Cancer and amputation

I brought my cat in to the vet because he started limping and thought he had pulled a muscle or something. I left the vet with a fibrosarcoma diagnosis, the treatment being amputate the hind leg. Talk about a shock.

I got him when he was 4 mo. old. He just turned 16, good health otherwise, starting to drink a little more water, his kidneys are getting old.

I stopped at another animal hospital to ask some questions regarding the treatment, the vet tech said to me that if it were her cat, at 16, she would not put the animal through surgery.

I don't know what to do, I know it's my decision alone, put him through the stress, pain of surgery if the cancer hasn't spread or let it run it's course and eventually euthanizing him when it becomes too bad. Complicating matters, I travel 13 days or so per month with work and I live alone.

I don't want to be selfish and put him through this ordeal just for my needs, so I can have him around for a few more years. I want the best for him, not me. Any advice? I know cats can live quite well with 3 legs but at his age, is it good for me or him or both of us.

Oh man. No one can make this decision, but we went through something similar with our 13 year-old dog, and in hindsight I wish we'd just let him be happy and comfortable until the end (instead of having surgery). It's a lot of trauma for an animal to go through, and it can be very traumatic for you, too. But I really, really can't stress enough that you need to go with your instincts -- and know that no matter what you decide, you'll still feel mixed about it. That's normal. Sending you many, many hugs.

I'm really sorry that you have to make this decsion at all. Obviously, nobody can make this decision for you, but here are a few things that may help you decide.
-Is is still healthy apart from that?
-Do you think he would still be happy without a limb?
-Would you regret it if you let it spread?
-Would you be comfertable watching the cancer slowly get worse?
-Would you be able to give him enough loving after the surgery?
-I know you don't really know the answer to this one, but since you know him well, and you know his personality, what do you think he would want?

Hope this might help you a little. for your boy.

I'm so sorry you are faced with these decisions for your kitty. I agree with everything said, especially this:

Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

-I know you don't really know the answer to this one, but since you know him well, and you know his personality, what do you think he would want?

Click to expand...

I have one who, based on personality, would bounce back. My other one would shut down and be miserable. You know your cat and which type he is.

Hugs to you, I know this must be horrible for you.

We had the exact same thing happen to our 16 year old cat. We decided to go ahead with the surgery.

It is very intense, the surgery. Our cat was up walking within the week. I have youtube.com videos of Mr. Do immediately after the surgery and outside walking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7hSW...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YFk9...eature=related

Yes, it is a hard decision. I am glad that we did it, but we cried so much as he healed.

We decided to go ahead with the surgery because Mr. Do really wants to live and sits in our laps and purrs and loves to be outside.

Thanks for the info and support. Based on my cat, I think he's do OK, he's a toughie, a fighter and he has the scars to prove it. And yes, I think he would want to live even without a leg. He's pretty healthy otherwise, eats well, except for his kidneys slowing down, he's good. I'm leaning toward having the surgery done but only after a second opinion and an x-ray to see if the cancer has spread to his lungs.

I have the surgery scheduled for the 27th for now, we'll have to see how things turn out.

It would be an even worse hell for me to watch him slowly die from the cancer. My friend said you may always regret not having done everything you could, what if he had the surgery, could he have lived another 4 years? I don't want to regret not having the surgery but I don't want to regret him having the surgery.

Life can be very complicated.

I have been in this situation twice, but with younger cats - I went through with the amputation with the first cat, but not the second, the second cat was practically unhandleable, and wouldnt have coped with the recovery period (plus there were other health issues). I have known someone go through this with a 19yo though, and he came through well. I would do bloods and ask the vet if x-rays would be needed to make sure it hasn't spread (I know certain cancers need a lung x-ray first, not sure about this one though, the cancer Tiger had was one that didn't spread). Good luck