My cat had kidney disease for four years and that meant giving him subcutaneous fluids every day, as well as blood pressure pills and various other meds, depending on his symptoms at the time. Luckily he was a very obliging patient. He was so good that the vet used to do the jugular blood draws with just me holding him. He didn't like the fluids much in the beginning but he got used to it. It gave me 4 extra years with him and I was glad about that. He was finally tired of life at 16 last December and I let him go. It was demanding and expensive to take care of him but I don't regret it.
From what you describe, it does sound like Kosh has lymphoma so enjoy the time you have left but don't put him through too much if he hates the vet so much. I have another one who is also very badly behaved at the vet and needs sedation. I already decided that I will never put him through extensive treatment regimes. He doesn't get incontinent in the car but he has attacked the vet when she tried to treat him. He's bad tempered at home and growls like a dog if you do anything that he doesn't like
He doesn't only not behave, he has a full blown panic attack the moment he's in the cage. He stress-poops and vomits immediately. He then hisses at the vet and cannot be touched unless sedated. I hate seeing him suffer and I honestly do not want to lose him but I can't decide which is best. Continue tormenting the poor thing with shots and pills and vet visits, or just put him to sleep peacefully. He's old and sick and I just don't know. It's depressing.
It's a gut-wrenching decision to have to make. I can also imagine what is going to be like for you to take him in that fearful state to the vet to be put to sleep. Not a good way to end his life.
If it were my cat, I wouldn't put him through any more testing, just treat with what you are currently using so long as it appears to improve his existence and when you see quality of life reducing, get the vet to do a home visit to put him to sleep. The vet should be able to give you a tranquiliser that can make him more relaxed before they get there.
Even though my old cat was relatively well-behaved and relaxed at the vet, I still hated taking him in that last time. Putting his sister to sleep when she was incurably ill was just as hard, although she was already in hospital at the time.
It's important to bear in mind that animals live in the moment and he has no desire to prolong his own life, that is our human desire. All he knows is that he feels unwell and afraid. It's terribly hard to let go of them but that is an inevitable part of the relationship that we have with our beloved pets
I know it’s totally useless info now but I think the key is to travel with the cat as young as possible. I took my cat Lilith out to cafes in her bag and long car journeys from the age of 3 months when I got her she’s now a seasoned traveller at one and happily walks into her travel bag as she knows she’s probably off somwhere cool. I think maybe when they only know the carry case as going somwhere they don’t like like the vets it’s more of a panic? Sometimes you can’t help it as get the cat as an adult but defo if getting a kitten I think it rly helps to just subject them to everything as early as possible when they are still developing. I hope your cat gets better they are a part of the family 💕💕🐈
I wish I knew all this when I adopted the little terrorists when I was 19. I did not. They're the housiest house cats there are. Spoiled fucks. And next up are kids - kinda like cats, but even more responsibilities.
yeah My cat has fulfilled all my maternal needs lol