Cats get ‘bionic’ paws in Bulgaria
AFP: Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain.
- Pooh, a one-year-old cat, who lost his hind legs in an accident and has been given bionic paws, walks in a vet clinic in Sofia on January 31, 2017. Pooh, who is thought to have lost his legs in a car or train accident last April, is back on the prowl thanks to Bulgarian veterinary surgeon Vladislav Zlatinov. He is the first vet in Europe to successfully apply the pioneering method of Irish neuro-orthopaedic surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, who shot to fame in 2009 when making Oscar the first bionic cat by fitting him with new hind legs in Britain. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- Veterinary surgeon Vladislav Zlatinov sets up a bionic paw on the eight-month-old cat named Steven in a vet clinic in Sofia on January 31, 2017. Two stray Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents have been given bionic paws, in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside groundbreaking Britain. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows veterinary Vladislav Zlatinov examining the eight-month-old cat Steven prior an operation giving him new bionic paws. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it, the stray fluffies are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows a vet holding one-year-old cat Pooh with new bionic paws. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it the stray fluffies who are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows one-year-old Pooh in her new bionic back paws. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it, the stray fluffies are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows the one-year-old cat Pooh playing with a toy with new bionic back paws. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it, the stray fluffies are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows veterinary doctor Vladislav Zlatinov fixing a prothetic back paw to Steven the cat. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it, the stray fluffies are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)
- This picture taken on January 26, 2017 in Sofia shows one-year-old Pooh playing with a toy as she wears her new bionic back paws. Two Bulgarian cats who lost their hind legs in accidents are being given new bionic paws in what vets say is the first such operation in Europe outside ground-breaking Britain. But that is not all there is to it, the stray fluffies are also looking to find homes. (AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV)