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Original poster

16 year old cat with bone cancer

32 replies

Movingmountains · 01/09/2019 08:48

We’ve had bad news about Our 16 year old cat - she has a bone tumour in her front leg- we have a difficult decision to make - either a difficult amputation to prolong her life or put her to sleep. We are obviously heartbroken and don’t want to make wrong decision. She has what vet thinks is Osteosarcoma at top of her humerus (this means the amputation involves part of the scapula) but her chest is clear and there is no sign it is spread. She is 16 but in good health - actually put on weight in the cattery and is eating well. Vet said her bloods were good. Our dilemma is whether to put her through surgery as I know they can manage well on 3 legs knowing it might come back or have spread already of whether to put her to sleep to avoid anymore pain. Can anyone offer any advice or had similar experience?

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 01/09/2019 09:02

Tbh honest, I'd PTS. I'd say that even if it was a younger cat. As I don't think putting a cat through cancer treatment is fair. But for a 16 year old I would not put them through such major surgery. It's just not fair on them.
ThanksThanksCake

thecatneuterer · 01/09/2019 09:03

I've been in almost the exact situation twice now. I choose to PTS both times and would do again. It's a huge surgery with long recovery times and there are still no guarantees. And at her (and their) age they are unlikely to have that long left anyway and I would prefer them to have had a slightly shorter but less traumatic life.

CatPunsFreakMeowt · 01/09/2019 09:06

If there’s no sign of spread and there’s reasonable hope it would be a curative operation then I’d do it.

ScreamingValenta · 01/09/2019 09:09

My sister's cat has a tumour on his spine - they have opted for palliative care (painkillers and steroids) to make the most of the time he has left. Like your cat, he is still happy and enjoying his food, though his mobility is restricted. They will keep him going as long as he seems to be enjoying a good quality of life.

Mumsymumphy · 01/09/2019 09:18

I have 2 cats, they are only 3 years old but in your situation I would not go for amputation. I'd hate to think of my cat going through the pain of the operation and having to learn how to walk on 3 legs in their twilight years.

Whilst she's still fit and healthy in all other aspects, eating well etc then I'd opt for palliative care, pain relief for as long as possible, treats and cuddles galore and then when your cat shows signs she's had enough, PTS.

Gingernaut · 01/09/2019 09:23

If humans are anything to go by, bone cancer is horribly painful.

I'd PTS to spare her any further suffering.

cookiechomper · 01/09/2019 09:53

Sorry OP. I would also PTS. She's had a good long life and it will stop her suffering.

Vinorosso74 · 01/09/2019 10:15

At 16 I think I would PTS. The surgery could be too much for her and the recovery harder than in a younger cat. Have a discussion with your vet and talk through your thoughts/concerns first. A vet can't tell you what to do but they may well have experience of this before.

bodgeitandscarper · 01/09/2019 11:20

At 16 it's a no brainer, I'd pts I'm afraid.

BrokenWing · 01/09/2019 11:28

PTS, sorry, but I believe it is much kinder.

viques · 01/09/2019 11:59

I am another one in the PTS camp. Sorry. I think cats are very good at hiding pain and I would be worried that I would miss signs that my cat was in distress. I don't think expecting a cat to live out its life on pain relief is fair or kind.

A few years back I missed signs with one of my cats, and it was only afterwards, when I looked back on photos that I realised how poorly he had become.

It is a cruel truth but the kindest act we do for our old sick cats is unfortunately the one that hurts us the most.

Silenceissilver · 01/09/2019 12:07

I would never and could never put my cat to sleep but I completely understand why a lot of people would and I don’t think there’s a right or wrong decision.
The issue for me is that I’d personally feel as though I was ‘giving up’ and playing god to put an animal to sleep. I’d also keep wondering ‘what if?’ After it was too late.

So sorry you’re in this position OP and honestly, there’s no right or wrong. It’s a terribly upsetting thing to have to do either way Flowers

Original poster
Movingmountains · 01/09/2019 12:08

Tbh it’s also what we think. It’s just the vet suggested that amputation would be fine and probably what he would do if it were his cat. But he did say it is a very difficult decision. It’s hard to know how much pain she is in as cats are so good at hiding it but she won’t put any weight on the affected leg. 😢

OP posts:
viques · 01/09/2019 12:22

silenceissilver

I have to say I think you are wrong. There is a right or wrong answer. When you take on the responsibility for an animal you have to accept that you will take responsibility for its health and wellbeing. If an animal is in pain, or so ill that its quality of life is reduced significantly then your feelings come second to the animals needs. If those needs are met by being PTS then that is what you do.

Silenceissilver · 01/09/2019 14:23

@viques there is no right or wrong. The OP wouldn’t be in the wrong to keep the animal alive especially as the vet said that there’s a decent chance the cat would be ok after an amputation. Even the vet said he’d keep the animal alive if it were his pet.

Hamsterian · 01/09/2019 19:41

I would do palliative care with medication, lots of treats and cuddles, and PTS when kitty is not comfortable anymore.
I had a similar situation in the past with one of mine and opted for this. There was the option for surgery but only to prolong and no one knew for how long. He was much younger than yours too (9 years). This was last year, he still had a lovely Summer, lots of treats, all his favourite food, cuddles etc. It was the right thing to do.

Medievalist · 01/09/2019 19:49

PTS here too Thanks

DramaAlpaca · 01/09/2019 19:53

I completely agree with viques. There comes a point when the welfare of a pet must come before its owner's needs. Not putting to sleep when it's clearly time is pure selfishness on the owner's part, cruel even.

DramaAlpaca · 01/09/2019 19:55

Posted too soon there. OP, I think pts is the right decision, hard though it is Flowers

Cluckcluck18 · 01/09/2019 23:14

Vets have to put all options on the table and sometimes I think it gives owners a sense of hope (and as a result expensive procedures) when really the kindest thing is to put the pet to sleep. Sorry if that sounds slightly cynical about vets!

Toddlerteaplease · 02/09/2019 09:05

Also agree with @viques, I stopped watching the supervet because it made me so cross that he was treating the owners and not doing the right thing for the animal, which in most cases was PTS.

Amicompletelyinsane · 02/09/2019 09:12

Bone tumours are v painful. Have they xrayed her chest? Made sure theres no sign of it spreading? As a vet nurse I prob wouldn't put my cat through it. It's not a simple surgery, a lot of recovery and at 16 her other joints will suffer for them being on three legs. I also wouldn't put her through much palliative care. These tumours are aggressive and v painful. Id let her go before she hits the points of being in huge amounts of pain.

DramaAlpaca · 02/09/2019 13:42

Toddlerteaplease me too. That programme is more about the owners than the animals in many cases. I can't watch, it makes me so annoyed.

Lonecatwithkitten · 02/09/2019 14:01

@Movingmountains my preferred forelimb amputation always includes the whole scapula and is actually a quicker procedure and has faster recovery than humerus transaction. I find cats have better balance with full scapula removal.

Original poster
Movingmountains · 02/09/2019 19:32

@Lonecatwithkitten would you advise this would be suitable for a 16year old cat?

OP posts:
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