An update on Miles (Will Pitt's cat and mine)

[Raven]

Will wrote about Miles here a week or so ago. I'm not sure if he mentioned that she has a terminal cancer (a tumor in her mouth) and kidney damage. The Vet gave me two options: give her some sort of a human cancer drug adapted for animals that might, I say might, slow the cancer down but would probably further damage her kidneys. The other option was to give her morphine. When I suggested that the third option was putting this 21 year old friend to sleep, he would not hear of it.

I thought long and hard about this and decided that I would take neither of the options he gave me. I could not see giving her a drug that would do more damage to her kidneys and I could not see giving her morphine and putting her into a stupor. I decided to leave things as they are. She has had a round of antibiotics which seems to have cleared up the kidney infection. She has special cat food that is the consistency of baby food and she is eating like a horse. She is jumping again and messing around with the other animals here. She is purring....she is purring.

I am going to take this one day at a time and I told the Vet as much. I also told him that when the person who has been with Miles everyday for the last 21 years decides that she has had enough, that will be it. No discussion, no pushing unnecessary treatments. Enough for my beloved Miles.

When this is over, I'm pulling my 2 dogs and 1 cat from this Vet and going elsewhere.

[rug]

1. Good for you.

Let her purr and give her ice cream as long as she can.

[trof]

2. Yeah, get a new vet.

I don't understand his attitude at all.
$$$$ ?
It's tough enough to make that decision without a supportive vet.
I've been through this scenario 4 times and it never gets easier.

Each time I've asked our vet "What would you do if it was YOUR dog/cat?"
When it's hopeless, there's no need to let your pet linger because you're too selfish to let them go painlessly.

Glad your kitty is doing better now.
Good luck.

[Redstone]

3. We went through this with our dog. We decided to let Nature take

its course - the medication would have only given her another four months or so.

My best wishes to you guys and Miles.

Redstone

[Brickbat]

4. My vets know where my dogs stand with me, and are comfortable with the level of care I'm willing to

pay for and expect from them. It's a hard and sometimes awkward conversation to have, but I recommend pet owners have this talk during routine exams, not when things start going bad or there's an emergency.

[kimi]

5. Best wishes to your kitty

It ought to be your decision, anyway. You are the ones who know a companion best, my goodness, certainly after 21 years.

Take care and enjoy her days. Hugs.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear Raven...

I applaud your thinking and your actions. Your vet sounds simply nuts...

I definitely concur that it's time for a new Vet after Miles is gone.

Good riddance to that Vet...

And safe, sane passage to Miles!

:hug:

[Demoiselle]

7. Purring and playing well with others...very good signs.

Trust yourself on this one...it sounds like you have a very good sense of Miles, and I know you'll make the right decision. All the best and give Miles a gentle pat for me.

[applegrove]

8. Just remember that cats sometimes purr when they are in pain. Don't know why but they do.

[knowbody0]

9. my kali is 20 this year

also playful, eats like a horse. she can't see very well and cannot always remember who she is or why she is this particular room, or why she's outside again. now and again her breathing is so shallow i must touch her to be sure she's still with us. she has been the guardian of our home for so long I cannot imagine what it will be like without her.

be well, Miles,

love,

Kali kookoo