way that there's a cat with extra legs. Cats only have four legs,' she said. 'Then I got the pictures and went, 'Oh, my God! This cat has extra legs.'' Koltun sprang into action. She brought the cat home and almost immediately realized that Bitsy was an affectionate, extremely loving and people-oriented kitty. As it turned out, Bitsy absorbed a littermate while she was in the womb, gaining two extra legs and a second pelvis that grew as she did. One of the main four legs didn't work and also needed to be removed. At first, Koltun said, she wasn't sure if Bitsy could be helped. 'I had a little bit of a cry when I first brought her in. Because it was just so overwhelming thinking, 'Where is this going to take us? Will we be able to help her? Will we be able to fix this?'' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Veterinarians at Windermere Veterinary Hospital took X-rays and determined surgery would significantly improve the cat's quality of life. After a procedure that took a little more than two hours, Koltun said Bitsy is recovering well. 'Within less than a day, Betsy was up using the litterbox, drinking the water all by herself. So we really couldn't have asked for a better outcome,' she said. Bitsy still has stitches and is taking some pain medicine but is slowly being weaned off, Koltun added. She said a staff member at the vet clinic has been fostering the feline and may keep her. 'We're really happy for both of them that they've formed this amazing bond, and we're hoping that Bitsy's story ends up with getting to stay with her foster mom.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton cat born with six legs on the mend after surgery
EDMONTON – Bitsy the cat was born with nine lives, six legs and one loving heart. Christine Koltun says the one-year-old cat is well on her way to having a new lease on life after a recent surgery to remove three of the legs. 'I'm just so happy for her,' said Koltun, the founder and executive director of the Edmonton-based cat rescue Furget Me Not. 'Very grateful that we could help her.' Koltun said her organization met Bitsy, named after the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' nursery rhyme, after staff got an email last month about a stray cat with extra legs growing out of her side. Koltun was baffled. She had seen cats with paws like lobster claws and 'vampire kitties' breaking out in sores in the sun, she said, but never a feline with extra limbs. 'There's no way that there's a cat with extra legs. Cats only have four legs,' she said. 'Then I got the pictures and went, 'Oh, my God! This cat has extra legs.'' Koltun sprang into action. She brought the cat home and almost immediately realized that Bitsy was an affectionate, extremely loving and people-oriented kitty. As it turned out, Bitsy absorbed a littermate while she was in the womb, gaining two extra legs and a second pelvis that grew as she did. One of the main four legs didn't work and also needed to be removed. At first, Koltun said, she wasn't sure if Bitsy could be helped. 'I had a little bit of a cry when I first brought her in. Because it was just so overwhelming thinking, 'Where is this going to take us? Will we be able to help her? Will we be able to fix this?'' Veterinarians at Windermere Veterinary Hospital took X-rays and determined surgery would significantly improve the cat's quality of life. After a procedure that took a little more than two hours, Koltun said Bitsy is recovering well. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'Within less than a day, Betsy was up using the litterbox, drinking the water all by herself. So we really couldn't have asked for a better outcome,' she said. Bitsy still has stitches and is taking some pain medicine but is slowly being weaned off, Koltun added. She said a staff member at the vet clinic has been fostering the feline and may keep her. 'We're really happy for both of them that they've formed this amazing bond, and we're hoping that Bitsy's story ends up with getting to stay with her foster mom.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.
