[speedracing944]

I have a old Ford 8N tractor with a 6' wide Woods belly mower. The blades were just sharpened 2 weeks ago. My wife and I have a safety checklist we go through before mowing. The kids need to be in the house with my wife and the chickens and goats are locked up before I start. The reason for this is the tractor can slice right through a 2 1/2" dia stick like it is butter.

3 days ago I hopped on the tractor to mow the yard. I started the tractor and let it idle for a good 45 seconds. I then engaged the PTO and was slowly letting out the clutch while the tractor was at near idle. I had the clutch out about a 1/4 of the way and the blades started to rotate when I heard 2 thumps from under the deck. I immediately put the clutch back in and then I saw one of our barn cats run out from under the mower deck. It was running a little funny. I went in the house and grabbed my wife to search for the cat but it was nowhere to be found.

Fast forward 3 days. Last night the cat came back to the barn.My wife picked it up and noticed 2 gashes on its rear femur. The femur is completely broken in 2 parts and the leg is just dangling from the skin and muscle. My wife thinks the leg would have to be pinned at a cost of $800 - $1200 or have it amputated (not sure of the cost).

We are taking the cat to the vet and most likely having it put down.