Mufasa’s Nine Lives: From Broken Leg to Back to Business

Originally published in the Nelson Weekly, October 2026

We first met Mufasa about a year ago.
He had been missing for about 12 hours before returning home with a serious injury. He could not put any weight on one of his back legs.

His family brought him to our Victory clinic where we stabilised him, gave him pain relief and took x-rays to investigate the cause.

The x-rays showed a complete break in his tibia (the main bone in his shin). The good news was that Mufasa didn’t appear to have any other significant injuries. We don’t know exactly what had happened during those missing hours, but injuries like this can happen for several reasons, including falls from heights or getting a leg caught somewhere (cats really are little acrobats!), but we commonly see these injuries following road accidents, when a cat has been hit or clipped by a car.

The broken pieces had moved significantly out of place. For a cat used to being out and about, this was going to take more than a few quiet days at home.

For Mufasa’s family, the next step was a big decision. Repairing his badly broken leg meant surgery, with a significant financial and emotional commitment. After considering the options, Mufasa’s family were keen to give him the best chance of getting back on all four feet.

Surgical plating is a commonly used technique for repairing fractures in cats and dogs. For very displaced fractures, like Mufasa’s, a plate can provide immediate stability, helping to control pain and allowing the bone to heal even while the patient gradually starts using the leg again. Casts can also be used for some fractures, but they can be tricky to manage in cats and dogs and often require regular checks and dressing changes.

While every fracture is different, advances in veterinary orthopaedics mean that even badly broken bones can often be successfully repaired. The right treatment, combined with good pain management and careful rehabilitation, can make an enormous difference to a pet’s recovery.

For Mufasa, the next challenge was strict rest while his bone healed. And for anyone who has ever tried to keep a cat quiet, you’ll know that this can sometimes be the hardest part of the whole process!

After six weeks of crate rest, Mufasa was finally given the all-clear to get back to normal. He hasn’t looked back since. He is now running around, causing mischief and getting back to his usual antics.

Sometimes, those famous nine lives really do come in handy!

- Dr Grace Miller