Thanks Catty1, I really appreciate that. I didn't take what you wrote in a negative way at all. I know that you are trying to help me help Tiger.
I have found so much support here ever since I first found PT in July when Tiger first became ill and it has and continues to be so helpful to me. Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know what my vet says and what route we decided to take.
I should add that while Tiger is in good shape, he is changing with the cancer. His excellent appetite is likely from the cancer. This is what my local vet told me. She said that pets often become ravenous and no matter how much they eat, they will eventually just keep losing weight. He has lost some weight but not too much.
He is 'off balance' here and there which is ever increasing and difficult to watch when he tries to jump up on stuff unsuccessfully. It breaks my heart to see a cat who has always been 'king' fall and look embarrased. If I'm in the room when it happens, I scoop him up before he can even have a seconds thought about it and tell him how wonderful he is and cover him with kisses and then I help him get up onto whatever it was that he was trying to hop up to.
He is less tolerant now with some of the cats and gets 'angry' with them. But, I can certainly understand his frustration when he is having a hard time breathing. But, all in all, he is in good condition for what he has been diagnosed with and I don't think he's ready to go and I know I'm not ready to let him go. So, we'll get the tumor removed for sure and possibly the cryosurgery. I'm just not 100% about the cryo because my vet has never done it before and it scares me a bit. And I don't want Tiger to go downhill if the pain makes him stop eating and he starts losing weight etc.. But as you mentioned, your mom's cat had it done and the healing sounds like it wasn't too bad. Anyway, I'll know more in a few days.