A cat paralysed after being hit by a car is learning to walk again - by taking swimming lessons.
Mog sustained horrific injuries and spent six weeks on a drip after a car smashed into him in a hit-and-run incident in February.
The one-year-old did not break any bones in the smash - but suffered nerve damage which left his two front legs completely paralysed.
Mog the grey tabby lost the use of his front two legs but is slowly learning to use them again in a hydrotherapy pool normally used by more enthusiastic dogs.
He strikes an amusing figure in the pool as he meows loudly and makes gurgling sounds as he paddles around.
Mog can now bear his own weight on his front two legs after ten lessons in the pool.
He has now been attending the £30 sessions for ten weeks and has made has made a 'vast improvement', according to Mrs Ashworth.
Trainer Ros Boisseau said Mog was the first cat she had ever treated at the centre and she was 'amazed' with by his progress.
Owner Veronica Ashworth said Mog initially looked 'horrified' when she was brought to the hydrotherapy centre in St Issey, Cornwall.
But she soon leapt in with a bit of encouragement by Mrs Ashworth, from Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
She said: 'I know it's quite unusual for cats to swim but he's such a character.
'Most cats do anything to avoid water, but he seems to really like swimming in the pool. He takes it quite seriously.
'Now he can do circuits of the pool, he makes a lot of noise about it but he does it.
'He does a sort of funny doggy paddle, it's hilarious to watch. I think he realises it is doing him good.
'He has always liked water, and used to hang round the bath and wash basin.
He's such an extrovert that when there were some students in watching him swim he was really showing off.
'The therapy is working and there's definitely improvement.'
Mrs Ashworth, 62, was told her pet would never walk again and watched as he slowly learned to move by pushing himself along with his back legs.
He could also only sit up on his hind legs - like a Meerkat - as he could not put any weight on his damaged front legs.
Source: Daily Mail
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Government could seek more IMF funding, incoming finance minister Ato Forson says
19 minutes -
Man told he can’t recover £598m of Bitcoin from tip
35 minutes -
Gun-wearing leader sparks concern at Mahama’s inauguration
46 minutes -
Boeing and Google give $1m each to Trump’s inauguration
59 minutes -
TikTok to make final plea at Supreme Court against US ban
1 hour -
Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to halt hush-money case sentencing
1 hour -
Man with crocodile skull in luggage arrested at Delhi airport
2 hours -
Mozambique tense as opposition leader returns from exile
2 hours -
Morocco receives 17.4 million tourists in 2024, up 20% on 2023
2 hours -
‘Trump 2.0’ looms large over the global economy
5 hours -
Ivory Coast president signals he would like to run for fourth term
5 hours -
Case of second preacher arrested over damaged vehicles at Parliament adjourned
6 hours -
Washing bay attendant fined for impersonating military officer, possessing gear
6 hours -
Loading boy arraigned over alleged theft of driving mirror
6 hours -
Disregard Young Apostles’ statement dissociating themselves from me – Anim Addo
6 hours