- Pet cat, called Elf, shows off his swimming skills as he splashes around pool
- Cat had surgery to remove part of thigh-bone and swimming helps his recovery
- Hydrotherapist Katharine Deane said: ‘All my patients up until now were dogs’
Whoever said cats can’t swim forgot to tell this fur ball.
The paddling pussycat, called Elf, shows off his swimming skills and splashes around in a pool while dressed in a tiny yellow life jacket.
The family pet had surgery to remove part of his thigh-bone, due to a debilitating condition in his hip joint, and his owners take him for swimming lessons to aid his recovery.
Elf is clocking up the lengths in a specialist swimming pool usually reserved for doggy paddle.
His instructor, canine hydrotherapist, Katharine Deane said: ‘I was keen to swim Elf, as all my patients up until now have been dogs but the technique for swimming a cat is quite different.
‘I have to watch that Elf’s swimming is not upset by his claws catching on his life jacket, or me.’
Elf goes swimming twice-a-week to rebuild muscles and improve his general fitness at West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy, in Peniel, near Carmarthen
Elf goes swimming twice-a-week to rebuild muscles and improve his general fitness at West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy, in Peniel, near Carmarthen.
After eight weeks of cage rest after the operation, Elf is reaping the benefits of his breaststroke and is slowly but surely building strength back.
Delighted owner Ryan Saunders, 24, said: ‘He’s been jumping up on top of the side board and knocking all the pictures over.
His instructor, canine hydrotherapist, Katharine Deane (right) is used to working with dogs and Elf is her first cat patient
The black and white cutie was described by his owners as energetic and mischievous
‘He couldn’t jump that high until now.
‘He’s really energetic at home running around all the time and getting into mischief.’
Elf bucks the trend when it comes to cats hating water.