Kitty ping!
I'm a cat owner and cat lover. Always have been. I would elect to be compassionate and put the cat down. You have to think of the living, too.
Spend the money. You'll know as you start writing the check whether it is the correct thing to do. You may or may not save the cat, but if you can't let him go, then you can't let him go.
How will Norman take the surgery? Will that and the recovery be painful?
Take the cat to another vet.
Don't know where you live, but try to get an opinion from a farm vet, one who works on livestock as well as dogs and cats. The city poodle specialists take themselves way too seriously, as they count on gullible folks who will pay any price to save Fifi.
Sorry, Norman.
Having had to have a beloved dog put down, I can understand what you must be feeling. However, for $1,800 you can get yourself quite a few nice, young, healthy cats, who will never be an adequate replacement, but who will be stalwart companions just the same.
If it makes you feel better, make a donation to a local animal rescue shelter in Norman's name.
P.S. Brace yourself for a bushel of tasteless Chinese restaurant jokes on this thread.
Maybe I'm not the one to answer this because, of course, my answer is: help your baby get well. (mine are both doing fantastic, BTW)
One of my other cats had emergency surgery at 6 weeks old (try to find a pediatric vet) to remove a bowel obstruction: ~$1200
I don't know what the vet says is wrong with your cat, but the price seems high.
I am a major animal lover, but 1800 is very steep. If this is a broken bone kind of issue, put the animal out of its misery. If this is some kind of medical . . . put the animal out of its misery. You might try some kind of less invasive therapy that is cheaper, but a long shot at best. All my prayers, Diane
You write that you consider your cat a beloved companion and that you would feel guilty if you put it to death; I think you already made your decision.
What is the surgery for?
I've been in that situation with a couple of cats. The one thing you have to ask your vet, and hopefully they are really trustworthy, is what are the chances for the cat after surgery.
If the prognosis is less than 50% then let the animal be at peace and put them down. If the animal is going to fully recover and live another 5-10 years, then hell yes, get it done.
A few years back we had the same decision to make when our cat needed treatment. We had no other available credit, but I worked out a payment plan directly with the vet. The cat completely recovered, but he's a lot more starved for attention. We joke that he knows he's down to eight lives. The debt has long since been paid off, and the cost seems irrelevant now.
The state of Alaska spent $40,000 restoring ONE sea lion to health after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. When they released it back into the sea, with fanfare and children watching, it was quickly eaten by a killer whale.
Get a new cat.
Not enough information.
What is the presumptive diagnosis and what is the proposed surgery that will allegedly save the cat's life?
(I am not a real veterinarian and I do not play one on TV but I am a real M.D.)
I have to say only you can make the choice, but you already knew that. You're looking for other opinions, so don't feel you have to give one more weight than another, since yours is theo nly one that matters.
I personally think $1800 is criminal to spend on a pet's health since there is no guarantee it will survive, PLUS you've said it will be a burden financially.
I think people put far too much emotional investment into their pets, when they could use that time to relate to human beings. (And yes, I have had many pets.)
If you had the money to spend on this, or on a bigscreen TV or something else, there wouldn't be an issue. But you don't.
The question comes down to how much it will be a financial burden, and are you willing to suffer that burden. Five months from now when you're eating peanut butter for lunch AGAIN will you be glad you made that choice?
The question isn't about the cat's quality of life, but YOURS.
Good luck on making a decision that's right for you.
I have two dogs who are valuable and beloved companions.
I love them, but they are animals.
If I were facing your decision I would separate myself emotionally and consider what the financial cost would be.
The bottom line for me would be that, while I have a responsibility to take care of the animals I own, my much, much heavier duty is to the humans who are affected by my financial well-being.
Unless I could easily afford such an expensive surgery I would hug my little dog, make him as comfy as possible, tell him I love him, hold him in my arms, and have him put down by the vet - which, by the way, is very fast and painless for the animal.
As far as feeling guilty goes, I would remember the good times and the love and affection shared with my beloved pet, and know that I'd taken the best care of him I could, within reason.