Several years ago, we spent about $1800 on three cat surgeries -- one cat had two, the other had one. The cats were otherwise healthy (an important factor in our decision) and both are still with us. I'm not the big cat lover in the family, buy I'm glad we did it.
to everything there is a season
a time to sow
A time to reap
a time to live
a time to die......
sometimes it's just dyin time, you can cry on my virtual shoulder if you want, you got friends here
Put the cat down.. Find a needy family give them $100 or more.. (as a gift).. Go to the city shelter get/save another cat..
I'm truly sorry about your sick kitty.
First, get a second opinion and quote.
Second, quit equating your pet's life with human life. If you've got money to throw around on wild acts of charity, send it a charity in the business of saving human life.
JMO.
I would say goodbye to my cat and adopt a kitten from the animal shelter..
Never regreted it. If I was in that position today I would either borrow or put it on my charge card.
My former roommate kept her beloved cat alive with daily injections and a lot of Vet care for 2 years after the poor thing should should have been released from a painful and difficult life.
I have a cat that I adore and have no idea what I'd do if I were in your position. All I can say is my prayers are with you and your cat. I wish you the best
What's the prognosis after surgery? In other words, how long can he be expected to live afterward... the average for cats in his condition? Make the vet tell you these numbers. If he doesn't know, find another vet.
If it's not very long, or if you'll have to spend lots of money on meds after surgery... Well, all of us have our limits; no one's going to mortgage their house, no matter how much we love the animal.
OTOH, if he can be expected to live a normal kitty's life afterward, I think I'd just take a deep breath and go ahead with the surgery. But that's just me. This is a decision only you can make.
One other suggestion: Is there a school of veterinary medicine nearby? You may be able to get a better diagnosis (one you can have more faith in) and not have to spend as much. I hope everything works out for you and Norman.
I can't say what I would do if I were you, but if I were me, and my cat was in that postition, then it would be time to be thinking about a new cat.
I've got two cats now, and have had as many as 8 at one time, and am crazy about them. The vet said Norman will die without the surgury. Here's the bad news: He will die anyway, maybe later, maybe sooner even with the surgury.
You do not buy eternity with the $1800. You don't even get a 90-day guarantee. A new cat, spayed or neutered and with shots from the pound is about $50. A gucci one from a pet store is a couple hundred. Get the $50 alley cat from the pound. They are sweet, tough, durable, and very happy for you to save them from euthanasia, and generally have a better long term outlook than poor Norman, bless his heart.
"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."
I don't know how much of the $1,800 you've already incurred, so I'm not sure how much the additional surgery and follow up would cost.
But I would definitely spend the $. I have two cats that are older (17 yrs. and 14 yrs.). They basically still act like kittens at times (being very playful), and are extremely affectionate. They act as a welcoming committee to anyone who comes over to visit us. Cats live a long time; much longer than dogs, it seems, so hopefully the $ will be well spent for Norman to be a healthy pet and companion for many years.
You sound very attached to Norman and hopefully you'll make up the $1,800 soon. I will certainly keep you both in my prayers!
In a heart beat.
Certainly, it's a wrenching decision.
The following are from this shrink's perspective and I don't pretend that one size fits all.
You don't say how old you are.
But I think that one measure of maturity is how decisive one can be on a rational basis with hard decisions.
Emotional attachments make such decisions harder but not harder beyond handling.
I'd encourage you to step back however many hours you can manage to--whether that's 4 or 8, 12, 24, 48 hours or whatever. Take some walks. Spend some time in nature.
Personally, I would think that the following points would be useful to review:
1. The memories of the great benefits that Norman has been to you will be forever regardless of whether Norman dies of a heartattack in his sleep tonight; gets mushed by a car tomorrow or dies on the operating table or recuperates over a long time through painful surgery and it's aftermath and gives you another X months of companionship . . . or not.
2. Norman is a pet. Norman is an animal. He's not God. He's not your first born son. He's not food. He's not shelter. He's not clothing. He's not transportation. He's not even a good orgasm. He's 'just' a pet.
3. Guilt doesn't need to have a single thing to do with it. You have provided Norman a great home and companionship for a long time. Norman has benefitted at least as much as you have compared to his struggles in the wild.
4. So, Norman may be graduating from this life sooner than anticipated. Who are you to say that's not fitting? Who are you to say he must endure a painful surgery and recooperation for your pleasure, peace of mind and comfort zones?
5. IF, IF, IF, IF, IF, you were filthy rich . . .
and
IF, IF, IF, IF, IF, you didn't care even 0.0000001% about what it would be like for Norman to endure the surgery and recooperation . . . .
I suppose the surgery MIGHT BY SOME STRETCH make more sense. As I see it, neither of those are NECESSARILY TRUE.
6. Celebrate Norman's life. Celebrate all you've gained from him. Write poems; take pictures; build a shrine. But don't worship the fool cat. He's a cat. A wonderful warm fuzzy cat--but a cat. He's not Nirvana. He's certainly not Christ's Second Coming.
7. But once you've celebrated and wished him well in his graduating and whatever state dead beloved pets end up in--give him a gracious painless send-off with a clear conscience that you've given him the best of your life that you had to give as he did you. And Let it Be.
8. Personally, at some point, putting animals through hurculean medical gymnastics and hoop jumping . . . for our own insecurities and selfish pleasures . . . is more than a little . . . excessive.
7. Get a new cat when you're ready. I might recommend Burmese--incredibly smart but also incredibly affectionate and gentle. Some are given to learning to play ball with paper wad balls and can even learn to fetch such balls.
imho, fwiw, of course.
I have two kitties and I wouldn't even think about having either one of the operated on. I'd just do what ever was needed to save their lives. They are my family and when I adopted them, I knew that I would have to get them treatment no matter the cost. They trust me to love them as much as they love me, and to do the right thing by them. If you can afford it, I'd do it tomorrow, or you will regret it.
Sorry, my limit on cats is $24.99.
Most vets are willing to work out a payment plan. Ask if you can pay smaller payments instead of one lump sum. Or, get a 0% credit card, charge the vet bill and take a year to pay for it interest free.
I hate to say it, but put the cat down. Buy a new cat, make a donation to an animal shelter in your old cat's memory and move on.
1800 is a lot of money to spend on a cat.