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Norton
Social climber
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:07am PT
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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.
then do not put her through all that, you don't have to prove you love her
put her to sleep painlessly and avoid doing all that to her
we have made these same quality of life decisions many times over 40 years with no regrets
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:11am PT
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hey there say, patrick...
ooopss, sorry for the karma-note, there...
i had just seen that the 'word' came up, in the post...
so wanted to share that, ...
ps:
anyone would feel 'down' about this-- i've had my bad-downs, a'ways back,
when my cat swallowed a needle and thread...
it was an awful three days, and nothing that could be done, at that time... it was weeked, into holiday, no money for surgery, and no way to even get out of town, to where the only 'open emergency' was...
it was a very rough time, and very scary time... :(
the cat passed the needle--which was a miracle for it...
we all feel down, when our pets get hurt...
hang in there, patrick...
may some 'someshine' come your way, soon, in good ways...
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:11am PT
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I spent $1,500 for cardiac surgery on my new kitten
I promised the animal shelter that I would take care of the cat.
Turns out I took home a sick kitty that was in heart failure.
Named the kitten Lucy after the hottie by the same name on General Hospital.
Why can't the just splint the leg?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:17am PT
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hey there say, locker...
:)
oh my, :)
reminds me of some of my cats, and their 'odd jobs' on various things
i have owned, over the years, :))
mainly, not in 'repairs' though...
(good cat-drift)
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:24am PT
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Norton, I suppose euthanasia would be the "simplest" thing but not the easiest.
From some of the posts, and my research in the past hour or so, I am inclined to have her leg amputated and let her have a life. We live in the sticks (I wonder if a cow stepped on her, seriously), and so she would not have a lot of cars/traffic to deal with and she does love the beach (about 40 meters from the house).
And she is young and spirited. The vet said it would be amputated below the shoulder. I am almost sure I have made up my mind...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:29am PT
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hey there say, patrick...
once your 'gut feeling' is settled, you will feel better...
thank you for sharing the wonderful photo there...
ps: my cat, thankfully, went on to have a few more good years...
about, 2, only--he was already 21 years, perhaps 23, even--
he was very frail, only two years, AFTER the needle episode...
from it's records...
EDIT:
i had been 'baby'ing' him, through his last years, but HAD to go to my dad's memorial, in calif, and others took care of
him for me... he may not have gotten that 'extra care' but he made it
a year, almost?? after i got back, then... but, it was obvious, soon,
that his time was getting short... good thing, he was not pain, though...
yours, being younger, will be there, to cheer you up, :)
and, you will look back on this, and feel better,
with time...
i have had more laughs, from this 'very different' personality cat...
he died, at home, one night, after a vet-check, and not doing well...
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:32am PT
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Dingus,
Pat rhymes better with cat than Paddy does. ;-)
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:33am PT
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Another vote for 3 legged cat.
A 3 legged cat will have a fine life. Her quality of life is much more about how you treat her than if she has 4 legs.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:47am PT
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So true Locker.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jun 20, 2016 - 11:58am PT
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I had a three legged dog and it didn't seem to be miserable, so I doubt a light little cat would have too much of an issue, except trying to climb stuff. On the bright side, cats kill a lot of native animals and a three legged kitten would be more likely to leave other creatures alone.
That being said, my personal opinion is that I'll never spend a lot of money on a pet as long as there are starving children without healthcare on the planet. Not judging those who do, but I could just never justify it.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:15pm PT
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Quality of life? Not expense? Not a request for pity? m Really? when there so many happy three legged animals in the world?
Not buying it
I still think you wanted someone to give you permission for something you know is wrong.
Why else would you start this thread? It's not like you didn't know how to google " amputee cats" you're a journalist,
Ferchrisakes,
-good thing I know you're not back on the sauce.....
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:21pm PT
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Think what you want Jaybro.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:24pm PT
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We just went thru this last October. We opted for surgery to repair the leg with external fixation. The hardest part was keeping the cat in a cage for 2 months while it healed. It is now 100% and one of the happiest cats ever! If you can afford it, and they can fix the leg, do it. Otherwise follow everyone else's advise.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:27pm PT
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I don't think many vets would even euthanize such a young, otherwise healthy cat.
Work out a payment plan and get it done before it becomes worse, creating systemic issues which she can't bounce back from.
Susan
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:42pm PT
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G_Gnome, I will see what the vet Martin and some of his colleagues (it is a 'large' practice, six vets) say. It is a break of both the ulna and radius right above the carpal bones and apparently is a bit 'messy', so to speak (my words, not his).
He said there was no urgency in making a decision, Betty is comfortable in the hospital, so I am told. But I will have to make a decision in the next day or so, and yes Betty will be with Aggie and I for years to come.
And thank you for no ad hominem remark. I can do without them or being judged, like I believe most of us can do without such nonsense.
EDIT
SC Seagoat, yes, Martin did not suggest such a drastic action such as euthanasia, he just mentioned it. I will weigh out the two options (I initially mentioned three because that was what was told to me, I was just a bit shocked at how severe the injury is, but putting her down was never an option in my eyes).
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Mei
Trad climber
mxi2000.net
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Jun 20, 2016 - 12:58pm PT
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Kudos to you Patrick for trying to do right by Betty. I've seen (online) plenty of handicapped cats that are living a good life due to their loving humans. While human beings might give up the will to live when faced with adversaries, it seems to me that the will to live in these animals is very strong. There are many inspiring survival stories out there. Best of luck to your Betty.
Now, about justifying the cost to save our pet companions. I've seen it brought up a few times (even just on this board). With three cats in the house and one I'm feeding outside, I've been lucky so far. But it's inevitable that one day I might just have to do the justification. I don't know if the folks have pets of their own, but to me, my cats are my family members. They ARE my children. We have no problem justifying spending money on recreational equipment such as climbing gear, or even just the computer that we are reading Supertopo on, while there are people in the world dying of starvation. I cannot use that excuse not to save my pet companions.
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overwatch
climber
Arizona
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Jun 20, 2016 - 01:02pm PT
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I know nothing is funny when you are in a situation dealing with an injured or sick animal but apogee comment was kind of funny
For the record I would get the operation if I have the money and if I didn't I would find an organization to help if I could
Never owned but have seen plenty of tripods running around and it never ceases to amaze me the level of athleticism displayed by dogs and cats
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clode
Trad climber
portland, or
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Jun 20, 2016 - 01:05pm PT
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Patrick, I feel your pain. My wife and I have 4-1/2 cats (the half cat is our neighbor's cat that has found and knows how to use our cat door. He spends half of his time eating, sleeping and playing at our house, hence the 1/2 cat). Anyway, we had to take one of our cats in for emergency surgery, due to an obstructed urethra. Not a leg issue, but certainly a quality of life issue, since without the surgery he would have died. We had to take on over $3,000 in debt to pay for it. We barely can make the payments but it was well worth it. He (now a sort-of she), is back to his normal, usual self. Do what it takes to save Betty, whether the full-blown surgery, or the amputation. I would do the amputation. Best of luck!
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The Lisa
Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
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Jun 20, 2016 - 01:07pm PT
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Cats can handle all sorts of disabilities - one eye, no eyes, three legs, this cat has no front legs: https://www.instagram.com/lilbunnysueroux/?hl=en
She will adapt perfectly to losing one leg and you get to keep your little fluffball. She probably broke her leg jumping and landing badly, it happens.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jun 20, 2016 - 01:16pm PT
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Thank you all. And Overwatch, I suppose Apogee's comment was a bit humorous, I just wasn't feeling all the 'laughable' at the time when I read it.
We do have to make light of situations sometimes.
So, on that note, my dear late brother Mac once joked over the phone to me that our dear late mother (Alzheimer's in a nursing home in El Sobrante) gets to "meet new people every day".
Again, thank you all for your advice, as for looking for pity as one poster suggested, perhaps I was.
It just is, I started this thread shortly after the vet Martin gave me the news. And yes, Martin suggested I google 'amputee cats'. I suppose I should have, instead of laying myself bare to the class joker, who I used to have the utmost respect for. C'est la vie.
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