cats are super adaptable, you can amputate on leg without any problem for recovery. i had to make a choice a couple of years ago between cutting my kitties front leg or letting her die of cancer, and now she is super lively and jumpy. i had to give up my pocket money for the year before to convince my parents to let her live (the ghouls) but that was possibly the best use i made of my money in my life yet.
the point of my post was to say that losing a limb isnt a death sentence for a cat, who can certainly live without much pain. after half a year she wasnt even brushing her shoulder where she used to have a scar.