A 4-year-old spayed female Domestic Shorthair cat presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals Community Practice Service for evaluation of a 6-month history of intermittent weight bearing to toe-touching, right pelvic limb lameness. There was no history of trauma, pain, heat, or swelling of the limb during this time. Initially the patient was observed to jump up on the exam table without discomfort; however, the right pelvic limb lameness was perceived when walking. The patient was polydactyl in all four limbs and the remainder of the general physical exam was unremarkable. On orthopedic exam, mild medial buttress, cranial drawer and tibial thrust were noted in the right pelvic limb, but no other abnormalities were detected. Bilateral stifle radiographs revealed mild meniscal mineralization in the left stifle and intracapsular swelling, severe meniscal mineralization, and an osteochondroma in the right stifle. The grades 3-4/5 lameness was localized to the right stifle and a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury was suspected1. Subsequently, a right stifle exploratory arthrotomy, partial medial meniscectomy, and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy were performed.

This report will discuss diagnosis and pathophysiology of cruciate disease in cats, the surgical approach to a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and post-operative rehabilitation customized for the recovering feline patient.