We are dedicated to saving the live of these precious kittens born with twisted legs. They can grow up to lead perfectly normal lives if only someone knows how to straighten those little legs. Too often veterinarians mistakenly think the kitten has a permanent deformity and recommend that the newborn baby be put down. Please print out this article and share it with your veterinarian. A small donation of just $25 can make a big difference in a kitten's life. Thank you so much for supporting our continued efforts to help Kittens Born with Twisted Legs.

Occasionally a kitten is born with one or more legs that appear to be "twisted" due to a condition called Contracted Tendons.

It is thought that if the kitten's legs are crowded when it is enclosed in its amniotic sac inside its mother, or if the legs lay in the wrong position while the kitten is developing, the legs can grow twisted.

A kitten can have just one leg twisted, although more often two front or two hind legs are affected.

The degree of twisting of the leg can vary from mild to severe, from only a slight twisting of the leg to a twist of almost 180 degrees. The leg may just turn inward or it can actually turn AND twist upon itself.

Variations In Appearance Of Legs With Contracted Tendons There is great variation in how contracted tendons affect the leg of a newborn, however common conditions seen include: Front or Hind Legs: Straight, over-extended leg. The joints are stiff and will not bend. There is no twisting. Normal, flexible leg with curled under paws that will not bend into a normal position. Stiff leg with curled under paws that will not bend. Front Legs: The leg is bent under at the wrist and twisted inwards. The degree of bending and twisting may be slight or the front leg may be twisted almost 180 degrees. Hind Legs: The hind leg is bent backwards from the point of the hock. The hind leg turns inwards from the point of the hock so that it crosses underneath the kitten's belly. The degree of the turn inward can be mild or so severe that the hind foot is twisted upside down. The entire lower hind leg is twisted inwards in a semicircular fashion from the hock down. The twisting may be slight or may turn through almost 180 degrees so that the hocks face forward rather than back and the leg gives the appearance of being put on backwards.

Photos Of Kittens Born With Straight, Stiff Legs

The mildest form of a contracted tendon results in a kitten born with over-extended, straight legs. There is no or little evidence of twisting or turning of the limb. The legs do not appear deformed or misshapen, however the joints do not bend.

This kitten was born with over-extended, straight, stiff hind legs but shows very little twisting

Photos Of Kittens Born With Normal Legs & Curled Under Paws

Another mild form of contracted tendons involves the curling under of the paws. The paw resists being straighted into the normal position. The curled paw may be the only thing wrong with the leg or it can also be associated with stiffness or twisting in the rest of the leg.

This photo shows a newborn kitten with a normal, flexible hind leg
however the paw is curled under and resistant to movement.

Kitten with normal hind leg but with a curled under paw

Newborn British Shorthair kitten with paws on hind legs curled under

Newborn with curled paws on back feet

Photos Of Kittens Born With Stiff Legs & Curled Under Paws

This kitten has stiff, straight hind legs with the paws curled under

Stiff hind legs with left paw more severely curled than right paw

One day old kitten with stiff hind legs and curled paws

Photos Of Kittens Born With Twisted Front Legs

The twist in a front leg is almost always at the "wrist" with the leg twisted inwards. It is as if the leg was bent normally down at the wrist, and then twisted inwards. The bend and twisting can be less than 90 degrees (mild to medium) or more than 90 degrees (medium to severe).

This African Serval kitten's left foot is twisted less than its right foot

A newborn with a twisted front leg

This kitten's front legs show severe twisting

Photos Of Kittens Born With Twisted Hind Legs

Contracted tendons on a hind leg usually affect the leg from the hock joint down to the foot. The leg can be twisted inwards from the hock towards the center of the body or it can be twisted backwards.

Mildly twisted hind legs

This kitten has one hind paw twisted sideways

This kitten has a 60 degree twist to a single hind leg

This photo clearly shows the hind leg with a 90 degree twist inward from the point of the hock.
This kitten was also born without a tail.

This kitten's hind legs are severely twisted back from the point of the hock

Newborn showing the classic "yoga" position from extreme inward turning of the hind legs

These back legs have a 180 degree twist. Because of the severe twist, the hock (which should be at the back of the leg)
is turned to the front of the leg which makes the paws appear upside down.

These back legs have a 180 degree twist at the hocks and are locked in a yoga pose.

This 7 week old kitten has severely twisted hind legs that had not been treated.

Photos Of Kitten Born With Four Twisted Legs And A Bobbed Tail

If a kitten is born with other conditions in addition to what appears to be contracted tendons, it may have a congenital deformity rather than contracted tendons. An x-ray will confirm whether the kitten has a bone or developmental deformity. If it is a congenital deformity, physiotherapy will probably not correct it although bracing and/or surgery may improve the condition.

This kitten was born with all 4 legs twisted plus a bobbed tail.
The joints were stiff and twisted on the front legs but loose and twisted on the hind legs.

Because of the shortened tail combined with all four legs being affected,
x-rays were necessary to ensure the kitten did not have a congenital deformity.

We are dedicated to saving the live of these precious kittens born with twisted legs. They can grow up to lead perfectly normal lives if only someone knows how to straighten those little legs. Too often veterinarians mistakenly think the kitten has a permanent deformity and recommend that the newborn baby be put down. Please print out this article and share it with your veterinarian. A small donation of just $25 can make a big difference in a kitten's life. Thank you so much for supporting our continued efforts to help Kittens Born with Twisted Legs.

Related Articles

• Bracing To Correct Twisted Hind Legs Of A Devon Kitten
• Caring For A Kitten Born With A Twisted Leg
• Contracted Tendons
• Contracted Tendons Of The Front Legs: Twister's Story
• Update On Kittens Born With Twisted Legs