Nelly's special

My 13-year-old calico Nelly has an oral tumor in her mouth and her only chance for living is if I take her to a "specialty surgeon" near Dallas. That will cost a lot of money and I'm old and disabled and can't afford it. I might be able to borrow the money but I really can't afford it, it would ruin me. I don't know what to do. There is no guarantee the surgery would make the thing not come back. She's the most special little girl I've every had and it's killing me to see her suffering but I can't have her killed. I've never been able to do that and I've had cats 60 years.

I guess I just wanted to share this with other cat lovers. Nobody else would understand.

I'm very sorry to hear about Nelly's tumor. Our members will certainly understand your problem and feelings, and many have been in a similar situation. Our cats play such a big role in our lives, and we all fear the day when we might lose them.

Perhaps this article will give you some ideas, especially the imom and carecredit links. When You Can't Afford a Veterinarian

Is there anyone you know who can help you set up a donation page? Perhaps some of the regular posters in the SOS forum can offer some suggestions.

Thank you for your reply and suggestions. I don't know anyone who might help, it's just me and my cats, Nelly and Rose, in my family. I'll check out the link you posted. Thanks. I thought I might try Texas A&M University, that's the big vet school in my state, Texas.

Nelly is so special to me because she's a considerate cat. Have you ever heard of such a thing? She always knows when I'm feeling down or something. My other cat, Rose is always Rose. Always fun and games.

I hope y'all don't misunderstand, I'm not begging for money. I read my first post and was afraid I might have come across that way. I just wanted to tell other cat people.

I think most of us here have been close to where you are (sick cats, not necessarily with oral tumors), and we try our best to help them, and that's all we can do.  I, personally, try to give them the best quality of life versus quantity, meaning I will not poke and probe and give them a dozen pills a day to try to keep them alive if by doing that it makes them miserable  

We have had members whose cats have had facial tumors, and when they got to the point where they were obviously in pain (they could no longer eat, eye's were forced shut, that sort of thing) then they were released from their pain.  No one wants to see their babies suffering if there is no hope.  

I DO know what you mean about Nelly being special...I lost my special cat last year to kidney disease.  He was my buddy, my very special cat...every night at bedtime I swear he meowed to me "I love you" , and I loved him with all my heart.  So much so that when he told me he had had enough, I took him to the Vet and we all cried together and set him free.  The Vet said he went so fast it was unbelievable, but he was that ready.    

Not, don't get me wrong, if there is any hope at all, and you can find a way to treat her, then by all means, go for it.  TX A & M is a GREAT idea, and they might have some leading edge treatments.  But if nothing can be done, please, please, please rethink your statement "I can't have her killed".  Don't let her suffer. 

Thanks for your post. The thing that gets me about Nelly is she acts so totally normal except for her mouth hurting when she eats. She's got a great appetite and enjoys her food even though she stops to paw at her mouth a few times. If she was sickly or her face swollen or something like that it might be different but she's her normal self. She talks to me like your cat did. I'll tell Nelly to talk and she meows at me. She's very vocal.
 

What are you feeding her?  Canned?  If so, can you water it down so she can lap it up and make it a little easier on her?  If kibble, can you maybe soak it in water to soften it t make it easier to chew (just don't leave it out all day because it's not safe, IMO, to leave out once it's been soaked)

If she has a good appetite, then she's feeling ok still, I'm thinking   It may not be that her mouth actually hurts when she eats, it may just be that the tumor feels strange, so she paws at her mouth because there is something unusual there.  I would think if it caused her pain, she would not eat, or at least not eat with gusto.  So I think this is good news (so far)

I'm feeding her canned food. She has always eaten kibbles but since her mouth has gotten sore I've been giving her the canned food. I do try to keep it a little extra wet so she can lick it.

I think she hurts, just by the way she acts. When it's feeding time she acts like she's hungry like she always has then when I feed her she goes after it and eats about a fourth of it then walks away. But she's always eaten like that. Then after a few minutes she will return and eat some more and do that again.

Like I said, the tough thing is seeing her act so normal except for that thing in her mouth. And she's always been really loving and playful and she still is but I think her mouth hurts just by the way she shakes her head sometimes and paws at her mouth. It's kind of like she's washing her face but a little different.

Her vet said where the tumor is, on her lip at the back near where her cheek starts, I guess that's how to describe it, and not on the roof of her mouth or gum it can be fixed but they would have to cut out a little part of her cheek to get it all and he said it would take a specialist to do that.

I've had a lot of surgeries over the years because of something that happened to me a long time ago and there were a couple of times when the doctors could have just given up and let me die but they didn't. I guess that's why I won't give up on Nelly.

I had a 17-year-old who died of kidney failure five years ago and the last week of his life I sat and held him almost constantly and I was holding him when he died peacefully at home with me. I just can't give up on them.

Thanks for your post, I really appreciate all the considerate cat people who think of Nelly and me and try to help.
 

I just heard from a vet in a nearby town who's going to take a look at her. Please pray if you are inclined to do so. I'll keep y'all posted as to any news.

Thanks.

I'm so glad to read that you've found someone to check her out.  Please keep us posted.
 

Thanks, I will let you know.
 

Just checking in on you and Nelly. I do hope she has seen the vet and there is some sort of plan in place, whether it be curative or palliative in nature. 

I'm so glad you decided to share with us. TCS is a great community not just for getting advice on caring for and living with cats, but for getting emotional support in situations like these. I too know what you mean when you say that Nelly is special and considerate. I always think it's so interesting how we can have such different relationships with each of our feline family members. I have two. Diego is my baby, and I feel a need to care for him, like he can't do it for himself. But my girl, Ella, is different. I feel like she takes care of me as much as I care for her. When I'm upset or having a bad day I feel like she knows it and she will try to console me and cheer me up. In that sense we are very much equals. I feel like that's what Nelly is to you. 

Anyway, just wanted to let you know another person is here, sending vibes for Nelly and supporting you!

 Keep us posted and vent all you need to! 

Hello Shooter. I haven't posted until now but have been reading your post and what has been happening for you and Nelly. Like EB24 just want to let you know other people are here and thinking of you. Hope you are OK.  Keep us posted on how things are for you and Nelly.      

I have heard from so many of you who offer your well wishes for Nelly's recovery. I truly appreciate you're concern. Nelly left for the vet's this morning for more surgery. This is a different vet from her usual vet. She's a little younger and more willing to try new things. She told me it all depends on how far the tumor has advanced. If it is still just in the soft tissue of her lip and cheek then there is hope but if it had progressed into her jaw bone the prognosis is not good.

Nelly seems to be in good health and still has a good appetite so I feel that is in her favor.

Nelly is one of those cats that can tell when I'm not feeling well or just having a bad day. She's very considerate and if I'm in bed she will get on the bed and walk real easy so as to not bother me. I open my eyes and she will be sitting there just looking at me. She knows and cares. I've had several cats over the years and all have been special but there's something even more special about Nelly. She's extra gentle and caring.

Thanks again for your concern, you are all important to me.

I will post again as soon as I hear from her.

Mega for Nelly! :cross: that it's just in the soft tissue.

The vet just called and said Nelly's surgery went as well as could be expected, even better. The tumor wasn't connected to the bone and that's great but she did say there's a possibility it would come back as cancer. But at least now Nelly has a chance.

I'll keep y'all posted as to her recovery. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

That sounds very promising! You must be so relieved.

I am so relieved about the conclusion of Nelly's surgery and am now concentrating my thoughts on a speedy and full recovery for her. I hope you have her home with you soon, comfortable and fit for all the pampering you wish to lavish on her . 

Shooter said:

The vet just called and said Nelly's surgery went as well as could be expected, even better. The tumor wasn't connected to the bone and that's great but she did say there's a possibility it would come back as cancer. But at least now Nelly has a chance.

I'll keep y'all posted as to her recovery. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

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Wow!  That's GREAT news that it wasn't in the jaw .  Positive thoughts and vibes that it will not return.  This is just so wonderful .  I'm so happy for you both

Now, here are those positive vibes: 

Thank you so very much. I love cat people, all of you.
 

I thought I would let all of you know that today Nelly is doing well but has a lot of pain when she eats. She's taking pain medication every 12 hours. Her vet said she seems to be doing as expected for two days after surgery.

I've had to remember to not neglect my other baby, Rose through all this. She's pretty much trouble-free but needs love and attention too.