Dumb question on a cat

[newbury]

So are human beings. Little more paperwork and training though.

Yeah, but it's not easy to train a cat.

 

[Sigarms]

Yeah, but it's not easy to train a cat.

Sometimes though much easier with a dog.

Adopt a dog or cat, it's all on you. Adpot a child and the state pays you until they are 18. Of course money has nothing to do with why we did anything in the first place, but I did find it sadly ironic.

End of the day, one school of thought is pets are disposable. Another thought is they are part of your "pack" (AKA family). Better or worse, we are of the latter.

 

[ericm979]

A good inside / outside cat

We've grown very fond of the guy as he reminds me of a cat I had in my youth that thinks he's a dog. Get's along fine with all the dogs and one of the few cats that actually plays fetch. Been with us 3 years now found him as a kitten out with a walk with the wife.

If it was me there'd be no question of getting the surgery if the cat needs it, especially if I liked the cat as much as you seem to. He plays fetch with you! That's rare.

He's only about four years old. That's far from old age. Poor guy's going to be in pain for a lot of his life if it goes untreated. You could at least do what you can for him.

 

[Oaktree]

End of the day, one school of thought is pets are disposable. Another thought is they are part of your "pack" (AKA family). Better or worse, we are of the latter.

I'm somewhere in the middle on that. Absolutely if you take in an animal, you're responsible for its well-being...food, shelter, medical care if necessary, etc. but I don't go overboard. The "dog is my best friend" thing escapes me.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm somewhere in the middle on that. Absolutely if you take in an animal, you're responsible for its well-being...food, shelter, medical care if necessary, etc. but I don't go overboard. The "dog is my best friend" thing escapes me.

I get it, I do. Never like taking the last trip to the vets with one of my animals (cats and dog).

What I can't figure out is why when it's time to humanely put your pet down, I couldn't do the same with both my parents. I was blessed however in that they both went quick and didn't have to spend weeks in a hospital bed and keeping a person alive when they have no hope of recovering, escapes me.

 

[Sigarms]

If it was me there'd be no question of getting the surgery if the cat needs it, especially if I liked the cat as much as you seem to. He plays fetch with you! That's rare.

He's only about four years old. That's far from old age. Poor guy's going to be in pain for a lot of his life if it goes untreated. You could at least do what you can for him.

Looking up the cost of the procedure online, it seems more than doable.

BUT, this is a inside outside cat who likes to spend his summer nights outside. There is always a chance doesn't come back from outside. We had another cat like him, and as she got older, the less she wanted to be outside.

The added question is where do you draw the line in the cost for animal care? 3K? 5K? 10?

Like I said, never in this position before and hearing "ACL" was kind of mind blowing for a cat.

 

[Thomas]

If limping good sign maybe recovery...give the cat some time.

 

[Sigarms]

If limping good sign maybe recovery...give the cat some time.

Oh we will. He just doesn't like to be kept in the bedroom now.

I'll see how it plays out, but I also need to have a plan for worse case scenario. My wife always says I see the glass half empty. I tell her I just like to plan for worst case scenario so if it happens, I'm ready.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not a cat but both of my dogs had the procedure... my last one had to have both knees rebuilt after hanging himself by the hind legs.

They each recovered well and continued to go with me for 12 & 5 years, although eventually developing arthritis.

 

[Sigarms]

Not a cat but both of my dogs had the procedure... my last one had to have both knees rebuilt after hanging himself by the hind legs.

They each recovered well and continued to go with me for 12 & 5 years, although eventually developing arthritis.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[2manyrocks]

Someone already mentioned this, but the lifespan of an outdoor cat tends not to be that long. If it's a cat that you like or you invest a chunk of money into, I'd keep him indoors from now on whether he likes it or not. He'll get used to it.

 

[Sigarms]

Someone already mentioned this, but the lifespan of an outdoor cat tends not to be that long. If it's a cat that you like or you invest a chunk of money into, I'd keep him indoors from now on whether he likes it or not. He'll get used to it.

Although he spends time outside, he also spends as much time inside the house with the dogs. Hes' the only cat we've had in 20 years that actually gets along with all the dogs and isn't afraid of them LOL Dogs generally are always under supervision outside unless their in the fenced in area, the cat isn't.

However, I do see your point.

 

[ning]

I had a cat that had a limp. Wasn't getting better, wasn't getting worse. Vet did x-rays, found calcifications.

Suggested amputation.

I left, f*ck that. The limp wasn't keeping him from running and it wasn't even constantly there.

I lost him the next year to cancer, so I can't say how the limp would've played out.

 

[ericm979]

BUT, this is a inside outside cat who likes to spend his summer nights outside. There is always a chance doesn't come back from outside. We had another cat like him, and as she got older, the less she wanted to be outside.

We had the toughest outside cat I've ever seen. She had bulging muscles! I've never seen that on a cat. She'd bring home two rabbits at a time and eat them both. We thought that she'd never handle being an indoor only cat. Something grabbed her and she barely made it home. We took her to the vet, they fixed her up and we kept her inside. She didn't seem to mind it as long as we gave her enough attention. She ended up making it to age 17. All cats are great but she was pretty special.

So maybe it'd work. It really depends on the cat. One of the cats we have now hurt himself jumping down from a high place he shouldn't have been on, and after healing up he was still trying to get up on high places. He's sweet but kind of dumb.

 

[Jstpssng]

OTOH I don't know about cats but have seen many dogs get along with only 3 legs; often you notice it runs funny before noticing it is missing a limb. Usually it's from being hit by a car.

 

[etpm]

Oh we will. He just doesn't like to be kept in the bedroom now.

I'll see how it plays out, but I also need to have a plan for worse case scenario. My wife always says I see the glass half empty. I tell her I just like to plan for worst case scenario so if it happens, I'm ready.

When my brother had his cat's ACL done the cat had to stay indoors and kept from jumping for several weeks. His cat really liked jumping up to and off of high places and the vet figured this is what caused the ACL injury in the first place.

 

[Sigarms]

She didn't seem to mind it as long as we gave her enough attention.

We're "down" to 5 dogs and 2 cats. Honestly, it's hard to give everyone single undivided attention for any amount of time before the others get jealous LOL

That said, if the cat comes in at night, he's generally the only one who sleeps in our bedroom.

He already doesn't like it when we let the dogs out and he's stuck in the bedroom.

 

[newbury]

I tell her I just like to plan for worst case scenario so if it happens, I'm ready.

One of my mottos is "plan for the worst, hope for the best and you'll usually come out ok" (Lee Childs dyslexia'd)

 

[Oaktree]

Someone already mentioned this, but the lifespan of an outdoor cat tends not to be that long. If it's a cat that you like or you invest a chunk of money into, I'd keep him indoors from now on whether he likes it or not. He'll get used to it.

I see your point, but all my cats have always enjoyed being outside and I'm not sure I'd want to deprive them of that. Their independence is a lot of what I like about cats, dogs just need too much attention for my liking.
Females seem to do better in that regard, even if they're "fixed" males tend to wander further from the house and that makes them easier prey. Current one is quite "street smart".

 

[2manyrocks]

If they get in a fight with another cat infected with FIV or get attacked by a stray dog, it's not good for the cat.