What quality of life would the cat have after surgery?
One of my cats required surgery to remove a swallowed thread that had wrapped around his tongue and lodged in his gut [Cat people, be very careful with thread, string, and yard. You cannot be too cautious.]. That was years ago, and Wilbur is fine, and now 10 years old. The surgery was not cheap. Do I regret it? No.
Another cat became diabetic. For years, I gave him insulin twice daily, which meant I had to be there to give him an injection twice daily, and routinely use the same kind of glucometer human diabetics use. People thought I was crazy, but I kept him going this way for nearly 3 years, then managed his condition with a drastic diet change. [Cat people, DRY FOOD IS NOT FOR CATS! All dry food contains higher levels of carbohydrates than felines can properly handle. Cats are obligate carnivores--dry cat food leads to diabetes in felines. www.felinediabetes.com (they aren't selling anything!).] The meat-based diet isn't cheap either, but Pyewackett has slimmed down and bounces again. He's 13. Do I regret paying for these things? No.
In both cases, the cats have excellent quality of life--they play, they sleep, they have several windows to watch tasty birds walk across porch roofs. I would not keep an animal alive for my sake alone--in the past year I euthanized one aging cat who was fading before my eyes.
Ask your vet if you can work out a payment plan in advance.
Tough call. I am sorry for you and Norman. My family (wife and two daughters) have two cats- Tommy (8) and Romeo (12).
Whenever I am faced with a dilema with all things being equal and I can't seem to find the rationale to decide one way or the other, I flip a coin and let the coin decide for me. Just one flip, though. No best two out of three or anything like that. If I don't like the result of the coin toss, I go with the other choice, since that is the direction I really wanted to go in the first place.
As for our cats, if they needed my help and I could afford it, I would help them. I can always make more money and I don't care for the prospect of losing something my family and I truly hold dear.
Best wishes for you and Norman.
Unfortunately the blood work lied and so did the ultra sound ... the cancer had traveled bit wasn't showing up yet so that is why we proceeded with the surgery.
I spent well over a thousand dollars trying to save my bird dog Josephine. I don't regret the lost money at all.
God Bless you, God Bless your cat. If the cat passes away, it will be out of it's pain, and you'll see it when you pass. Geez, what $1800 could do for a few kids that might need some food, clothing etc. I guess I'm a complete nutcase because to me it looks like the world is upside down!!! And no, I'm not an animal hater, I had my beloved Georgie 8 years, a beautiful cat, but I'd never spend that kind of money on an animal. Save it and give some kids a surprise visit with food and clothes or whatever! Your cat will be smiling down on you.
You didn't say what the problem was. If it's a GI obstruction, there are numerous things that can be tried that can be successful. It depends on the condition of Norman. If kidney function is severely compromised already, you may not have time to try anything else. if the obstruction has not caused any major problems yet, then you should try some alternatives to see if they work. If it is an obstruction, I would suggest getting him on antibiotics (something easy on kidney & liver function) now even if the blood tests do not show signs of an infection yet.
I have and love cats. Let kitty go.
Donate a portion or all of the money to a favorite charity.
In a while you will find a new kitty.
Thanks for all of your kind words and advice posted on this thread.
Norman had a perineal urethrostomy today, and the vet reports that he came through it very well. The blockage was very high in his urinary tract, and the vet feared the he might have to go in via the bladder. Fortunately, this was not necessary. Norman's prognosis is good, as he is relatively young (six) and otherwise healthy.
As for the money issue, I am working out payments with the vet, and I hope that less extensive surgery means lower payments. In any case, I have decided that it is worth it. I can always earn more money, but Norman and his companionship are unique.
I have a 24-yo cat.
I spend $100 a month on her meds and around $1200 a year for doctor visits.
I would pay triple that if I had to.
BUT. I don't have kids. Thank God I don't have to choose between my cat and my kids.
consider the facts....it's a cat.
I spent $800.00 on a stray I found that had been hit by a car. I took him home, nursed him back to health, had myself a new pet, until the first lightening storm when he jumped the fence in fright never to be seen again.
If I had it to do over again, I would. Grit your teeth and pay for the surgery. Norman is a member of your family, he would do it for you if your situation were switched.
Only you can make such a decision but..., as much as we might love our pets, there comes a time when they must be dispatched. Having had to personally do so (personally..., not through a vet...), you never forget them but hope that you have done the right thing!
It is as close to playing God as we shall ever become...
I once spent over $1000 on emergency surgery for my beloved kitty, Crystal. I barely had the money and it definitely hurt financially. I certainly did get strange looks, and one friend even exclaimed in shock, "You spent $1000 on a cat!?". But I knew I did the right thing. She was only 2 at the time, and I cherished her dearly until she died of cancer last year at 15. I say go for it.
If you can be assured that the cat will be "cured", then that may help in this difficult decision. However, if this is just a stop-gap measure, then let him go. Just, my way of thinking, and I have two cats that I love dearly.
I agree...get a second opinion.
Our 4 year old dog collapsed one day and was very sick. He was diagnosed by our vet with an autoimmune disease (AIHA.) We were told if he didn't have a transfusion right away, he'd die.
The cost of the treatment was going to be $2,000 to start and probably much more after that...and we just didn't have it, so we brought him home to die. He didn't seem to be in any pain, just extremely weak, so we just nursed him over the next couple of weeks.
The dog is 9 years old now, and doing just fine. You just never know.
What is the problem with the cat? Only 6 years! So young. It would depend on what the problem is ... sometimes surgery will only buy time. If it buys a cure I would try to save the cat.
Good luck to you and little Norman.
My 11 year old cat, Allie, came down with hyperthyroid and the cost for treatment was about $1,500. I decided to spend the money because she would have surely died. Her metabolism was revved so high that she was starving to death, even though she ate voraciously. She burned the calories so fast, she couldn't get enough. Her heart rate was so fast the doctor could not measure it.
Allie is now 17 and had to have x-rays done recently. After looking at the x-rays, the vet told me that she has the body of a 10 year old, and will most likely live for several more years.
In my case, it was well worth it. Also, after she recupterated, she and I became closer. It was as if she sensed that I had saved her. I've not had a moment's regret.
I don't think we would do anything different, were the same circumstances repeated. And for us $2,400 is a pretty big chunk of change.
What is Norman's prognosis, should he receive the surgery?
You and Norman are in my prayers.
I would get the advice of another Vet. It is a hard choice to make. I have had to put one or two pets down. If you have to do it, I have found it better to go into the room where they do it and pet or hold it while it is done. It hurts when you do that, but it gives you better closure.