He has a urinary tract obstruction. The vet has tried twice to dislodge it without surgery and is going to try one more time in the morning before removing it surgically. My vet's prices are on the high side, but I have been taking my cats to him for years and trust his judgment.
That is the same surgery my 6 year old female had last year. She's spunky as h*ll now and rules the roost over the other two. And no further problems. Just our story.
Oh and if you feed your cat dry food....throw it out! it's a horrible diet for a carnivore.
Put the cat to sleep... The cat will only have the same problem happen again to him! I had a male cat that had the same problem, even paid to have the problem taken care of (it was a lot cheaper than $1800) but the cat was never the same after that. We also had to make a choice with one of my dogs a few years ago (full blooded rare breed). $1500 to save his life or put him to sleep (his stomach rolled over on him and the choice had to made quickly) we elected to have him put to sleep, it hurts like hell but we know we made the right choice.
Your kitty will be on the other side waiting for you, in the meantime adopt another kitty.
I think your doubts about paying $1800 are a clear sign not to do it.
That sounds like something the kitty will recover from just fine. Can you use promotional rates on credit cards for a while to payoff the bill? I understand it's though, but if the prognosis is as it seems I'd have to provide the care for my cat...but I'm very attached to my cats. I say follow your heart and find a way.
YOU HAVE TO READ THIS...
For cats who continue to experience urethral obstruction despite proper medical management, a surgical procedure called a perineal urethrostomy may be suggested. The surgery involves removing much of the penis and the narrow portion of the urethra, leaving a wider opening for the remaining portion. Side effects of surgery can include bleeding for up to ten days after surgery, narrowing at the surgical site, urinary incontinence, and a greater incidence of other kinds of bladder diseases. For these reasons, perineal urethrostomy is usually considered to be a last resort.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/urinary.html
I guarantee you that if your male cat has one obstruction, he will get another one unless he has a complete dietary change and/or the surgery to make him a girl.
As much as I loved my previous vet, I found a new one with more reasonable prices, more personable and will hunt down problems and call me. Get a second opinion. Even explain your monetary concerns to the vet and that you're considering a second opinion purely based on the cost and type of procedure.
I've been through urinary tract obstruction woes with one cat. $1800 sounds steep, even if it includes emergency care.
If you do have the surgery performed (and yes, the cat will die if the obstruction stays in place--I lost one to this problem 35 years ago before much could be done for them) YOU MUST change the cat's diet.
Elsewhere, I have ranted about the dire effect dry food can have in inducing diabetes, but dry food also is a bad idea with a cat inclined to plug (and once they plug, forever after you must watch them for signs of straining, or bloody urine, because they are likely to plug again). Go to a low carbohydrate, canned food. Not all are wildly expensive. Cats just are not inclined to drink enough water if fed dry food.
I am guessing by your post that he suffers from FUS, which leaves a lot of scar tissue in the urinary tract and gets progressively worse with each new episode. I am partial to male cats, but unfortunately, neutered males are plagued with this condition and I have had my share of unfortunate experiences with them. The last cat I had had his first attack when he was just over a year old and another about a year later. The vet told me to put him on Prescription Diet (although there are other foods on the market with similar nutritional composition). He said that even one meal of a high ash/magnesium food could cause a flare up in a sensitive kitty, and with each episode, the odds of recovery went down. I became very conscientious about his diet and sucked it up on the higher food bill. I had to have Nermal put down late last summer at the ripe old age of 18. He never had another attack.
I haven't read your whole thread yet, but could you possibly make payments to him. I mean since you've been such a good customer over the years, maybe they'd let you do that.
I have the same problem, but am treating my cat with pain medication for the time being. My vet will re-evaluate but I know down the line I'm looking at a $1000 operation. I'll do it though I'm sure.