Jul 2, 2016 | By Tess
In another inspiring story about the impact additive manufacturing can have on an animal’s life, an ill fated cat in Pingtung, Taiwan has been given a new lease on life thanks to the dedication of a team of veterinarians and 3D printing technologies.
The cat, a stray, was found not long ago by a passerby, in a dire, near-death condition. The animal, which had been sleeping on a grinder machine to keep warm had lost three of its legs when the machine came to life. As can be seen in the photos, the machine severed both the cat’s back legs and one of its front ones. Fortunately for the suffering feline, the person who found her brought her to a veterinary hospital to see if she could be treated.
After an examination of the injured cat, the doctors at the veterinary hospital decided that amputation was the only course of action for saving her life. The surgery was performed by veterinary surgeon Chen Yong, also known as Hulk Black Jack and proved to be a success. Just 12 hours after the surgery, the cat was already eating again and was slowly coming back to its old self.
Little by little, the doctors noticed that the cat was eating more and more everyday and beginning to grow in size. Curious about this change in the cat’s physical appearance, the doctors conducted an ultrasound test and found to their surprise that the one-legged cat was actually pregnant! The cat’s determined will to live, despite pain from the injury and amputation, as well as being incapacitated from having lost three limbs, was surely for its unborn kittens.
The doctors treating the cat were so moved by its story and its maternal dedication that they decided to create a set of 3D printed prosthetic legs for the animal to get her back on her feet. Two months later, the cat gave birth to four kittens, and tragically they each succumbed to a congenital heart disease caused by malnutrition. The loss was a blow to both the doctors and to the cat, who having tolerated so much pain and suffering for the kittens had lost them.
Mother cat is crying for the loss of four kittens.
This cat’s story will not end so tragically, however, as the hospital was also taking care of three young kittens who had lost their mother. When the one-legged-cat saw the three kittens, she instantly took to them and seems to have adopted them. With the kittens to care for, the cat’s spirits seemed higher and now Chen Yong is committed to making a set of permanent and custom fitted 3D printed prosthetics for her so that she can move comfortably again. The cat, which has since been named Yi Yi, now has a new home and a second chance at life.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
Maybe you also like:
- Björk performs first ever VR live stream show wearing 3D printed mask by Neri Oxman
- Open Building Institute is revolutionizing sustainable home building through open-source technologies
- Ultimaker 3D printers used for Eventuri’s Audi B8 RS5 intake system, director reveals
- Pleurobot: a 3D printed robot salamander that can walk, crawl and even swim underwater
- See this stunning 3D printed zoetrope come to life with light
- 3D printing helps PEO Soldier reduce 120 lb marching load of US Army Infantry
- Bring your kid's favorite digital characters into reality with 3D printing
- Top 15 3D printed GoPro accessories
- Swiss Re insurance company developing claims program for 3D printing
- Check out these awesome open-source 3D printable robot projects from Wevolver
- 3D printed Diet Eyeglasses by Passau researchers monitor chewing to help you lose weight
"The surgery was performed by veterinary surgeon Chen Yong, also known as Hulk Black Jack" I would like to know more.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
