Good morning Fawn... Just by way of letting you know, I don't think he's in pain. He's always been a little ornery, but he seems pretty content most of the time. When he sits with me on my desk he purrs and enjoys attention. He likes to go and explore in the yard and he'll lay out in a sun spot like any other cat. I'm a pretty good judge of whether animals are suffering, thank you, and I don't think he is. Not yet.
But... if you read that I am trying to justify not taking him to the vet, you read my motives wrong and you don't know me. I asked this question because I know it'd be dumb to mortgage the house to do extraordinary measures for this cat, not only because it would cause him a lot of pain and confusion, but because I have two other cats, two dogs and three horses I might need to save that emergency money for. I can't blow my entire wad on one and hope to care for the rest.
My question really boils down to can I keep him happy a little longer at home, or should I take him and put him down now. That's the choice. Not whether you'd mortgage your house and make me feel guilty. I don't think it's necessary to go put him down just because he's getting rather old and confused and his eye looks ugly, but that's the question that is weighing on my mind. I'm not settled on the right answer, if I make the wrong one I'll be haunted by it. Trust me, I don't need to be guilt tripped by you.
Morning. :')