CONIFER, COLO (CNN) – It seemed an unlikely team: a group of high school robotics students and a local veterinarian.
But as CNN’s Jon Bowman reports from Conifer, Colorado, together they’re making life better for a cat named Flipper.
Flipper was unable to function on all fours, even simply standing, because of her unfortunate physical malformation.
Dr. Harry Gurney at the Aspen Park Vet Clinic explained Flipper’s unique challenge.
“Our problem was the spinal cord was twisted much like a telephone cable is twisted, so that while half the body was going forward the other half of the body was going sideways.”
Flipper was just a few steps away from being put to sleep, until the Conifer High School ‘Blitz Robot’ club entered the picture.
The hope was that over the long term, doctors would be able to restore communication over Flipper’s entire spinal cord, so that full function would return.
But for the short run, the Conifer High robotics club set out to create a kind of intelligent ‘walker’ for Flipper to give her better mobility and ongoing physical therapy.
The club drew up several prototypes, then managed to create a ‘Cat Cart’ to support flipper’s twisted legs.
Amazingly, Flipper quickly adjusted to her new-fangled aid, dashing around the vet clinic.
Now, the veterinary staff’s hope is that Flipper’s legs will get stronger, and her spine may straighten out to allow her to use her back legs.
6 Comments to “Paralyzed Cat Gets Help from Student Robotics Wizards”
January 26, 2013 at 3:27 PM
what Peter implied I am stunned that a stay at home mom able to profit $8524 in 4 weeks on the computer. have you seen this site link http://xurl.es/bu31m
January 26, 2013 at 4:16 PM
This is one of the stupidest things that high school robotics can get involved in. All the handicapped children and we are working on a cat? Really?
February 2, 2013 at 6:19 AM
It is an engineering puzzle for the kids, and they solved it. That is what this robotics club should be doing. It also looks like it is made out of duct tape and popsicle sticks. You'd probably be arrested if you strapped a kid in it.
But the bigger point is…caring for animals brings us joy and lifts our spirits. Who is to say, some child who is suffering from a spinal injury may see this and be encouraged to not give up, to keep fighting. You can certainly see that Flipper isn't wallowing in despair.