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Vanity: I have a dilemma regarding my cat
self | 6/28/06 | Huntress

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?


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cat; catfood; chinesefood; expensivecat; felinediabetes; savethecat
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To: Huntress
I spent a but-load of money on my cat when he got hit by a car and lost his back leg. I do not regret it. It was 2 years ago and he still has a pretty normal life. Here he is after his surgery. My friends said I was nuts too, but he is my little buddy. Good luck to your kitty.
Photobucket
241 posted on 07/26/2008 1:49:27 PM PDT by meanie monster
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To: Huntress

:) :) :)


242 posted on 07/26/2008 2:03:36 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: Huntress

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


243 posted on 07/26/2008 3:17:59 PM PDT by MarkL (Al Gore: The Greenhouse Gasbag! (heard on Bob Brinker's Money Talk))
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To: Huntress
the vet quoted me a price of $1800

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?

244 posted on 07/26/2008 3:23:16 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: pbmaltzman; RSteyn
He is a dear, and drools messily when especially content.

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

245 posted on 07/26/2008 3:34:53 PM PDT by MarkL (Al Gore: The Greenhouse Gasbag! (heard on Bob Brinker's Money Talk))
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To: RSteyn
Miss Peach's thread incident was 8 years ago. We had a shipment of fabric that was treated with brown vinegar. It smelled wonderful, and Miss Peach thought so too. We live in a fabric warehouse, no locking up the fabric.....that is why she lives here. To prevent mice in the fabric.

After we used the last of the brown vinegar stuff, she never ate another thread.

BA

246 posted on 07/26/2008 4:57:38 PM PDT by Battle Axe (Repent for the coming of the Lord is nigh!)
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To: Huntress

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!


247 posted on 07/26/2008 5:23:30 PM PDT by Titan Magroyne ("Drill now drill hard drill often and give old Gaia a cigarette afterwards she deserves it." HerrBlu)
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To: Huntress
According to the vet, the surgery will completely fix the problem, and he will have no lasting ill effects.

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!

248 posted on 07/26/2008 6:04:19 PM PDT by pbmaltzman
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To: Huntress

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.


249 posted on 07/26/2008 6:42:31 PM PDT by FocusNexus ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
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To: Huntress

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. =^..^=


250 posted on 07/26/2008 7:54:37 PM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: Huntress

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. =^..^=


251 posted on 07/26/2008 7:57:18 PM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: Huntress

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. =^..^=


252 posted on 07/26/2008 8:00:50 PM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: Huntress
Your responses say that you will feel too guilty if you don't pay.

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!

253 posted on 07/26/2008 8:28:36 PM PDT by right way right
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To: Huntress

Get another opinion from another vet before putting him down. Maybe you can find a vet who is more reasonable.


254 posted on 07/26/2008 9:47:28 PM PDT by Nachum (Obama: creepy you can count on)
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To: MarkL
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.

What a dear cat! That sounds cute, except for the part about your mom having to have chemo.

255 posted on 07/27/2008 12:45:10 AM PDT by pbmaltzman
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To: Slings and Arrows

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.


256 posted on 07/27/2008 5:24:49 AM PDT by Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
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To: Vicki

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.


257 posted on 07/27/2008 5:35:19 AM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (WE NEED A TROOP SURGE IN CHICAGO !)
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To: freedumb2003

Agree.


258 posted on 07/27/2008 5:38:04 AM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (WE NEED A TROOP SURGE IN CHICAGO !)
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To: Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)

You’re removed.


259 posted on 07/27/2008 5:44:27 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (~ ~ FREE LAZAMATAZ! ~ ~ [Shipping and handling charges may apply.])
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

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.


260 posted on 07/27/2008 5:48:04 AM PDT by KYGrandma (The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home)
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