AIBU to not want my cat to have a general as it might not help?

[juniper904]

My 16 month old cat developed a strange cough about a month ago. It sounds like she's trying to bring up a fur ball, although the noise is coming from her head not her chest.

We took her to the vet who said she had a slightly high temperature so gave her a long lasting antibiotic shot and a painkiller. Two weeks passed and it didn't clear. It became less frequent for a few days, but still lingered. We took her back, and he suggested either another shot or a general anaesthetic so they could flush out her nose, as there might be something stuck there. As a general is quite a big thing, we went with the repeated shot.

The cough still hasn't cleared so she's booked into have this nasal flush procedure tomorrow morning. Call it 11th hour nerves but I don't really want her to go through it, and am hoping someone here might have a suggestion as to what is wrong and what we can do.

I've just been lying next to her as she has a coughing fit and it makes me feel so powerless in that I can't help her. She's purring along happily and I just can't imagine how I'd cope if she died from the general if there had been an alternative.

[lljkk]

Could you get a second opinion from another vet?
Sounds like she's suffering & you can't just leave it.

[Idocrazythings]

Do you use a clay based clumping cat litter? They can cause problems- just a thought

[Mrsjay]

your cat is sick the vet is going to do a procedure that will help I can't imagine the cat will let them do it without an anesthetic , you could go to another vet and get a second opinion, I know you adore cat but it's health is really important

[YellowDinosaur]

I had similar concerns when our 13 year old cat needed a GA for x rays of her leg. The vet was very reassuring about the degree of risk bring really small and this is in a much older cat.

As surgeon I know a bit about human anaesthetics and the risk in a fit young person, although never zero, is seriously small. Weighed up against the risks of doing nothing if your cat has something potentially blocking her airway I'd do it.

[Mrsjay]

I can see the point with an elderly cat we had this with our 18yr old cat the vet didn't really want to do it and we agreed but they left it up to us, cat was elderly and had renal failure airway problems , but with a young cat id do it ,

[Blackballoon]

She could have a piece of grass up her nose. Quite common in cats. All anaesthetics come with risks but in a young , healthy cat the risks are minimal. You can't leave her as she is.