When Lynne MacMaster first saw Frieda’s photo on the SPCA website, it wasn’t your typical “love at first sight” moment. In her online adoption photo, Frieda the cat looked scrawny, grumpy and had her hair shaved short. But to Lynne, she was perfect.
“There was just something about her,” she says. “She looked like she’d been through a lot. I knew I had to bring her home.”
Frieda, now lovingly nicknamed Floof, was brought to the Cape Breton SPCA in October 2022 after being hit by a car. The accident left her with injuries to her front right leg, and after a medical assessment, the best course of action was amputation. But becoming a “tripawd” never slowed Frieda down. After recovering from surgery, she was ready for a new chapter.
“I wasn’t even really looking for a pet,” Lynne says. “My previous cat, Berlin, had passed away after nearly 19 years. I was just browsing the SPCA site when I saw Frieda, and then I was sold.” 
Despite losing a leg and spending time as a stray, Frieda didn’t take long to settle into her new life. She spent her first night snuggled in behind Lynne’s knees, and within days, she felt fully relaxed and at home.
Frieda loves to be close by her human and can often be found sleeping right on top of Lynne. “She’s calm, friendly to everyone, and loves a good head boop. She even figured out how to meow! It was tiny squeaks at first, but now she always tells me when she’s hungry, loud and clear,” Lynne says.
And when it’s time for breakfast, Frieda makes sure Lynne knows. “She’ll gently stroke my face with her paw to wake me up. If I don’t move, the claws come out, not to scratch me but just to caress my face and make sure I wake up.”
Frieda is thriving as a three-legged cat. She runs, jumps, and even slides into rooms thanks to her fluffy fur. She loves to play with every toy Lynne gets her.
She’s cautious when jumping down, but she has pet stairs that help her. And she does a unique little hop with her front paw to ease herself down onto her tummy. “It’s the cutest thing,” Lynne says.
Frieda is also a fashionista. She lets Lynne dress her up and doesn’t mind as long as the outfit is cozy. “She really is so gorgeous, I can’t help but do seasonal photo shoots,” says Lynne.
But beyond all the cuddles and personality, Frieda is an inspiration for how she overcame losing her leg.
“She adapted to three legs because she had to,” Lynne says. “She didn’t let it stop her. She just figured it out and kept going. Her resilience is impressive.” 
Frieda was also recently diagnosed with seasonal asthma and uses a puffer. “She’s got three legs and asthma and she’s still the best cat I could have asked for.”
For anyone hesitant about adopting a pet with special needs, Lynne has one message: “Do it. There’s so much joy in giving an animal a home, especially one that others might overlook. Frieda has brought adventure, laughter, and love into my life in ways I never expected.”
Sometimes, the best things in life happen when you step outside of your comfort zone and into a life with a special three-legged companion. To find your Frieda, visit our website to see other adoptable animals waiting for their forever homes.