I have a cat I hate. Never liked her, never wanted her, she just wouldn’t go away 13 years ago so I feed her and give her a place to live but she irrtates the hell out of me, I have almost no affection for her, she’s destructive, and I just really don’t give a shit about her in any way more than I care about all animal suffering in a generic way. I have no intention of ever spending big bucks to keep her alive if she comes down with something serious, I will only do what is necessary to ease any suffering.
In that vein, she has had really crappy scabby skin for quite some time, and it has finally become obvious that it’s unpleasant for her. So my hunny took her to the vet to find out what the minimum is we could do to keep her comfortable. Vet reports that she has allergies and gave a shot and antibiotics, for $100.
However, the vet says her teeth are rotting out of her head and she has a plug in her ear that needs removing. The teeth could lead to infection, the ear, I don’t know. But to deal with either, she would need anesthesia and the tests needed to see if she could survive it (she’s about 13 or 14 I think) are $190. Then the anesthesia and treatment would be another $2-300.
I don’t want to spend this money. I don’t like this cat. Part of me feels like we should just take our chances and if her teeth give her an infection, we’ll give her antibiotics or take that opportunity to put her down.
Before anyone tells me to giver her to someone who cares, or asks me why I never did that: I tried. No one wanted her. Now she’s definitely too old and too decrepit, so she remains my responsibility.
So…you’re me. What do you do? Oh, and you’re kinda brokish with tons of debt, and your DOGS, whom you adore beyond the telling of it, have allergies and epilepsy and average $100-$200 worth of vet bills monthly.
Would the vet advise you on what to do if you give them the same information ( maybe toaned down, like ‘I can’t afford my dogs and cats medication, and the cat is realy just a stray that I feed because I can, what can be done for the cat if I relinquish ownership of it?’ )?
I don’t think you owe this cat anymore than a stray you find on the street.
I think I’d do something before the teeth got infected, even if that means putting her down now. I know people don’t like the thought of that, and they probably shouldn’t, but you’re going to like it even less when she’s crazy in pain from the infection, making all kinds of noise, and probably won’t let you near enough to catch her to take her to the vet to get it taken care of.
If you give her up to a shelter, she’d probably meet the same fate after weeks of being locked in a little metal cage with a bunch of other howling cats. And if she’s old and ugly and scabby and ill-tempered, no one will want her and she’ll just be taking up space.
I think in this case, it might be more humane to just have her put down. It’s not like she’s a cat in the prime of her life or a cat that you adore…and really, I think it’s the infected teeth thing that gets me most of all. If you’re not willing to pay the money, don’t condemn her to that pain.
Stoid, after thinking about this, and my first thought was a no-kill shelter, I think I have to agree with pepperlandgirl. For the reasons she stated, this cat’s not going to be adopted by anybody (well, maybe a crazy cat lady).
You’ve given the cat a home for 13 years, which is a full life for a cat, and if you can’t easily afford to fix her health problems (which will likely multiply) and you know her teeth are likely to become infected, which will be painful, then putting her down is probably the most humane course of action.
I’ve had to be a participant in arranging the planned deaths of pets before, and I think it’s normal to feel a little uncomfortable with it. But I accepted that it really was the best thing. You might let it go until the health deteriorates a bit more, but once she’s obviously starting to suffer go ahead with it.
I agree that it would be much more humane to put her down now than put her in any shelter. Even the nicest shelter is a very stressfull place for animals, and an old cat with skin allergies is likely to suffer greatly from all the upheaval.
I sort of hate to say it, but I agree with all the other posters. You’ve given this cat the best life she could reasonably expect. You have been a responsible pet owner, even when you had no attachment to her. Having her put down when her health fails and not bankrupting yourself is an okay option.
Either put her down, or take her to shelter, where she’ll be classed as unadoptable and put down immediately. (Yes, shelters do that–they’re always short on cage space, money, and supplies, and they cull the seriously unhealthy or unfriendly animals rather than wasting their limited resources on unadoptables. This allows them to give the healthy, friendly animals more time to find homes, and I’m all for it. Anything that reduces the number of healthy, friendly animals being euthanized is a good thing in my book.)
I had a cat I felt almost the same way about. The only affection I had, was based on her 13 years of companionship. After paying hundreds of dollars for various treatments, and waiting for her to die of old age, I finally had her put down when she peed on a new couch.
Me too. Cat I never liked. Got stuck with her in my divorce. Horrid personality. Very bitchy cat. Tried to give her away, but no one who knew her would take her.
Moved into a new house and she did the litterbox avoidence thing. Tried to train her out of it. Put up with it for a while. Then we were going to have a baby in the house. Litterbox problems and a baby don’t mix. We put her down. She was thirteen years old - an incredibly long life for a bitchy cat.
It’s sounds to me like you’ve given the cat a good home for 13 years but now her health is failing. She isn’t closely bonded with people so prolonged, drastic medical treatments would be miserable for her in their own right. Sometimes sick animals can draw comfort from humans during illness but she ain’t one of 'em. Her underlying problem–old age–can’t be cured.
My opinion? Let her go peacefully.
Pay the Vet all that is required to keep the cat alive and comfortable for the rest of her natural life. There is no value in you deciding which cats live and which cats are killed for your convenience. You are being judgemental in deciding if the cat deserves to live or die. If you like making those types of judgement, good luck when other inconveniences, such as a not-so-compliant spouse, arise.
You have obligations - be aware of them. You are a steward, not an owner.
If we all disposed so conveniently of all that is ugly in our lives, we would live a sterile existance indeed.
Sorry I can’t cut you a check, Stoid, but I agree. Despite the good things you’ve done for this cat in the past, the rationales you’re giving don’t sit right with me. Having her put down because you don’t like her and don’t want to pay the vet sounds wrong. [It would be different if the bills were very expensive and the ailments more serious.] Ditto waiting for an infection and ‘taking that opportunity to put her down.’
I have to say I agree with the last two posts. I also have to say I don’t like cats, so I can relate to how you are feeling.
After 13 years you owe this old sod a chance. Pay the bill. Cost and convenience are not reasons for euthanasia. After thiteen years an animal really is entitled to more consideration…shit I have realtives I don’t like, I’m not going to have them put down though. You know if you don’t give the moggy a chance to survive you will feel worse.
If it is any consulation I have 2 moggies cause the child wanted them. They are only young and I will have to put up with them for eons…and I really want a dog, hopefully one who eats moggies
Did you notice the OP mentionned she had not the money needed to do so? Do you volunteer to pay for her?
Seems she decided to let her live by feeding her for years despite not loving her and not having any obligation to her at the first place. Now, I assume she shouldn’t have decided that this cat should live and she should have let it starve.
Of course she still ca
If you like making those types of judgement, good luck when other inconveniences, such as a not-so-compliant spouse, arise.
You have obligations - be aware of them. You are a steward, not an owner.
If we all disposed so conveniently of all that is ugly in our lives, we would live a sterile existance indeed.
[/QUOTE]
Did you notice the OP mentionned she had not the money needed to do so? Do you volunteer to pay for her?
Seems she decided to let her live by feeding her for years despite not loving her and not having any obligation to her at the first place. Now, I assume she shouldn’t have decided that this cat should live and she should have let it starve.
Of course she still can still change her mind, not decide which cat should live or die and put the cat back in the situation she found her : out of her house.
And these obligations stem from what exactly? From the fact she fed a random cat that she didn’t even liked at the first place? You’re right. She was too soft hearted! She should pay. It will teach her!
And this is precisely what she didn’t do. She kept the ugly thing for thirteen years instead of disposing of her or letting her starve.
But as a previous poster stated, I assume you’re free to send her a cheque to pay for the shiping of the cat to someone who won’t dispose conveniently of the animal, but rather will spend a couple thousands dollars on her. Like you, for instance. And you’l get the better part : the OP took care of a cat she didn’t care about for 13 years. You’ll only have to do the same for some months or a couple year at best (worst?).
