Cat has lymphoma and three months max

Mayflower10cat

This is such a sad thread - I'm very sorry for you and your poor cat. We also had an FiV+ cat who was well for many years until being diagnosed with Lymphoma. He had a growth behind his right eye that we 'hoped' would prove to be a primary - after a huge amount of heartsearching, we opted to remove the tumour & his eye to hopefully give him the best chance. We were advised that due to his FiV status, he wasn't a suitable patient for Chemo. We also went for the palliative care route - as it was the only option. He was an anti-inflammatory and also had some shots of Rimadyl when it was obvious he was in pain - sadly we lost him only a month after the operation. I have beaten myself up about this over the years - I feel we didn't buy him any more time and put him through a serious operation that made his last few weeks more uncomfortable than we'd have wanted.

I sympathise with you deeply. Certainly remembering how our Sam was, he was well right up until his penultimate day. Suddenly he was stumbling and confused, so we knew very quickly that it was 'time'.
Make sure you talk about pain relief with your vet and also how you'll know when to make that so sad last call.

Sun_Addict

Hi TBeckett

I am going through the same as you as I took my 16 year old cat to the vet yesterday as he had a bite on his tail from fighting. She examined him and told me he had a very large mass in his abdomen which is most likely a tumour and common in older cats. She seems very keen to "open him up" to have a look and possibly remove this tumour but he is so active and well at the moment I don't think I would be doing the right thing by agreeing to this surgery. At his age I don't think I'm going to be buying him much extra time even if this tumour can be removed. She did say that if they find his cancer is extensive they probably would not bring him back round after the op. She has given me a week to decide what to do but in my heart I know it would be best to just leave him alone and let nature take its course. It's hard but I really don't want to put him through this at his age particularly when he's so lively and active at the moment and showing no signs of there being anything wrong with him. It was such as shock as if he hadn't got this bite on his tail I would never have known about the lump. Why do we get so attached to the little devils?

All the best.

TBeckett100

I am sorry to say our cat only made it 8 days past diagnosis. We went with option 1 (the pills) which perked him right up, eating like a horse etc. Sadly on Sat night he went out the front and I found him in the neigbours garden sat in the wet grass 11am Sunday. He didnt try to get up and I knew that given how wet he was from the dew, he hadnt moved all night.

I picked him up and he started howling so I had no choice but to take him to the vet. He rejected food which was a sign. The vet offered to give hima stronger jab but the outcome will always be the same so I decided as I had pysched myself up, to go ahead with it (i watched Casualty the night before and that was much along the same line). It was very peaceful and I think i sobbed all the way home. The guilty part was being the one to make the decision and to drive him to his end. I kept thinking this will be his last view of the outside world etc. it was so horrible.

anyway, what is done is done. I just hope there is kitty heaven.

~Chameleon~

I'm so sorry for your loss but for what it's worth I think you did exactly the right thing. Your cat was very lucky to have found you having had such a horrible start to life, take comfort from knowing you did your very best for him. Take care xx

Dizzy_Ditzy

I am so sorry to hear that. I have a tear in my eye now just reading your post.

I know its a cliche, but you know that he is no longer suffering and while it hurts, you know it was the right, and responsible thing to do

Thinking of you x

calmspirit

oh I am so sorry to hear that..............sending hugs xxxxxxxxx

Skippycat

So very sorry to hear your news. Losing a pet is heartbreaking. You made the right decision though and at least kitty isn't in any more pain xxx

InaPickle

Sorry to hear that, but I hope the knowledge that you did the right thing is a comfort to you.

May your cat have the comfiest cloud bed in cat heaven. x

Sun_Addict

So so sorry to hear your sad news. I hope I'm as brave as you when the time comes for my cat. We get so attached to them and forget they're only with us for a short time. My heart goes out to you.

pimento

We went for Option 3 back in 1991. It was my first cat and she was my baby.

It was three days before Christmas and I was totally gutted. My husband said "how about we take her home for one last night?" but the thought of having to take her back the next day to be put to sleep was just too much. So I took the vet's advice and she was put to sleep in my arms. We then drove to my parents house and buried her in the garden because we didn't have a garden at the time.

It still reduces me to tears all this time later and I always remember the anniversary. We've had other cats since and they have lived and died, but nothing hurt as much as the first time.

And yes, there is a kitty heaven.