Dreading vet tomorrow.

Hi everyone.

I am taking my 16 year old cat to the vet tomorrow, but I fear the news maybe bad and maybe we wont come home with him.  Our old dude has been with us through thick and thin, but lately I have spotted lumps, like warts, on the tips of his white ear.  I gather cancer could be the main suspect.  He has been sleepy and tired lately, I put that down to old age. But to my horror, last week I spotted his eye (the same side as bad ear) seems to have a white-ish film over it.  And on a couple of occasions have seen him 'gulping' at his food.  Although his appetite is still great. Anybody been through the same?  Many thanks.

I'm so sorry to hear your old man is having issues. I don't know what could be going on, but keep us posted on what the vet says.

Sending lots of vibes! 

The whitish film over his eye could just be a cataract.    sounds like what people get, and I know for  a fact that cats get them too. 

A good appetite is a good sign.  If it IS cancer on his ear, then you can discuss the options.  Surgery is always a possibility I would think.  Better an extremely than internally, I would imagine.

Thank you folks for your replies, I really appreciate that.  Things seem worse than I expected, yes with one glance the vet was positive that there is cancer on the ear, then looked inside his ear which was extremely painful and bled when touched.  Even worse was his eye, when the vet pressed underneath the eye, my poor cat was hysterical.  I didn't realize his eye was as bad as I hadn't pressed like that.  The vet believes the cancer is behind his eye also.  As for treatment, he was given strong steroids, antibiotics and ear drops.  He is to be treated every month with this.  I knew that treatment of the cancer itself is not an option, they told me that he wouldn't survive an operation, and it is likely that his kidneys/liver is already failing.  He seems in good (ish) spirits though, still eating and drinking, and even spotted him chasing a bird yesterday.  I don't know how long he has left, I will attend vet every month and will monitor everything, and I know as soon as I see him refuse his food, then I will have to make the choice that none of us want to do.  I haven't really sat to think about it all this evening, cant really let that emotion in yet, as I feel a knot in my stomach everytime I consider whats going to happen in the next few months.  I do believe if I start crying, I wont be able to stop.  I, like most of us pet owners, have lost many pets through out my life, but this old man holds such a special place in my heart.  xxx

I'm so sorry for the bad news.     Surgery is risky for a senior of his age. Otherwise, removal of the eye and ear could be explored. You may want to discuss pain management with your vet. If he reacted in such a way when the eye was touched, I suspect that he is in pain. I am not a vet, but I do believe strongly in pain management from a humane perspective when the situation warrants such. It would at least keep him comfortable.

Enjoy what time you have left of your dear fellow and spoil him rotten. Do pop in from time-to-time if/when you need support. All of us love our kitties so much, so we understand how you feel.   

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that it IS cancer, and that they think it's behind his eye as well.    But it's great that he does still seem to be enjoying life, chasing birds and what not .  As long as he's doing that, then he's probably  not suffering .  I imagine the steroids will help with pain, but as Go Holistic indicated, perhaps additional painkillers can be obtained if needed.

Be strong for your little old man 

What @GoHolistic  said. Enjoy your time together.