Kitty kidney transplant

[Grace]

That's truly wonderful news. I'm very pleased for the family and for Walter, and for the donor cat who is getting a new home. It's also wonderful that IMOM has been able to keep going with 99% of people feeling the economic pinch.

I don't understand the concern for a donor cat, beyond worrying that he will do well with the surgery. The cats selected to be donors are all shelter cats and let's remember that 70% of all cats in shelters end up being euthanized. It's true we can't give a cat the choice of dying or losing a kidney and being adopted, but I know what my choice would be as a human. My concern for animals being used without choice is for those in labs being used in their thousands for testing so we can have the latest glue, or caulk, or injectable foam insulation, or medication, or cleaning product.

Just my take on this.

I hope I'm misunderstanding you. You seem to have no concern for the donor cat - am I reading that right. It's all right with you if he remains a shelter cat and perhaps one day is euthanized? Please tell me I'm wrong.

[Karen]

I hope I'm misunderstanding you. You seem to have no concern for the donor cat - am I reading that right. It's all right with you if he remains a shelter cat and perhaps one day is euthanized? Please tell me I'm wrong.

You must not have read everything - the donor cat is being adopted by the recipient cat's family, as has happened before.

[Grace]

You must not have read everything - the donor cat is being adopted by the recipient cat's family, as has happened before.

I did read everything. My question was about these remarks -

I don't understand the concern for a donor cat, beyond worrying that he will do well with the surgery. The cats selected to be donors are all shelter cats and let's remember that 70% of all cats in shelters end up being euthanized. It's true we can't give a cat the choice of dying or losing a kidney and being adopted, but I know what my choice would be as a human. My concern for animals being used without choice is for those in labs being used in their thousands for testing so we can have the latest glue, or caulk, or injectable foam insulation, or medication, or cleaning product.

She seems not to care about the fate of the donor cat?

[Karen]

I did read everything. My question was about these remarks -



She seems not to care about the fate of the donor cat?

I'm sure she does care about the fate of the donor cat, and is thinking it will usually get adopted by the recipient's family as well. I know humans who have lived a good long time with one good kidney, and have no doubt a kitty can as well.

[snakemama]

I'm so glad things went smoothly. I would have opted for surgery too. I hope both kitties do well, and that Giz enjoys his new home!

[Lizzie]

I'm sure she does care about the fate of the donor cat, and is thinking it will usually get adopted by the recipient's family as well. I know humans who have lived a good long time with one good kidney, and have no doubt a kitty can as well.

Of course I care, that's why I put in my first sentence "and for the donor cat who is getting a new home". I knew the family had adopted him, and I know it's always been part of the deal for a pet kidney transplant. The transplant centers won't do the procedure unless the donor is going to a good home as soon as they recover. I once looked into it at U.C. Davies for one of my cats and knew I'd be adopting the donor cat. Unfortunately, the cost was far more than I could cover and I hadn't heard of IMOM then. My thought is that it's better for a cat to lose a kidney but get a home than stay in the shelter and risk euthanasia. We all know that even young, friendly and beautiful cats are euthanized every day.

I subjected one of my foster cats (with the shelter's approval) to donating blood for a transfusion to another foster cat last year. Cordelia breezed through the procedure (the only real risk was anesthesia) and literally saved Sam's life. I knew if Cordelia had a bad reaction to the anesthesia that it would haunt me all my life.