During winter, Siberian Russia experiences excruciatingly low temperatures, plummeting to –60°C. However, this is an annual occurrence, and the Russian population has adapted to the extreme cold weather by always being prepared and resilient during these harsh and dark months.

However, not all creatures have adjusted as well as humans have. Unlike people, animals are usually ill-equipped to handle certain situations. Some pets tend to wander around outside without realizing the danger they are exposing themselves to. This behavior often puts them at risk of getting frostbite on their paws, and sadly, many of them don’t survive this condition.

Despite facing a challenging situation, Ryzhik the cat managed to pull through. When temperatures plunged to minus 40°c in January, he lost all four of his paws due to frostbite, and gangrene quickly set in, leaving the vet no option but to amputate them. Fortunately, Ryzhik had a compassionate owner who took him to a clinic in Novosibirsk, where he was fitted with four prosthetic paws. Thanks to this kind gesture, Ryzhik has been given a new lease on life.

During Ryzhik’s visit to the clinic, the veterinarians utilized advanced computer tomography and 3D modeling to equip the cat with prosthetic paws. Such technology enabled them to design paws that would provide maximum comfort to the feline. The surgeon further elaborated that the limbs were composed of titanium and firmly fused with the bones, while the internal part was sponge-like to facilitate tissue growth.

During a recent interview, Surgeon Sergey Gorshkov shared his experience with Ryzhik, a cat who underwent unique surgical procedures. According to Gorshkov, Ryzhik is the first feline in history to have undergone such surgeries.

Ryzhik can now walk, run, and climb stairs again thanks to the latest technology. Although Ryzhik is not yet fully confident in his movements, it is likely to be a temporary situation. As he continues to adjust to his four new paws, it’s just a matter of time before he becomes more comfortable with his new abilities.