so sad searching for answers..... sorry long

ntanya · New member Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

Hi everyone,

Sunday evening my cat damaged his tail severely. I took her to the vet first thing Monday morning feeling that they would merely amputate the tail, I was concerned but felt it was a manageable situation.

I have a great amount of faith in the Vet as he has performed cancer surgery on my Dog and was excellent throughout that whole process. As he looked at my cat's tail he stated that he had to be butalyy honest with me and he was sorry if he was being harsh but that I had to really think about this because my Cat was 14 and very thin etc. He felt that the tail had to be amputated but was suggesting that she would have a very difficult time with a surgery and the recovery would also be quite difficult not to mention she looked as though she may have other health issues. Needless to say I was in shock and not processing the information very well. He mentioned that the surgery, antibiotics blood tests etc woul be 1200 as a tail amputation is a very costly surgery. I left taking his suggestion that he do blood tests to see her status first so I did.

The Vet called and stated that she did not have major health issues but her liver enzymes were high and that he suspected her clotting was also impaired as her nose was bleeding. I was dumbfounded, in the matter of a few hours I was forced to make a decision to give the surgery or to put her to sleep. She seemed otherwise healthy to me running jumping etc, hoe could I put her to sleep because of a tail, but the surgery is considered significant.

Anyway, I did make the horrible decision to put her to sleep, I was there. I feel so horrible and guilty and I feel that I made such a horrible decision. I loved her so much and had her for such a long time, this wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. I have so many regret about that day. I feel devestated and grief stricken.

Is 14 considered senior for an indoor outdoor cat?

Is surgery very difficult for an older cat?

Would the antibiotics, pain medication and surgery anesthetics have been really hard on her at her age with her liver problems?

Thanks in advance

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

I am so sorry for your loss and I'm sure this was a very difficult decision that you had to make. Crying or Very sad

ntanya · New member Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks...

lunaguy · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:56 am Post subject:

I agree with Nern.

I am so sorry to hear about what you've been through. It sounds like you totally made the right decision. Vets don't make this kind of recommendation lightly and without warrant. Don't second-guess yourself or beat yourself up with "what if's." You did the right thing!

You must feel overwhelmed with sadness right now. You had 14 wonderful years together, and for that you should feel very fortunate. I wish you peace throughout this difficult time.

Mary_NH · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

the average lifespan for an indoor/outdoor cat is 9 years so compared to that your kitty did have a long life.
So sorry

sunset05 · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject:

I'm so sorry about your kitty. You made the best decision you could have under the circumstances.

I agree that a Vet woudn't suggest something like that lightly.

It is so hard to lose a pet. I have been though it. Take care.

luna · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:

ntanya · New member Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

My vet told me the average lifespan for an indoor outdoor cat is around 5. But that takes into account cars, other animals, fighting, piosening, disease etc. My cat seemed fine and she was older than 9, my friends indoor outdoor cat was 18 when she died so I think it's all the hazards they come across. My cat was fine but she had the fight and her tail was badly injured in a fight.

Again, I just feel soooo guilty because she seemed fine, she was running around playing and did not have any overt health concerns. She ghad a cold about 2 months ago and she was very thin but other than that she seemed fine too me. I just feel terrible, as though it happened so fast and I had no time to think about it. Maybe with the surgery she would have been ok. I just would have had to keep her indoors.

I am really struggling with this.

honeybears · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 3637

I think you made the right decision and agree with the vet that at 14 many complications can arise with surgery

that is very hard when you went in with expectatins of it can be fixed and not be prepared for sugery complications. I just made this decision last month with my cat, it was so hard, like you, I took my cat in for a checkup (he was living with kidney failure for about 8 months, and the vet said it was time, which I wasnt expecting at all I freaked out and said no and took him home and he was around for 4 weeks and I said it has to be done, I was letting him suffer, he was miserable. Sometimes I still feel guilty, thinking the what if I had done things differently, but then say stop, I gave him a great life, he was only 9, and I always thought he would be around forever its hard when we have to be th decision makers for our pets and knowing when its time, I do think what you did was right.

please dont beat yourself up, your kitty had a long loving life with you

honeyber

yogi · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject: average lifespan indoor/outdoor

age for indoor outdoor will vary depending on where you live. In the country an indoor/outdoor cat can live to a very ripe old age. I gave one of my kittens to my sister who lived in the country in AZ. He would be gone sometimes for couple days, going on hunting expeditions. He finally passed on at 19. City cats have less likely chance due to human intervention being cars etc. My soley indoor cats average 16 years. For your cat to have done so well to live to 14 is in itself quite an accomplishment and you should pat yourself on the back and be look back on this as 14 years of pure love and enjoyment spent with a dear friend. It seems you were able to spend time together longer than most.

Ginny · Member Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 172

Hi,

I am sorry for you. My oldest so far put to sleep is 12, the youngest 8 which really gutted me. I think you did well, 14 is a good age .. but I think no matter how old they are it's still devastating. No matter what, you still miss them, you love them just as much as any other pet you have, so my sympathy does go out to you.

Take care xxx

sunset05 · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject:

I have had kitties that were indoor/outdoor kitties. We live in the suburbs and they have all lived until at least 15 years of age. One did get hit by a car once when she was 5, but she survived and lived with us ten years after that.

I agree it probably depends on where you live. I know it is safer to keep them indoors.

elizavixen · Senior Member Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 683 Location: SC

? Where did ya'll get the average life span of 9? That seems awfully low to me. The youngest cat I have is 8! Punk is about 12 and in Perfect health. Prissy is about 11 and also in perfect health. My first cat Whitey lived to be 20+ and he was in great health up until the very end. Scratchy lived to be 16 or so. My grandmother's cat lived to be about 20 as well.

Just seems weird to me. These are all indoor/outdoor cats who are fed the crap from Wal-Mart (tried to give them better food but they refuse to eat anything but Fancy Feast?!?) so I'm certainly not doing anything special for their health?

ntanya - I'm sorry for your loss. I sort of know how you feel. Last year my dog got sick and I thought it was something very minor, just needed some pills or something, next thing I know they say she is dying and they can't do anything for her so I had to put her to sleep.

dana_pie · New member Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 10