My amputee cat's records mention a contracted limb. What is it?

Question

My cat is an amputee and we adopted him after the fact. His medical records state "left rear limb contracted dorsally to body wall, hamstrings do not appear to be developed at all, unable to palpate any fractures in the bone, skin on caudal portion of limb is contracted so that calf and hamstring are fused, draining tracts on skin and painful to cat." We are curious as to what that means? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 10 lbs

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

His limb was drawn up close to his abdomen. For whatever reason, the muscles did not form properly. Without being able to move and flex the limb, the skin "shrunk" further inhibiting development. Infection developed causing discharge to drain from several areas. This may have been a genetic deformity or due to some unknown trauma or infection that severely limited use of the limb.

My amputee cat's records mention a contracted limb. What is it?

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