Paralysed cat learns to walk again with swimming lessons

Mog the grey tabby sustained horrific injuries and spent six weeks on a drip after a car smashed into him in February.

The one-year-old cat did not break any bones but suffered nerve damage that left his two front legs completely paralysed.

His owner, Veronica 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.

Mog could also only sit up on his hind legs as he could not put any weight on his damaged front legs.

A vet suggested that hydrotherapy classes - usually for water-loving dogs - could help relieve his pain and Mrs Ashworth decided to take him for a session.

Mog initially "looked horrified" when he clapped eyes on the canine hydrotherapy pool - but took to it like a duck to water and began swimming lengths. The determined cat has now been attending the sessions for ten weeks and has made a "vast improvement", according to Mrs Ashworth.

He can now bear his own weight on his front paws and is soon expected to take his first steps.

Mrs Ashworth, from Lostwithiel, Cornwall, 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.

"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."

Mog undertakes his treatment at Hawksland Canine Hydrotherapy centre in St Issey, Cornwall, with physiotherapist Ros Boisseau.

He swims in a specially designed 13ft-long pool - usually reserved for dogs - in 3ft deep water for 15 minutes.

Mrs Boisseau said Mog was the first cat she had ever treated at the centre and she was "amazed" by his progress.

She said: "The first time I put him in the water he looked at me in horror but I told Veronica to call him and then he miaowed at her and struck out across the pool to her.

"By using and stretching out his legs he is slowly regaining the strength in them.

"He really is amazing. I've never treated a cat with hydrotherapy before - cats don't tend to like swimming.

"I doubt there'll be a rush of cats coming in for swimming therapy."

Mrs Ashworth added that Mog is "hilarious" to watch as he swims in the pool as he makes gurgling noises and miaows loudly.

The grandmother of two said: "There is still a significant amount of nerve damage but he has already improved.

"His left leg is still bent but a few weeks ago he started to put weight on his right leg, which was amazing. It really is a huge improvement.

"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.

"I'm really happy that it's this which has improved his quality of life."