My kitty has a tumor :(

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

Would you pay $100,000 to save your cat?

would you pay $100,000 to save your mom?

Should be more of a could, rather than would. However; I love how people use extremes when someone is willing to provide proper care for a pet.

Usually they will throw in something absurd like "so your pet is worth more than a human life?".

Most people that take care of their pets don't think an animal's life is more important than a human's. They'd probably go further into debt if they had too to save a parent vs a dog/cat though.

The real kicker to me is people here that say things like $500 and even $100 is too much money for a pet. I can easily drop $100 in just a dinner for two with drinks and $500 on stupid shit.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

Would you pay $100,000 to save your cat?

would you pay $100,000 to save your mom?

I wouldn't even pay $100,000 to save myself: IF I knew that the type of cancer I had would recur in the very near future and I'd only be extending my life for a couple months, if not weeks. I'd prefer that the money was spent to keep me comfortable in my last days and that I'd be able to die with my loved ones around me, and with my dignity, rather than exhaust every financial resource to artificially extend my life to the very last heartbeat, but significantly detract from the quality of the life.

I'd spend millions of dollars if I knew I'd be permanently cured from whatever ailment I had.

In other words: is $500 worth it to save a pet's life? Depends on the type of cancer and the age of the pet. i.e. more info needed to make such a decision (for me, anyhow. Then again, I wouldn't spend that much on my cats; I'm usually not that attached to cats, but I would, and have spent over $500 for a single procedure on a dog.)

OP, did the vet test the cat for feline leukemia? The test is simple, takes about 5 minutes, and only costs about $25. Even if a cat had the shots to prevent feline leukemia, if it was exposed as a kitten before it got the shots, then the shots are simply wasted money.

 

[Sust]

Sorry to hear about your cat, OP.
You would think that sticking a needle in to get a tissue sample wouldn't cost so much, but it turns out that a lot of training goes into it since going too far in any one direction in the x, y, or z direction could whack an organ that's sensitive to prodding by razor sharp needles. Plus if the person collecting the biopsy sample doesnt get a proper sampling of the tissue, you might get a false negative diagnosis and miss the cancer. Also I imagine it's tough to take a two dimensional fuzzy xray and extrapolate exactly where in 3-dimensional space that cancer might be in that cat's body(it's almost like "pin the tail on the donkey").

Having said that, I'm only familiar with humans, but tumors get staged and based on their staging, the oncologist or pathologist should be able to tell you what the prognosis looks like. In general, if it's only hit the local lymph nodes then it's not good, but if it's stepped ahead, metastasized, and moved elsewhere in the body then that's a major problem with poor prognosis most of the time.

Good luck

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

Would you pay $100,000 to save your cat?

would you pay $100,000 to save your mom?

Yes. My point is that there is no way she considers the pet to be the same as a human family member. I think I'd pay the $500 if I could afford it and I knew it would give me many years with the cat, and not just a few weeks.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

Some people get really attached to pets. I'd give $500 in a heartbeat, but I am financially able to do so.

OP, is it just a financial burden for you to get your cat fixed up?

 

[CorCentral]

I feel for you.


The wife and I have 7 cats and would hate to lose one. Well for me it would be, I would like to give one of them away. (white numbnut)

The oldest is 14 now and believe it or not, she plays and chases things more than the two youngest at 1 and 2 years old.

She's the QUEEN CALICO BITCH! (Bitch=STRONG in this case) She's the best cat I've ever seen.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: amdhunter

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

Some people get really attached to pets. I'd give $500 in a heartbeat, but I am financially able to do so.

OP, is it just a financial burden for you to get your cat fixed up?

Ya it just comes down to the financial sense of it all; at this time that would be a lot for me. I can imagine paying for it in the future once I'm out of school and working full time; and if it were a cat like her I would because she's always been really nice; but ah well that's life. Also since I'm at school and she's at home I only see her about once/year over Christmas.

Vet didn't test for feline lukemia; or extract any from the tissue; I didn't even think of any of that stuff~ not a biologist/anywhere near it. Maybe it'll turn out like her son's (lol a cat's son? right wordage?) heart murmur, we decided eh he's a cool cat but it's not a huge deal; and he's been fine with it all these years.

The insurance definitely sounds like a good idea; I'll look into that in the future once I settle down in my own place.

Location of the tumor is down almost in between her legs; a little on the left when looking from the top. Like breast cancer or something.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Yes. My point is that there is no way she considers the pet to be the same as a human family member. I think I'd pay the $500 if I could afford it and I knew it would give me many years with the cat, and not just a few weeks.

Well, there are no guarantees in life, save taxes and death. You can cheat both, but you cannot escape either the collector, or the reaper. They are in essence, the same beast.
Let's hope no one uses your own criteria on you.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what I do with pets.

FIXED it for you.
The troll factor is high when one posts in such a contrarian manner.

 

[Aquila76]

Sorry to hear that. My old cat was put down a few years ago under similar circumstances. She developed some kind of tumor in her jawbone and couldn't eat or drink.
Hope yours fares better.

 

[AAman]

My cat has had a tumor on her side since August 2006- biopsy results were 1 in 500 chance of malignancy. Surgery would start at $1000 just for the anesthesiologist (she was diagnosed with feline diabetes at the same time) and there would be a high chance of kidney failure and death even then. I'd pay it if it was malignant and her only chance...but heck, after 18-19 years, she's like a kid to me. Just make the choice that is really best for the animal, and that you can truly afford.