Vincent the cat was born with an abnormality in his hind legs, which meant he couldn't walk. Abandoned as a kitten, he was left in the hands of the Story County Animal Shelter in Iowa. Usually, it's bad news for a kitten in this position. However, thanks to the determination of workers at the shelter, some top veterinarians and an experimental procedure, he's now back on his feet and very happy.

The 3-year-old cat was born with only half of his tibia leg bones. In addition, his knee was fixed in hyperextension, meaning he couldn’t bend his leg. To get him back on his feet, the operation implanted two titanium pegs that pass through his skin and go straight into the femur bones.

The operation was carried out by Dr. Mary Sarah Bergh from Iowa State University’s Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, with the help of veterinary orthopedics company BioMedtrix, who made the titanium prosthetics.

This method of implanting titanium pegs straight into the bone is still very rare. It's estimated less than 25 animals in the world have had this type of implant.

“This does open the door for us to be able to help other animals with similar problems," Dr. Bergh said to ISUNewsService. "Even what we’ve learnt through Vincent’s one case has refined the technique and the implants.” 

Although Vincent’s legs look a little on the small side, he will receive subsequent procedures to lengthen his new legs.

“I anticipate that he’ll be jumping and doing really normal cat things very soon.” Bergh said in a statement.

“I couldn’t be happier with how he’s doing at the current time”

[H/T Discovery News]