Posted on 06/28/2006 9:00:54 PM PDT by Huntress
Dear FReeper animal lovers:
I have a dilemma regarding my cat and could use some advice. I have had Norman the cat for six years and he is a very beloved pet and companion. He got sick this morning, and my vet says he must have surgery or he will die. Here is the problem: the vet quoted me a price of $1800 (yes, $1800) for Norman's treatment; this includes what he has already done in an attempt to cure the cat without surgery, the surgery itself, and care after the surgery. $1800 is a tremendous amount of money but still within the bounds of what I can afford (barely). If I pay for the surgery, it is going to hurt financially. If I have the vet put Norman down, I think I will feel guilty about it forever.
My parents and many of my friends think I'm out of my mind for even considering spending this much money on a cat. What would you do if you were me?
:) :) :)
You have to decide for yourself what your cat means to you, versus the amount of money you’ll have to spend.
Some people will say that much money is insane to spend on any animal, but the simple fact is that it’s your money. You can decide what the best thing to do with that money is.
Look carefully at your priorities. Will you be neglecting anything? Do you normally give to charity, and will this cut into that giving? What about family responsibilities.
This really isn’t any different than the firestorm that erupted when the press came out with the reports that Bob Bennett had spent large amounts of money gambling. It was HIS money, spent on perfectly legal passtimes, and it didn’t cause any financial problems for himself or his family. But of course, people whose only interest was in damaging him weighed in, trashing him. You’ll find people telling you that it’s immoral, and that YOU should be donating that money to people or institutions that THEY determine are worthy. Ignore them. You should do what you know is right for yourself.
This is completely YOUR decision. If it were my decision, and I could afford it, even if it meant cutting back on myself for 6 months or a year, if I knew it would save a beloved pet, I would do it. Provided that it didn’t impact others in my family, or those that depended on me.
Mark
My cat broke her hind leg. First vet cost me about $650 and did a horrible job. Second vet which did surgery and inserted a rod cost me about $1,100.
Cat is doing fine, I'm still paying off the credit card but I feel good about what I did and the cat still doesn't really appreciate me until dinner time.......
Thats the bottom line isn't it?
Ah, one of the happy drooler brigade! The fellow I put to sleep a few years back would drool on me when I would either pet him or brush him. Messy but sweet. ;)
My mother used to have this big, tough orange tabby Tom named Joshua, but he was her "little baby." When she was in her recliner, feeling awful from getting her chemo, Josh would jump up into her lap, and then lay on her chest, placing a paw on either side of her neck, hugging her, and bury his head under her chin, nuzzling her. She had to keep a towel on her neck because he'd just open up the "drool spigots" and lay there, comforting her for hours at a time.
Mark
After we used the last of the brown vinegar stuff, she never ate another thread.
BA
Ah so. Dinnah coopelate by climbing into wok. Vely good!
Hey, it’s been 2 years and all turned out well. ;o)
I’m glad. I just spent my entire savings on a very sick doggie - exploratory surgery + testing ... no clue what the actual problem was or if she’ll stay well with the changes in her feeding routine. Just keeping my fingers crossed because that’s it. W/o knowing what the problem was, I can’t do a repeat. One expensive rescue hound!
In that case, and since you are emotionally attached to your cat, see if your vet will take installment payments for the treatment... that way you can save your cat and still be able to take care of yourself.
If the surgery would not completely fix the problem but would have only put off the inevitable, I would have advised euthanizing the cat.
Since you are the only one here totally familiar with the situation, we can't make up your mind for you. But I wish you and your cat all the best!
You already have so many responses, that presumably someone else already suggested the obvious, though I didn’t see it in the first 20 or so posts.
GET A SECOND OPINION.
A visit to another or even a couple of other vets shouldn’t cost more than a hundred or a couple of hundred dollars.
You clearly need more information and more confidence in the accuracy of the information.
One of the key questions is what is the probability of success of the surgery — is it 80-90% that it will be successful? And if it’s successful, what will that really mean — will your cat live comfortably for several more years or does it just postpone the inevitable for a few months, during which the cat will suffer, while recovering from the surgery?
Once you get this info from at least another two vets, it will make the right decision more obvious. Making a decision without the additional information and informed opinions of another two vets may leave you regretting your decision, whichever decision you make.
Good luck.
What is the medical issue in question? =^..^=
Like human medical issues, please do get a second, third opinion. This difficult vet medical issue shows a very loving and anxious human compainion friend. =^..^=
God Bless you and your dear cat. =^..^=
Thanks for the answer on post number 112. One of my mother’s late cats, Goofy had urinary tract problems. Best wishes for sucessful treatment for your beloved cat Norman. =^..^=
Oh my goodness, that thread goes back 2 years ago. Sorry for not seeing the date. Congrats on Norman’s recovery. Got to get to bed. =^..^=
You should pay.
In my family it would be up to my wife.
She adores those cats!
We would be paying!
Why should it be the business of anyone here where you put your money!
Get another opinion from another vet before putting him down. Maybe you can find a vet who is more reasonable.
What a dear cat! That sounds cute, except for the part about your mom having to have chemo.
Please take me off your ping list. Some of these cat articles are a bit too depressing for me.
My best regards to you.
Thank you.
I agree with you.
If my doggie needed the surgery and she would not suffer afterwards, the hell with the money. Lola is a member of the family and the joy and love I receive from her is way beyond any expense I pay to take cae of her.
For me, it is really about how this would affect the kitty and the rates of success for the surgery. If others view their pets as “just an animal” they just don’t get it, and that ‘s ok for them. For us who view the pets as special spiritual gifts, our feelings do count.
Agree.
You’re removed.
I know where you are coming from, but I would have to put my dear pet down. We are retired and couldn’t afford to do it. I have had to put down a 19 yr old poodle. It was selfish of me to have kept her going. Everyone and every animal is different, but you shouldn’t feel guilty if the animal is put down.
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