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Norton
Social climber
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Jun 20, 2016 - 09:55am PT
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no, and I would get a new kitten instead
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 09:59am PT
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Norton, I am just researching it now (as the vet only informed me less than an hour ago).
Apparently, so far as my research shows, a cat amputee has a pretty good quality of life. But I am only just delving into the matter.
I don't want to lose her but I want her to have a quality of life as well.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:01am PT
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I could never cut off a kitten's leg.
I'd have to pay someone else to do that.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:04am PT
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That is not funny Apogee, or helpful at all.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:07am PT
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Sorry. Not trying to make light of your situation, directly...not envious of the predicament. Good luck, though!
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Karla
climber
Colorado
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:08am PT
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Plenty of tripod cats around and they do quite well.
Wishing you the best on all accounts!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:11am PT
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Cats worry a lot less about their future than we do..Kitten will be better with 3 legs than with a leg that hurts all the time.
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DanaB
climber
CT
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:19am PT
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Locker is a good man.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:24am PT
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If you love your cat, this shouldn't even be a question. There are lots of three legged cats in the world. She'll get along fine. If this was a terminal situation/ something where she'd always be in pain, etc, it might be a different story. She's got another fifteen years or so ahead of her
Find the money. I'm sure there is an animal welfare group that will help you out. You took this responsibility when you took her into your home.
If you're looking for someone to give you permission to terminate a life you have taken responsibility for without feeling guilty, look elsewhere. Whatever you do goes back squarely to you. Your karma etc. do you really think saving 1500£ that admittedly you don't have, is Ever, going to feel like the right decision? Ever going to be okay?
Could you live with that?
I couldn't.
My cat Hipshot lost his tail at the same age. He had surgery we couldn't afford, and months of daily care to get him to pull through. For the next fifteen years all his cat " sure footedness" was compromised. Cats use their tails for balance and to absorb impact when they jump. This seven pound cat sounded like a bag of cement when he jumped on a table. He had tons of problems and learned to deal with them. He was a cat, he just accepted his reality. Your cat will too!
He was the coolest cat ever!
If you let her go, don't get another cat! Because that would demonstrate that you're not up to the task.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:29am PT
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Ha ha, hadn't seen lockers post when I wrote mine. Great minds.....
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Gary
Social climber
Where in the hell is Major Kong?
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:31am PT
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Our cat was attacked by a couple of dogs. He dragged himself into the house, his back left leg broken in 9 places. We had surgery done, it wasn't cheap. They did a great job and he lived another 9 years with no issues. He was a good cat. Glad we did it.
Of course, my dad's solution would have been a .22 short at a yuuuge cost savings.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:35am PT
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Folks it is not the cost, I spent well over a thousand trying to save Boots, and would have spent a thousand more.
It is about Betty having a quality of life.
I suppose I could have worded the question differently. I grew up and over the years have had a lot of animals. Back home in California we had cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, pigeons, a dumb turkey, ducks, some great goats, horse, pony, monkey.
I took my late dog Ci from Wales to London to California to Ireland.
But I never had to make a decision about amputation.
Vet says if it was his cat, he'd go for amputation. He said that even if the specialists at UCD could save the leg, there would be no guarantee of surgery being successful or that Betty would have a quality of life, considering her temperament (lovely but she hates being handled when she is not well) and that she would need medications, bandages, pins put in, taken out, pins remaining in, and such.
Cost is not an issue.
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dirtbag
climber
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:37am PT
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What locker says.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:39am PT
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Yes Locker and Jaybro, with all due respect and with no offense intended, you are both wrong. I just want what is right for Betty.
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James Wilcox
Trad climber
Goleta/Virginia Lakes
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:42am PT
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If the cost was a known quantity(i.e not going to continue to add up) I'd probably spend the money.
That said, I've seen numerous 3-legged dogs that get around just fine. Assuming it doesn't create havoc on a cat's internal gyroscope I'd assume they'd fare equally as well.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:44am PT
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Because that would demonstrate that you're not up to the task.
A presumption on your part Jaybro, thanks, I did not know you were capable of prejudging people. I bow to your wisdom and insight, NOT.
EDIT
I suppose I worded the question wrong.
Locker, I was not looking for approval for anything, I guess I should have asked people with amputee cats how they get along.
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ELM !
climber
Near Boston
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Jun 20, 2016 - 10:58am PT
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Patrick I have been involved with a cat who went through a front leg amputation. She was not my personal cat but a close friends. My recollection is she was 2 at the time. Her leg had been basically shredded by a motorcycle strike. I have to say the first couple days were not the most fun and the cat really was frustrated. By the end of the first week she was doing everything she wanted and only occasionally fell. After about two months you would have thought she was born without the leg. She was agile and had fully adapted. Way better than putting her to sleep!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:00am PT
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hey there say, patrick... just saw this, a bit late, i reckon...
say, three legged cats can do well, (as you have seen clips, that will
help reassure this) ...
humans forget, at times, that critters are different than humans, in the
respects of:
recovery, and being different...
they adapt so much more than humans...
they don't through all the 'questioning... not-whats... how will i ever...
and: what will others think of me... am i still accepted...
and all of those things that humans 'emotionaly' are 'geared for' ...
they just (if not in the wild) 'keep on trucking' ...
as to trailing on through life...
hope the cat will be okay, through surgery, and recovery and give
you many happy years...
and, please, though, remember this:
you are a person of worth, patrick...
it is NOT bad karma... the world 'has storms' and hard seasons, and
rough seas, at times...
we are all learning how to 'press on' , conquer, and 'weather the situations' ...
we can, with friends...
hang in there...
it has just been a long rough season... (droughts, remember
do exist, in the world, etc... ) ...
each hard trail, too, has a better view, once mastered, and
the valley, meadows, etc, ARE there along the way:
and it all helps MAKE us who we 'should be' and are striving to me...
keep doing the BEST you can...
we are-- only human...
god bless, and may this week, turn out special in some new way...
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:02am PT
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Firstly, if mentioning the cost of any surgery made me sound callous, that was not my intention.
I am just looking for advice from those who have had to make such a decision in the past.
If I sound a bit edgy, I am. I was expecting the vet to say it was a simple fracture that they could realign and splint/cast. I was not expecting the diagnosis that he said. And my final presentation towards my masters tomorrow has me a bit on edge anyway, and then this.
Of course I love the cat aand i will do what is best for Betty.
As for karma, I just feel down and out of sorts over this. Karma has nothing to do with it. Mea Culpa.
For all of those that offered advice, thank you, and yes Locker (and Jaybro) I can see where you are coming from.
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