# Vet reluctant to euthanize my cat **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905 "2015-11-29T03:33:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/1 "2015-11-29T03:33:35Z")
My cat is somewhere around 18 years old. I’ve had him for 17+ years, so at least 17.5 years old. He’s had hip problems for 15 years. He has had urinary tract problems requiring catheterizations. He has required expensive prescription food for the past 5-6 years. We’ve spent somewhere around 5-7K on him over the years, so clearly this is a cat that we care about and want to keep alive. Now, he has had severe dental problems resulting in abscesses that require antibiotic treatment. It was once a year, then twice a year, now it’s been every 2-3 months. The vet has been pushing us for serious dental work to fix the problem (estimate of 1700-2300) requiring general anesthesia. We’ve been reluctant to do this because this is very expensive, the anesthesia alone could kill him, it would be extremely unpleasant for him and frankly at 18 years old and not able to walk all that well anymore, he is unlikely to last very long. So, we’ve been doing the antibiotic course (at 350 dollars every time this arises, which is now about every two months). So, my wife and I decided to have him euthanized. The vet, knowing his history and age, is refusing to euthanize my “healthy” cat. This is a vet that we’ve been using for almost ten years (we moved cross country with the cat around then). I guess the implication is that we are cheapskates or something. But, this was not a rash decision, and I can’t believe that the vet would question us in any way on this. Is this uncommon? Am I a monster here? I get that he could theoretically be treated, but I’d rather do this a few months too early, than a few months too late. Even without the tooth problems, he is pretty clearly having a rough time as he hits old, old age. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/2 "2015-11-29T03:55:17Z")
Sometimes vets just lose perspective. I don’t know if your vet is just greedy or optimistic, but your decision seems quite rational to me. I’m sorry about the situation. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/3 "2015-11-29T03:59:26Z")
Sounds like it’s time for a second opinion. Unless this is the only vet for 100 miles, you can find another one relatively easily. Now, if that second vet says you should keep Fluffy around, then you might need to reconsider. But, while you didn’t make the choice I would have, I understand your choice and think it’s a bit silly for the vet to disagree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/4 "2015-11-29T05:09:08Z")
I understand your decision. It doesn’t sound like your cat’s quality of life is very good right now. Given his age, surgery with anesthesia can be risky. Find another vet. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/5 "2015-11-29T05:19:44Z")
Hell, if I had that collection of health problems, I’d want **me** to be euthanized! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/6 "2015-11-29T06:33:34Z")
Find another vet. NOW It is difficult enough to make your decision. Getting any pushback from the vet is obscene. Find a vet who isn’t making money on the poor creature’s problems. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/7 "2015-11-29T06:39:34Z")
I am a total cat person and animal lover in general, and I cannot possibly understand why your vet would have this attitude. Quality of life is everything. In all seriousness, is your vet old and senile?!? Cause I got nothin’… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/8 "2015-11-29T06:41:33Z")
This seriously pisses me off! By rights, you shouldn’t need any reason whatsoever to ask to have your pet put down, but given the health of your kitteh, and the financial stuff you’ve already (and will continue to) encounter/ed, your vet is right out of line advising you anything at all! As others have advised, find another vet. And make sure your local community hears about your current one and his unethical med practice! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/9 "2015-11-29T09:08:00Z")
What you’re going through is such a gut-wrenching experience anyway, what you don’t need is a vet contradicting your decision. Find another vet, and have him/her humanely put your cat down. You are doing the right thing, for you and your cat. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/10 "2015-11-29T12:49:22Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The vet has been pushing us for serious dental work to fix the problem (estimate of 1700-2300) requiring general anesthesia. That right there is a perfectly ethical justification for euthanasia. If it were unethical to euthanize a cat that needs $2000 of dental work, the vet should donate his services for free. Because, ethics. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/11 "2015-11-29T13:09:47Z")
I think your vet is an ass. I’m so sorry you not only had to make this very very hard decision but now have to defend it. You are doing the right thing for your kitty. Do not second-guess yourself. I hope you can find a compassionate vet. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/12 "2015-11-29T14:43:13Z")
We did finally convince the vet to do the euthanasia, though he required a cooling off period. In the end, that gave the kids a few hours to say goodbye, but I do resent the requirement. No more male cats! The vet bills on this one (and his brother who died a few years back) due to urinary blockages were astronomical. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/13 "2015-11-29T14:58:09Z")
I’m sorry it was time to put your cat down, and that you had some problems convincing your vet. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/14 "2015-11-29T18:46:54Z")
I think that you sound like a very responsible pet owner, and I’m sorry that the immensely sad experience of saying goodbye to your pet was made even worse by the behavior of your vet. If that happened to me, my trust would be broken and I’d definitely find a new one for any future pets. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/15 "2015-11-29T20:07:11Z")
I’m very sorry about your cat And even sorrier about your vet. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/16 "2015-11-29T20:13:24Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > We did finally convince the vet to do the euthanasia, though he required a cooling off period. In the end, that gave the kids a few hours to say goodbye, but I do resent the requirement. > > No more male cats! The vet bills on this one (and his brother who died a few years back) due to urinary blockages were astronomical. Before you get another cat, GET ANOTHER VET. If you’re up for a fight, report this one’s actions to the licensing organization, YELP, and any other forum. Do not post it here - the Powers That Be here are quite strict about bring outside problems here. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/17 "2015-11-29T21:00:12Z")
I’m sorry that you had to lose your kitty and that your vet had to make a courageous choice so difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/18 "2015-11-29T21:02:04Z")
Time for a new vet. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/19 "2015-11-29T21:35:54Z")
Not many people will spend the kind of money that you have on a pet. I almost feel like your vet saw your cat as a cash cow. I really hope I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905/20 "2015-11-30T01:08:15Z")
Not to belabor the point, but beside manner is probably the single **most** important quality in a veterinarian. Ten times more so than even for a human physician because vets \*always \*have to speak on the animal’s behalf. Nothing would sour me quicker on a vet than them not being _extremely_ selfless and empathetic… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vet-reluctant-to-euthanize-my-cat/738905.md?page=2)