He's got a huge tumour on his side,but he still seems chipper, still eating, still playing with his toys, still a pest. His tumour is doubling in size every week or so, though. At what point do I say enough? When he's obviously in pain? Sometime before that?

Like I say, he's still pretty lively, albeit we're giving him painkllers twice a day. It just seems a nonsense to put him down when he's not in obvious distress.

Tomorrow. Ask the the vet. 🙁

What did your vet say? Is the tumour operable, or did they say it was just a matter of time? what painkillers are you using for him? – missus is a veterinary surgeon so may have some answers..

When he's obviously in pain?

That would makes sense. Since he's still enjoying life, now wouldn't make sense imo.

Tough one, when its no longer purring and happy i suppose. I've had to have a demented 18yr old and a 4 yr old rta victim put down. Not a good day either time.

If it's not causing distress then leave him to it. Our old dog had a pretty big old tumor for a long time, but it still seemed happy to be alive.

We took him to the vet, one said "bring him back on Monday and we'll put him down". We took him on the Monday, but a different vet was on and although she didn't say in so many words, she obviously thought that the first vet was a murdering, psycopathic bitch and told us to come back in a week, and she's told us the same thing for the last 3 weeks. Even the original, killer vet was shocked at how well he's doing.
I don't want him to suffer, but equally I don't want to put him down when he still seems OK.

As long as hes in no obvious distress, or loosing condition -(as you say he's still playfull) then best to leave him. Did neither of the vets give you the option of surgery? Missus says in her opinion that if the lump/tumours surface isnt broken open,or if its not restricting movement then best to monitor him for now.
BTW she also mentioned he should be on the painkiller called 'metacam' to be taken once a day.

We have taken in lots of kittens that have come down from the farms and always looked after them. Two or three have died of cancer when older.

They are off their food then seem chipper for a couple of weeks before suffering again.

Not nice 🙁

It has broken the surface, but he seems to be coping well with it. He's on Metacalm plus some other opiate based stuff, so he's probably having a better time of it than I am.

I'm inclined to leave him until it either starts hampering his mobility, or he seems to be in distress.

Oh god, the $6m question, and one I've faced many times…

I would say if he's playful, eating and shitting normally then let him have a bit longer.

My thoughts are with you both

agreed, though the missus says due to the fact its effectivily an open wound, be doublely aware of any infection that may set in, and the possibility that he, sadly could go downhill fast.
Any obvious sign of discomfort and it would be best to let him go.

sorry for the sad news, but hope the info helps.

rj – I think you're doing the right thing. You will know when/if it isn't right.

I was in a dilema of a situation with something similar although different, the cat passed away peacefully – I don't have a problem in retrospect because I know the animal was lively, enjoying food etc, right up untill that point.

I know it's only a bloody pet, but it is still difficult for the owners – respect.

You will know when the time comes, think the owner is the only person who can judge when their pet changes and the bad day arrives

My olg moggy looked liked it was not long for this world, but back right as rain for the last six months, eating and chasing about all over the place

So glad we trusted our instincts

When our last old cat went blind I was ready to do it, but within a day she was moving around the house OK and seemed perky so we held off. We put our matrress on the floor so she could sleep confortably at night.

After two more weeks, the kidney failure really kicked in and she was obviously unhappy so we took her to the vet. Vet was very gentle with her and we cuddled her while she slipped away. Cried a bit [a bit tearful writing this too] – she was a good cat.

Just look him/her in the eyes each morning. You'll know.

Sympathy

Sorry to hear that mate.

Amazing how you get attached to pets. 🙁

Sorry to hear about the cat, we had to let one of our's go just after Christmas. He'd been on heart pills for over a year but developed a tumour on his jaw. I felt bad about doing it because he was still a happy boy but his mouth was quite a mess and he would only eat anything he was hand fed.

My 17 year old cat has a big lump on her side which when she was checked out is just fluid and is causing her no harm. The lump is getting bigger but dosent seem to annoy her. If it were as much as Id hate to do it I'd get her put down. Hard one to call though.

1st vet: good vet. 2nd vet: good businesswoman.

We have the same problem with our 13 year old Cocker.Her lump is getting about the size of a golf ball but we have decided to let it take its course as she is in no pain and we dont want to put her through any opps at her age.She is still herself and not bothered about it yet.

You'll know when it's time. Instinct will tell you. A horrible decision nonetheless.

He's already had one op on it where they took some of it out, after which the first vet said "there's no point getting it analysed, there's nothing we can do". A couple of weeks later the same vet said "Well, if you wanted to talk to a specialist, you should have had it analysed when you had the chance, shouldn't you?".

I wasn't desperately impressed by that.

Suspect we'll be facing the same thing within a few months; eldest cat (three legged) is all skin and bone, thyroid problems, but still purrs and yells at me. We'll never let him suffer, but it'll be hard for us both.

All the best.

One of our rabbits had a lump removed from her neck. Following week took her to the vets for a checkup and they found another golf ball sized lump on her back leg. Rabbits don't react too well to anaesthetic so we were advised to "see how it goes". Lump still there, not grown, rabbit still lively as ever.

Gut feeling is let things run their course. You'll know what to do when it needs doing, not before.

thyroid problems

Very common in older cats. And should be very easy to resolve – have the over-active gland removed. I had one of my cats done last year, the vet said it was the most enlarged thyroid gland he had ever seen – it was so big, he couldn't swallow properly and kept gagging and throwing up 😐

He's fine now though. In 50% of cases the second one also becomes over-active and that has to be removed too, which simply requires a daily pill as replacement – but this hasn't happened to my Ernie (yes he's called Ernie!)

oh no, sounds like my cat is at the same stage as yours, he had surgery a year or so ago to remove three tumours, however he now has lots of tumours but a couple of sore ones. He's so bright and chipper and still doing catty things and eating like normal...and giving Simwit grief at every opportunity! My vets had conflicting ideas about how to proceed but there is nothing they can do now 🙁 dont know how I will find the strength to take him to the vet without balling my eyes out.

Simwits mrs!

I guess it's all about quality of life. Once he starts looking miserable I suppose it's time, but I've become a bit distrustful of our vet now.

"balling my eyes out"

do it. normal