Kitten dilema... WWYD

[Bookeatingboy]

We've had our kitten a couple of weeks which sadly coincided with my father being very poorly and needing lots of support from me. This resulted in my not getting around to sorting insurance out.

Before everyone jumps on me, we are responsible cat owners and have always had pet insurance but my priorities were with my dad and I just forgot, so we could be facing a very big vet bill.

Kitten was fine this morning, running around as usual, then around 6 pm, noticed that he was limping and that is paw and leg had swollen to double it's size. Took straight to out of hours vet and looks like leg/paw is broken ( x-ray in the morning to confirm) Vet is saying because he is still so small will probably have to have the kittens leg amputated.

Here is my dilemma... My son who has ASD will just not cope with this, I know how his mind works and he will get very anxious, this coupled with the unknown of the quality of life the kitten will have is making me ask the question whether it might be kinder if we put him to sleep.

Really don't know what to do for the best, we could pay the vet bill so that's not my main worry. I just want to make the right decision for the kitten and my ds.

WWYD

It's not opinion though. It's fact.

I've seen plenty of three legged dogs and cats they out ran my four legged cat

And what on earth are people supposed to say when someone even contemplated pts fir something based on a child.

Any idiot knows when you have pets there is always the chance that they will hurt themselves or get sick. If you had a child unable to cope with that why get the pet?

It doesn't make people unsupportive to point these basic things out

i think it would be a positive for your son. You say he is seen as different, this is a very clear way of showing him that you as a family love and respect all creatures (human or animal) whatever their differences. if he has a leg removed it doesn't change who he is or how important he is like your son having special needs doesn't make him any less a valued member of your family. I hope you got some sleep and the kitten is ok

Animals are a lot more resilient than human beings

They can cope with 3 legs, one eye and no ears if need be and still live a normal life

That's great news about the kitten and I'm glad to hear your Dad was looking a bit better. 😺😺😺😺

Glad Kitty is ok.
Not sure it is the best choice of pet for your son but that's too late now. Cats go missing/get ill etc. Would your son not have been more anxious at you having it killed than it being operated on?

Oh that's brilliant. One of my nephews has quite severe autism and SIL says getting him a cat was the best thing she ever did - the two of them are devoted to each other.
And just ignore Poppy she has form for this sort of thing.

As if all of you shocked by the idea of killing an animal for convenience hadn't scoffed bacon sandwiches for breakfast.

The cat may not have made it as far in the first place without OP and people like her - rescue cats can die; when people breed kittens for sale their lives are purposely created.

Animals lead short, hopefully happy, less than conscious, philosophically unexamined lives. We can care for them if we choose to, but if OP doesn't want to have a seriously long term injured pet I don't think the cat's being alive is necessarily something to be preserved at all costs.

For humans either, though that's a different discussion.

Alot of the discussion was amongst other posters though. With the exception of one.

eggy I don't eat meat but even if I did we live in a society where pets and food are thought of differently. Would someone abusing their dog be fine to you because of the awful way chickens are kept and slaughtered for meat?

No, they are both terrible. I don't think a cat being put down at the vet is the same as a pet being hurt and abused is it? I'd see it more morally on a par with humane slaughter of organically reared animals!

At least people actually eat meat. Having an animal put down because you haven't thought through the consequences of having a pet before you got one is completely unnecessary and with Christmas coming up I hope people will think before getting pets that will end up in rescue centres/being pts when they can't be bothered with them anymore.

Agree bum

I'm not opposed to euthanasia at all. In fact I've been flamed on many a thread for daring to suggest it, as I do believe that it to be a far better option than dumping a pet with a hard to manage illness/injury or challenging temperaments in a shelter. I do not view months/years alive in a shelter to be more humane than being pts.

But I would also seriously question why someone would choose to get a kitten knowing full well that their sheer size and nature means they are prone to getting into jams and hurting themselves. And cats are very much prone to wandering off... their loyalty sucks .

Surely that's a question tattoo has to be asked regardless of a persons circumstances. It is after all a sheer lack of thought and common sense which does not do anyone any favours to overlook in the interests of being "nice"

That

Mine had a dislocated hip as a kitten that couldn't be put back. She lived till 17 with 4 legs but only 3 that worked.

People who say there is no worse than being pts for an animal need to visit a few rescue centres or read up on some rescue cases.

I personally don't agree with animals having major operations unless the prognosis is excellent. And that animal can go on and live a normal life. The animal should be pain free and able to exhibit normal behaviours for that species.

I do have animals. And have always had animals. And would not hesitate to have any one of them pts if they had to have a life changing operation that resulted in that animals life being compromised in any way.

Owning animals is a privilege and I would not compromise an animals quality of life for my own selfish reasons. I watched the vets programmes on TV and am genuinely upset at what owners will put their pets through for a few more months or years. Cancer treatment and spinal surgery for instance.

I would rather have pts a few days or weeks or months too early than a day too late.

bimandbam i agree with you, I have always said 'better a month too early than a day too late' - I wish we could do the same for people sometimes. Quality of life is more important than quantity. Certainly, I don't considering euthanising an animal to be a cruel or heartless decision.

My last cat had her paw stung by a bee as a kitten and it swelled up. She was fine in a day or so and seemed to enjoy the fact that I was so worried I was with her all the time and hand feeding her. She still chased bees as soon as she was walking/running/batting objects . I miss that weirdo.

I am really glad the kitten is ok OP. Hope you've got insurance sorted now too.

I personally think insurance is a rip off. I put money into premium bonds for vet. I have now built up over 10k. My vet friends agree this is a far wiser use of my money.

"eggyface

As if all of you shocked by the idea of killing an animal for convenience hadn't scoffed bacon sandwiches for breakfast."

Actually we haven't all done that. I am a vegetarian. So you are wrong.

Glad your cat is alright. One of mine dislocated a hip and she was absolutely fine, still being a complete madam more than 10 years later albeit the hip is a bit dodgy now. much like mine!

You probably already know this but there's the SN board where you may get better and kinder replies on helping your son cope.

Sorry if you already knew about them, hope you manage to get some sleep.

That's brilliant news about the kitten OP I bet your really relieved.

Glad your Dad's looking brighter to.

Can't believe some of the responses on this thread. I hate to break it to you, but humans kill animals for their convenience routinely. For food, fur, sport, medical experimentation, because they can no longer be looked after... And as long as it's done humanely, there's nothing remotely wrong with that imo.