CAT WITH 3 LEGS - ADVICE NEEDED!

Question:
 :'( I am absolutely desperate for some advice - maybe someone out there also has a 3-legged cat! My cat had been missing for almost a week, & although I went looking for him I didn't find him, but he turned up in our garden with a broken leg which had to be amputated unfortunately. It had been broken for several days the vet said (which broke my heart). Just one day after the amputation, he came home & was hopping around quite happily. We kept him in the sitting room & my husband & I agreed to move the spare-room mattress in there so as I could stay with him. Everything was fine for a week & then the howling started!!! Oscar is an outside-loving-cat - he only really came in when he wanted feeding or it was really cold. He has what we call his 'hot-spots' in the garden which are like little nests under bushes - he never comes in wet, so we know that he's got good shelters in those bushes. But now my problem is,...& believe you me, it is MY problem & not Oscar's,...I am just TERRIFIED of letting him out on his own, even though I know it has to be done at some time. We have fields close by that I know both of my cats enjoy going mousing & rabbiting in, but there are also people who walk their dogs (off the leads). My next-door neighbour said (not unkindly) that I might just as well have had him put to sleep if I'm going to keep him in. Can anyone help to reassure me that he WILL be o.k. & wily enough to avoid dogs & strong enough to jump fences/walls etc? His leg was taken away on the 18th July 03 by the way,...6 weeks on Friday! I would be grateful for any advice - Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Answer:
 something you can try is maybe putting him on a harness and lead.  Try this in the house at first, and then outside for short periods of time it might help a little.  If all goes well you can try finding a friend who has a dog and in a CONTROLED area see if the cat can climb a tree and get away from the dog.  Also what could be the problem is when a person has an a amputation the part missing itches its a phantom itch that could be it also.  Try getting his mind off of it
Answer:
 I have leash trained cats and let them roam on a 20' light cord and always under supervision with me holding the cord. Second, build and outdoor cat enclosure with a covered top that he can go out in, not be at risk from loose animals but still have things to climb, crawl in, etc. For a single cat, a pen about 10x10' and 6' tall is enough. Use 1x2" wire mesh for the walls and sides and also dig down a couple inches into the soil and run wire underneath as well to prevent animals from digging in or him from digging out (yes some cats will dig). These sites can give you an idea of what to do: http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/home_and_garden/article/0,1713,BDC_2475_2117330,00.html http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worldenclosures.htm (click on pictures to see larger - these are very elaborate enlcosures) http://catlovers.about.com/cs/outdoorenclosures/ If you do not make a big deal of the amputation, ne will forget about it. I have worked with amputee pets before and they tend to adjust much better than humans IF the owner acts as if nothing has happened.