Please help - have to decide on PTS or referral today

[Toria2014]

I am in shock. Took my 11 year old cat to the vet yesterday as he was not himself and had stopped eating since sunday.

Various back and forth with the vet, he is extremely anaemic, to the point of possibly needing a blood transfusion. An xray showed a mass in his abdomen, and fluid, possibly another mass on his lungs. Can't do a better xray until he has a transfusion as too dangerous to sedate him, and can't operate for the same reason. He would need to be transferred to a specialist anyway to do anything further. Prognosis not great, but I was once given a 1% chance with my horse and he lived for another two years.

Its a lot for him to go through, potentially very traumatic. Do I put him through it? Or do I PTS?

Had to put our other cat to sleep a few months ago. She was older though and very sick and was never a good patient.

Its going to be expensive as he is not insured, but I don't care about cost (well I do, but I care about him more), but if the vet thinks that regardless of what we do it might still have the same end result, ie: death, do I just not try?

He is my baby. My heart is broken. He was fine on saturday, had no idea he was so sick.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Its up to you, you could try treatment but it's a risk then that he will be in pain.

I think you want to try though don't you?. I can't blaim you for that at all.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

As Fluffy says, it's up to you. I think I would be inclined to give the treatment a try though, with the proviso that it's stopped if it's only prolonging the inevitable.

It's such a hard decision and I really do feel for you. Sending positive thoughts to you and your boy

[BertrandRussell]

It's so hard- but I would PTS. The live in the moment and can't know that the horrible things that might happen are to make them better.

[IthinkIamsinking]

I was in a similar position. I went for the referral. He lived another 18 months. I would always wonder if I hadn't.

[Toria2014]

They have done further scanning on his chest and abdomen and he has growths on his spleen and his liver as well as his lungs, so prognosis is dire.

Life is fucking shit sometimes.

[WeirdAndPissedOff]

I'm so sorry, Toria.
It's always hard, but at least you can know you've given him a good life.
Only you can decide whether to try or not, but I think if it were me I would opt for PTS.

[villainousbroodmare]

Oh, you poor pet. So sorry for you. If that is the situation, then I would certainly let him go without further traumatic intervention.

[Vinorosso74]

Oh no so sorry to read this it really is shitty news. Your poor boy and poor you.
Perhaps PTS is the kindest option for him even though it is harsh for you as it's happened so quickly.

[cozietoesie]

I'm sorry to read your news.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I'm so sorry to read your news. Although I said earlier that I would choose the referral I think the latest update changes things. It does sound as though PTS would be the kindest thing for him.

[Toria2014]

We've brought him home this morning and the vet is coming later this afternoon to PTS.

Didn't sleep last night, and feel so sick. Life is so unfair.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Cuddle him constantly till then.

[Wolfiefan]

I'm so sorry. 11 feels middles aged. Not old at all. You have loved your cat and given the best years you can. You know what the future would hold if you didn't PTS. You are doing the right thing. It's just shit. I'm sorry. It's the hardest part of being an owner.

[cozietoesie]

Take care.

(There will be people around here later on to talk to.)

[Vinorosso74]

Lots of fuss and strokes. So sorry

[GRW]

I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely cat. You have made the kindest decision for him in the circumstances. Take care x

[DramaAlpaca]

I'm really sorry

I know it's hard, but you've made the kindest decision for him.

[RubbishMantra]

I really think you're doing the kindest thing you can for your boy.

He'll go to sleep, in the arms of the people who love him, in his own home. x