I hope, for both your sakes, that this is not what my RB kitty Tier experienced.
Tier was a happy, friendly, wonderful, nine month old kitten. Then, on June 21st of 2005, my husband (then boyfriend) returned to our apartment after work and dropping me off at my parents house. He noticed Tier was dragging his back left foot and thought that maybe he had just stubbed it (). But, when he petted him, Tier SCREAMED.
The next day, I came over and was looking for him. We couldn't find him! I looked behind the fridge and there was my boy. I picked him up and put him on the floor and he was completely unable to move his hind end so it was dragging on the ground.I *immediately* called my mom because she is always able to give me (free!) advice and lets me know if I need to take someone in. So she had me check his litterbox - no recent potty breaks (and you could tell because it was a fresh complete change). She had me entice him with some nice stinky wet food, wouldn't touch it, some raw hamburger (Troy was in the middle of making burgers for himself), still wouldn't touch it. Then she gave me a "hmm" and told me that I needed to take him in. So, I lined his carrier with a couple of towels and put my precious boy inside.
We had called the vet and told them we were coming in. So, we got the the vet and we immediately were ushered into the exam room. We got asked questions. The vet thought that because he wasn't peeing, and he couldn't get any out, that he was blocked. Then, he pressed some more and it just came out. He pinched his tail with some hemostats, nothin. We talked some more and decided to have X rays done. The vet said that it could either be a bacterial infection or something else and "We might want to consider putting him to sleep." I couldn't do that to him. Not without knowing what was wrong and that euthanasia was justifiable.
We went home. There were lots of calls between the vets, my parents, and us. We all talked and talked. I decided that I would only send Tier to the RB if it was the best option for him. [I'd just like to say that we took them to Pendleton Veterinary Clinic, our vet, and not the shoddy Riverside Animal Hospital. They are the only two in town]
The next day (the 23rd), we got a call from the vet for us to come in. We looked at the x ray and the vet told us that it wasn't a bacterial infection. Tier had suffered some nerve pinching and damage and spinal damage. He said it was so severe that it was like Tier had broken his back without actually snapping any bones. He said that he had emptied Tiers bladder several times but it would immediately fill back up. The vet had also said that he had taken the hemostats and clamped down on Tiers tail as hard as he possibly could and Tier showed no reaction. So, his tail was dead. So, the vet explained the surgery to us. He said that there was NO guarantee that it would work and it was actually less likely to work, something like forty percent. In the event that it DID work there was still the possibility of recurring problems and limping. He said that we would have had his tail amputated because it would have rotted and fell off. The vet also said that we would have had to help him potty every time, every day, for the rest of his life. He said that Tier would basically be living the life of an old man and he would become depressed and miserable (as he probably wouldnt be able to play either) He said, in short: Tier was in an EXCRUCIATING amount of pain, incontinent, had a broken back, a dead tail, etc, and that if it was *his* cat then he would put him to sleep. He had given Tier a good painkiller so he was pretty content at that moment. He also told us that the surgery was very expensive ($3000 +). I would have done ANYTHING for my boy but the vet and Troy and my mother all reasoned and explained the euthanasia was THE most humane option for him. I had no legs left to stand on.
So, Troy and I stared at each other. I couldn't sign the papers but he did. Then, another tech brought us into "the room" (an area where they hold animals, next to the exam rooms. They were also the dog pound!). She asked us if we wanted to hold him one last time. I didn't do it, I don't know why. Probably my acknowledgement of the looming grief. It was selfish, as I am sure Tier wanted to say good bye. Troy did want to hold him, though, and I petted him. We walked back to the exam room and he put him on the table. I was already crying and pleading. I was petting him while everything was being prepped. The vet was doing the deed and I was practically on the ground, in tears, and because of this the techs started crying and had to leave the room (but not before hugs and "im sorries"). We offered to donate all of his stuff to them but they, instead, sent us home with a list of names of people who were trying to find homes for cats.
Three weeks later, to the day (my birthday!), a little kitten came into our lives. He was on our porch and followed us up the stairs and in the door. He was young, malnourished, injured, and dirty. He could not, and still cannot, meow or purr. His name is Soni (sounds like sunny, for obvious reasons). He is my "husbands cat" (I love Soni but those two have such a bond!). I am still not over my grief and I mourn for Tier every day. I still cannot believe he is gone...
My whole point was that I could relate similarly. If you do not trust what the vet has to say then please get a second opinion. However, I stronlgy urge, and hope, you to make your decision with Jo Jos best interest in mind (even if that includes euthanasia).
Edit: I've attached some pics. Tier is the shorthaired one and Soni is the medium haired.
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