When rescuers first spotted Bitsy wandering the streets of Canada, nothing seemed especially unusual.
Just another stray tabby, thin and a little scruffy, trying to survive.
But something about her walk was odd. At a glance, it looked like she might be dragging an injury or maybe even a tumor.
Then they got a closer look.
Bitsy wasn’t injured. She had six legs. Fully formed.
Two extra limbs dangling behind her like a biological glitch that didn’t get the memo.
It was only after she allowed rescuers to scoop her up that the full picture became clear.
Bitsy wasn’t just another stray cat. She was a rare case, possibly one in a million of a kitten born with a second pelvic bone and a pair of additional legs.
And the reason for this? Most likely, she had absorbed a twin while still in the womb.
That alone was enough to leave anyone stunned.
But the more heartbreaking detail? Despite everything, Bitsy was unbelievably sweet.
She didn’t hiss or claw. She leaned into the kindness. And that’s when the team at Furget Me Not Animal Rescue stepped in.
They knew this was not going to be a typical rescue.
This was a cat with a rare deformity, likely in constant pain, and totally unequipped for life on the streets.
But also? A cat that deserved a shot at a life not defined by pain and survival.
As it turns out, Bitsy had probably been someone’s pet at some point. Her friendliness gave it away.
Which raises the painful question, had someone abandoned her after realizing her condition would be expensive or complicated to deal with?
Whatever the reason, that part of her story was over.
On May 5th, 2025, Bitsy’s story went public. The rescue introduced her to the world with a simple goal of raising enough money for the complex surgery she desperately needed.
The reaction was immediate. People were stunned. A six-legged cat? That alone could have made headlines.
But what really hit home was seeing how gentle and trusting she was, even after everything she’d been through.
The medical side of things wasn’t simple.
Bitsy’s extra legs weren’t just dangling from nowhere. They were connected to an entirely separate pelvic structure.
And one of her natural back legs, her left hind leg, was essentially twisted backwards and nonfunctional.
That meant three limbs would need to be removed. Two extras and one original.
But pain was a daily part of her life. She dragged that useless leg behind her, leaving sores that wouldn’t heal.
So the decision wasn’t hard. She needed surgery, and she needed it fast.
Even before they hit their full fundraising goal, the rescue team made the call.
Bitsy was booked in for surgery at Windermere Veterinary Hospital under the care of Dr. Wood, a vet with the kind of precision and experience you hope for in these high-stakes cases.
The procedure was complex but successful. Bitsy went under with six legs and came out with three.
And incredibly, within days, she was already adjusting to her new tripod body like a natural.
That’s the thing about animals. They don’t sit around mourning what they’ve lost.
Bitsy didn’t waste time looking back. She got up, found her balance, and started moving forward, literally and figuratively.
Today, she’s recovering in the home of her foster family, who’ve decided they’re no longer just fostering.
Bitsy is officially adopted. She now lives with a dog named Walker and a cat named Scout.
After a lifetime of discomfort, Bitsy is finally in a home where she’s not just surviving, she’s thriving.
And if you’re wondering what she looks like post-surgery? She’s still just as striking, still that same sweet tabby, now just with one less complication.
You can even follow her journey on Instagram, where she’s quietly becoming a bit of a star.
As for the rest of us, Bitsy’s story is a reminder of how resilient animals can be, and how a little kindness, some skilled hands, and a community of strangers can give a one-in-a-million cat the life she always deserved.
Oh, and if you’re feeling inspired? The rescue is still raising funds to cover her aftercare.
Surgeries like hers are expensive, and recovery doesn’t end once the stitches are out.
But what’s clear is this. Bitsy’s best days are finally ahead of her.
And all it took was someone seeing her not for her extra legs, but for her extra chance.
