To be unable to make decision about vet treatment?

[Confrontayshunme]

I have a 10yo cat who began to be unwell in January. She had some small cysts in her ear which were causing an outer ear infection. She had a minor op to remove them and the vet found a larger tumour blocking the ear canal.

We decided to let her recover and give her antibiotics and steroids to see if the lump and infection would calm down.

They have not. The ear infection is worse now, but the tumour bleeds so easily that it cannot be biopsied or cauterised without a specialist vet 90 miles away, and even with insurance it will be thousands of pounds. The tumour is growing already in just a month or two.

The vet wants to do CT scan to see the extent of the tumour and infection. The CT scan would only be diagnostic. It is £1400 as our insurance has already paid out for this condition.

If the CT is bad news, we would probably continue as we are and euthanise when she becomes uncomfortable. If it is less bad, the treatment is expensive and may only buy her another 6-12 months as the infection will probably return and cause problems.

If it is the best news, she still may only live a year or two and it would be an extremely costly year or two.

I am finding the choice absolutely impossible. I love this little creature, but I feel torn between the practicality of keeping her alive for myself and saving the money for my actual human children. We could afford all this. Just. But it would definitely eat into savings.

Am I a horrible pet owner for considering not treating her?

Personally would be v sad but pts.

the fees are too much for me to consider paying

I'd pts. Vet visits are very stressful for the animal and it sounds like any form of treatment is going to be lots of vet visits for not a great outcome.

Love her and let her go. My heart is with you all. This is a hard time.

I’d PTS. Animals don’t have any sense of their future or possibilities- they live in the moment. She’ll not understand that being put in frightening situations or having painful investigations or treatment is in her best interest. I’d let her live her life until you see the spark dimming and then give her a kind farewell.

PTS

That's too much money. If you believe your family may need this in the future, I don't see how you can justify spending so much on a cat.

If it's causing her pain then it's best to pts. You'd be doing it for her benefit ❤️

PTS, no question. She has no awareness of her mortality and no fear of falling asleep. It's a cliche but a truism - better a month too soon that a day too late.

This really is the kindest thing to do

PTS might be the kindest option. Costs aside I know the times I've really spent serious money on pets who have been very ill I've always regretted it and wished I'd just let them go.

I agree PTS is the kindest option in this situation but not for this reason.

You justify spending so much on a cat because she’s part of your family and you love her. In this instance however the prognosis is not good, although I may be clouded in my judgement as I’ve had 3 cats sadly die at only 11 due to cancer.

I wouldn’t want mine to have any kind of invasive treatment that would stress them out for the sake of a few months.
I prefer quality of life for them over longevity.

I see no useful purpose in the scan. Either the full surgery or bring the cat home until life becomes miserable, then euthanasia.

Recently lost my dear dog. She was elderly and right from the start the vet said there's two things to consider - what can be done v what should be done. Cost aside, do what's best for your cat. It could be keeping her comfortable for as long as possible and letting her go without suffering.