Hi all,
I've name changed because I've spoken to hundreds of people IRL about this. I was hoping for some Litter Tray wisdom and honesty (to balance the advice from friends /family who don't want to upset me).
Our lovely 1.5 year old ginger boy was found by our neighbour this morning with a broken leg. He must have been hit by a car. It was an horrific break - the bone was completely severed and poking out of the wound. The vet said he'd definitely have to amputate the leg but was fairly confident about the prognosis. The xray showed he'd broken his other hip, though, so it looked like we'd have to PTS.
We told the kids he 'hadn't made it' when we picked them up and then went to the vets to do the deed. When we got there, the vet suddenly seemed fairly positive that he could do something to the other hip (taking out the joint or something) so that he'd be OK - he'd be left with only one, slightly gammy back leg, he 'wouldn't be able to climb trees' but could live pretty happily. Vet couldn't be certain about outcome of operation obviously but was quite confident. He said he's certain he wouldn't be in pain once the initial convalescence was over - the question mark is over quality of life (again - he says if things go well, he's pretty sure he'll live well and long).
We don't have insurance but the extra element of the operation on the hip is likely to be about 500-1000 more than what we were expecting to pay just for the amputation (so 2500ish total).
So now we're in a total headfuck of a dilemma. I'm usually fairly pragmatic in situations like these but I suppose I've never had to make a decision like this about such a young and vivacious cat.
We've left him at the vets (he was very comfortable) because we couldn't make the decision either way (the vet encouraged this). We're genuinely quite traumatised by the roller-coaster we've been on today, and so upset so decision making was even harder. He's an absolutely wonderful cat and we all adore him. But we can't decide whether the risk is worth it or fair.
Brutally honest perspectives from Internet strangers encouraged!