Need honest opinions.

[jenluckenbach]

As you know, I have a foster cat, Mr. Meow, who is being treated for cancer (lymphoma). No one has any ideas how this will affect him. Is it curable? Probably not! Is it treatable? To an extent. The vet feels that he can be kept comfortable for quite some time (but as I know first hand, sometimes the treatments don't work? i.e. Lucas)

So I was seeking opinions on whether you believe Mr. Meow should be placed up for adoption (as a cat with cancer) OR if he should simply remain in foster care.

Please do not let the fact that you feel he would do well
"HERE with me" sway your decision. To be honest, Mr. Meow was NOT SUPPOSE to be my foster. I was only the transporter, but the pick up was delayed. And then of course, he wasn't eating, and the rest is history. Try to think of him as just a shelter cat, one who deserves a home, love and care.

Would you place him for adoption or keep him in foster care??

[catmandu]

I would keep him in Foster Care Jen. To disrupt his life by placing him in a new home especially as he has this awful diseas might be detrimental. Unless its a place with people you trust who can give him more care that he might recieve in a home with so many other Cats.
Thats a tough one but my gut feeling is that Mr Meows in the best place in the World right now.

[catfamily]

He would be best adopted out.There are sooo many caring people out there that accually LOOK for cats like this to help give them their last days...full of love and it accually helps the owners through tough times too.It helps both sides feel good.Sometimes people just have that caring heart to help the worst off cats.
Only...I wouldn't put him in a cage to wait.I'd keep him at your place till adopted.I know being in a cage causes deep depression in animals.Cats especially because they have such high intelligence.
This of course is only if you cannot care for him at your place without him being in a cage.
Just an opinion because I know you have a lot on your hands right now.
I understand Gary's opinion too.

[Freedom]

Putting him up for adoption is only part of the puzzle.

How will applicants be reviewed? Will some one be looking at financial resource to be able to support his needs? Will you consider how near / far they live from a specialist?

In foster care, the cost of caring for him is spread out through all the donors. I think the best thing would be to keep him in foster care and look for some "angels" to sponsor him in a foster situation.

I also think he should stay put! Moving a cat from one home to another is stressful on the cat; but they adapt. Moving a cat with this type of illness could -- COULD, not WOULD - trigger all sorts of added problems.

Can he not only stay in foster care, but stay with you? Do you have the space for him? I sure hope so but if not, I think a diligent search should be made to place him ONCE in a furrever foster home.

[Craftlady]

I voted no.
To much disruption, he seems to be doing pretty good in your home right now and is comfortable. Also, the cost of taking care of a terminally animal is high. His chances I would think would be slim to none to be adoptable because of his illness.

[kuhio98]

I'd keep him in foster care -- unless he is going to have to be moved from home to home. I just think it would be less stress on him if he could stay in one place for the rest of his (hopefully) long life.

[G535]

I don't know. I would have adopted one like him if there were any available at our shelter. Obviously he needs someone willing to care for a special needs cat and it wouldn't be easy to pick the right person from any potential adopters.

[K & L]

Only if the adopters understand his needs and could provide for him financially. I just think it would be in his best interest to be able to remain in one household.

[Catty1]

Jen, I voted 'other' mostly because I didn't know his diagnosis was confirmed. It was thought it could be IBS or cancer.

If it is cancer...unless you can find a truly loving and caring furrever home for him, I'd say he should stay with you, if at all possible.

He loves you, you love him, he knows his home...and that all contributes to a longer and better life for him.

If he remains a foster, the rescue and your vet can give some breaks on costs and things...and you know most if not all PTrs would help Mr. Meow in any way possible. I would hope he would stay in your home, but that is your decision.

I just got onto PT tonight - so if his lymphoma is confirmed in another post...I am truly sad about that. :(

Just a thought - Craftlady has some knowledge about herbs for cats with cancer - and recommendations from a good holistic vet couldn't hurt.

Give that gorgeous boy a hug for me!

[jennielynn1970]

Like Candace, I didn't know that the cancer was confirmed. I thought it was just a "hunch" or whatever. How sad. When did the doctor confirm it??

I also voted other, because I had a few thoughts/reservations.

One.... will Joyce make the cat suffer and go on forever because she wants to save him?? Or will it be your choice, if it comes down to it, if he is suffering, to have a peaceful ending?

Secondly, will the family adopting him do so with the best of intentions and be able to provide for him? I know we like to think they will do what is best for them, but sometimes they just don't.

Thirdly, and I think this is so important, will Mr. Meow go through the "I'm not eating." deal again if he is moved and get sicker??? I know it will be hard on you to see this through if he just dies a slow death.

Whose foster was he supposed to be?? I remember the transport, but I don't know who was supposed to get him originally.

[Miss Z]

Putting him up for adoption is only part of the puzzle.

How will applicants be reviewed? Will some one be looking at financial resource to be able to support his needs? Will you consider how near / far they live from a specialist?

In foster care, the cost of caring for him is spread out through all the donors. I think the best thing would be to keep him in foster care and look for some "angels" to sponsor him in a foster situation.

I also think he should stay put! Moving a cat from one home to another is stressful on the cat; but they adapt. Moving a cat with this type of illness could -- COULD, not WOULD - trigger all sorts of added problems.

Can he not only stay in foster care, but stay with you? Do you have the space for him? I sure hope so but if not, I think a diligent search should be made to place him ONCE in a furrever foster home.

I agree, it would be difficult to be sure that a potential owner can definitely handle an ailing cat. In foster care, whether he remains with you or another foster carer, at least you can be safe in the knowledge that he is being cared for by highly experienced and cat-loving people.

[jenluckenbach]

Thanks for all the great opinions. It is so good to hear from others because even though I TRY to see both sides, I often miss things.

#1) No, cancer is not 100% confirmed. But it is easier to ask the question based on one fact and not a choice of diseases. And, as SAS can confirm, dealing with IBD is not a heck of a whole lot easier than dealing with terminal cancer.

#2) Mr. Meow, can and WILL stay here with me. I love him and he fits in with my cats 100%.

#3) As Jennie fears, our director Joyce tends to take the "no-kill" to the EXTREME! There is no way I would allow that to happen. While he is in my home he is my responsibility. I will be the one who knows him the best.

[kb2yjx]

Jen, I voted NO. I think Mr. Meow does not need to have his life(no matter how long it may be)be throw into a tizzy, having to readjust to another home. If he has the lymphoma, and is put on the prednisone, Mr. Meow willl have anyway from 45-60 days(give or take)until the end. That was the route I chose for Ralph. I couls not see subjecting him to several days a week at the vet for chemo and blood draws. I wanted a better quality of life for Ralph than that. However, if Mr. Meow has IBS, I think I would think my vote would remain the same. Leave him where he is happy and lovingly cared for. I hope that helps....Sandra

[Laura's Babies]

I voted no because he don't need the upset of having to adjust to new surroundings and new people. Moving him could cause him a lot of stress and make him sicker. He needs to feel secure, loved and safe to insure the best quality of life for the time he has left. Moving him could send him into a downward spiral that he wouldn't get out of.

[jazzcat]

Jen, I didn't vot just because I can't get past the thought that he would do best with you. ;) Sorry. I mean you've already made good progress with him, have him eating and you obviously care for him very much. I think he needs to stay put with you because moving him to either another foster home or even a forever home will just set him back and who knows how much more his body can take of not eating till he gets adjusted.

Guess I'm not much help.

[catfamily]

I guess I agree with everyone being the cat is best with you.I said he should be adopted because you have so much on your plate right now.But if you can't find anyone that really wants a sick cat.He should stay with you.But don't give up your search.You never know if someone super nice may come along and want to love that cat till he goes to the bridge.Maybe someone retired that has no other pets and home all the time.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I voted other even though I think he'll do the best with you.:) If there was a wonderful new family interested in him and they knew all of the facts about him and were also financially able to care for him then maybe this could be another solution. I sure hope that he doesn't have cancer.:(