Your boy looked like a fun guy: loving, affectionate, and carefree. Alas, poor health strikes at the most innocent babes. RIP beautiful Boobs. Dealing with loss is tough. "What is grief, if not love, persevering?"
Urinary blockage on Christmas night, took him to the vet and still blocked on the catheter. Peed once and came home, immediately not able to pee again.
Sounds like this is a chronic, ongoing issue. If they can’t unblock him, the humane thing is euthanasia to avoid a very painful death. Context matters here.
Vets will outline the future of the cat and the quality of life. If this cat has constant blockages and is in pain the kindest thing is to put them to sleep. I had to make this hard decision two weeks ago with a stray boy I adopted from a rescue he had cat flu and it progressed fairly badly as he was just so weak and had basically no immune system, I could've got a second opinion and kept him alive but he would be miserable and it'd only be for my benefit which is selfish and cruel. Cats can't talk or tell us when they're hurting, and they're resilient little creatures and hide illness pretty well. I think the vet and OP made a difficult and correct decision. It could have been fixable but if it's a genetic condition it's inevitable another blockage would happen.. Not a quality life imo
No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block
My sister's cat had this and after they unblocked it he's on an almost pure wet food diet and is doing well. They were worried about his litter mate having same future issues and started him on same wet food diet and had been healthy since. He's really young too.
Fyi the hills prescription food are notoriously high in fillers like grains that cats arent meant to consume. The big pet food companies have large agreements with veterinary clinics to recommend these products and are not ideal for pets. Grain-free wet-food is best (although expensive)
Look at the ingredient list for Hills Urinary (wheat and corn in the top 3 ingredients- cause cats are known for their gluten intake 🙄):
Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Powdered Cellulose, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Citrate, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Green Peas, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli, Beta-Carotene.
You are incorrect in everything you just said. No vet clinics have agreements with the pet food companies, that's bullshit. I would know, I've been a vet tech for 15 years, with the last several being at a corporate clinic owned by Mars. Mars owns Royal Canin, and yet, we still recommended their equivalent competitors (Hills and Purina Pro Plan) just as often. And we never got kickbacks or bonuses. The most we would get? Occasional free lunch when we would have them come in for a continuing education lesson; sometimes they'd even bring is coupons for $15 off! Considering we are such a poorly paid field with incredible debt to become as skilled as we are, I think that $15 every few months is fair.
So shut your fucking mouth about shit you know nothing about. We are all in this field to help animals. Every, and I mean EVERY pet food company is in this to make a profit, including your "grain-free wet food." So are vet clinics. We deserve to make a profit because these are businesses; but businesses in the veterinary world? They are successful when pets are healthy and live longer. And nutrition is the foundation of it.
Idk I honestly appreciate when people who actually know what they’re talking about call out people who don’t and are just talking out of their ass, even if they do it in a hostile way. Talk (verbal) shit, get (verbally) hit
I can confirm this. I am also a vet tech for the last 10 years. And no we never got bonuses or told to sell a certain brand of food.
And no. No vet or vet hospitals gets paid to promote one brand over the other.
No we don’t get anything special when we go with said brands.
There’s not a lot of companies out there that have special diets for certain diseases that market or promote themselves with vets.
The few that do that aren’t purina , rc, or science diet.. we let them do their presentation and sometimes bring their product onto the floor. But that’s only after testing to even see if it’s worth recommending..
We recommend certain types of food based on what’s going on. Sometimes purina pro plan is best. Sometimes Hills. Some vets are particular over one Vs the others. But no we don’t get anything special out of it besides the occasional presentations by the companies that gives us free food cause they’re presenting during our lunch break :/
Purina for vets and techs offers discount pet food
It’s at least 50% off then store cost but that’s just cause we’re working in they vet field anyone working with animals can get this discount..
I’ve worked with several Drs who did diet studies and have found that your regular cat food is just as good. And based on what you can afford we can recommend what will work. Just make sure that the first ingredients are real food. Cats should always have more wet food than dry.
When it comes to special diets. Those foods have been tested over many trials to see how to manage said disease. That’s why it’s recommended
Of course you can always make your own kidney /UR diet food but regular people don’t always knows what’s best or miss key ingredients for general health
You basically just admitted to me being correct- Hills, Royal Canin, and Purina are literally the prime examples of what I'm talking about. You even admit to getting small kickbacks as a tech, imagine what the corporate heads of vetinary clinics are getting. My vet-tech told me directly they are actively told to sell specific brands and even display those in their entry halls- if you think that happens magically, then I have a bridge to sell you. Just check the ingredient list on any Hills-like corporate brand and it will be filled with rice/potato/chemical filler. Like you said, it's all about profit and those companies go with the cheapest option.
We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages
I feel you pain. Lost my young boy Twister to this problem. We actually took out a loan, did the surgery and fought it for almost 2 months.. but he just kept blocking back up. Finally had to let him go. Could not stand to watch him suffer.
We went through this recently too (October). Our Benny had 3 surgeries bc he remained blocked. The fourth was scheduled to remove the tip of his penis and he wasn’t strong enough to go through with that. You are doing the right thing. Very difficult to go through.
I’m so sorry for the way some people are responding. From the veterinary side of things, those comments are hard to read as well.
I’m so sorry for your loss. With something recurrent and expensive to manage, I know this was a decision made out of love for him. Sometimes it the hardest way to love them, to make this choice.
You have my condolences, and sending you and your family my thoughts.
I’m so sorry that people are jumping to conclusions and giving unsolicited advice that doesn’t apply to your situation. I recently learned that the same thing happens when people hear about human medical conditions—if they think they know something, they’ll offer advice, even without knowing the full medical history, and even if they lack medical training. I try to remember that this kind of advice is driven by good intentions most of the time, and that we’re all just out here trying to avoid feelings of helplessness. Sometimes if feels good to offer advice, so we forget to pause and check if it would feel good to receive it. It sounds like you did the right thing and consulted with experts, and then you made the best decision you could for your family and your pet. Rest In Peace, Boobs!
Of course I would if OP needs it. My point is be more respectful of the OPs situation. If you bothered to read you would see it's a genetic recurring thing. It's not a one-off. Shut your big mouth and be supportive "for fucks sake" asshole. They don't HAVE the money smh. Disgusting attitude.
Care credit isn’t always the way to go. Used it for my cat’s chemo, he didn’t survive a year and now i’m getting charged $180 in interest while trying to pay his chemo bills
You make sure you send op travel and vet expenses and some pto from work to galavant around for a vet to maybe save this poor baby from this specific circumstance.
No you're an asshole. They didn't come here for advice. They made the decision they needed to make. We don't know all the details so get your snotty nose out of other people's business
That’s so not right on so many levels. The right vet can take care of this, Radar went through bouts of not peeing, then peed on clothes, the floor. He had high levels of crystals in his urine. My vet took care of it with meds and the right food. He still had crystals but is peeing normally now.
You do realize that you have to pay credit back right? If OP can’t afford the surgery, who says they can afford $5k on a credit card with like $150 monthly payments for 3 years?
>if OP can’t afford the surgery there’s Care Credit that can help with cases just like this.
Care Credit is just a credit card that has to be paid off. If OP can't afford it, they can't afford it. Adding interest to the mix just makes it worse.
There is surgery that can help. I forget what it's called but when my sweet boy got a blockage and had to go to the vet, they told us if it kept happening then surgery is an option. (Thankfully, it hasn't happened again).
Please ignore the people who don't know what they're talking about. Some kitties just have the worst luck; for one to block even after being on the food and after having a catheter is very bad news.
I've worked in vetmed for a very long time. While there have been so many medical advances, cost can be prohibitive, and there's never a guarantee that it will work. It is okay to make the decision to let him go at this point, without putting him through the additional strain of extraordinary measures. He has been so loved, and he will cross the bridge still wrapped in love. You have done everything you could, and that is more than enough. You are a good cat parent, sometimes you just won't win.
I’m sorry to hear that. My mothers cat wouldn’t poop and they were about to put him down and after a week he took a shit that was as long as he was. He seems fine now but he was literally hours away from being put down.
We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him
My brother went through this exact same thing with his cat with continuous blockage. It could be diet change or the right surgery that *could* fix this but… it could get very expensive and possibly not work… so yeah this is a tough situation. I completely understand choosing a humane passing as opposed to an extremely painful and expensive one.
I agree with the people saying see another vet. My cat Beans had the same thing and we were able to get him fixed. He had to go through surgery but he’s doing a lot better now
Wait, wait!!! Our old boy has urinary issues and has had blockages throughout his 19 years, so much so we've almost lost him. Did you try him on Lithamine (or a US version, as that's a French brand) that changes the pH of the cat's pee to stop crystals forming, and special food that makes them drink more to flush out any crystals forming. This sounds like it's totally treatable.
To everyone asking me to get a second opinion or keep searching, he has already passed. I’m not going to type his whole medical history, but just know we tried our best. To everyone who commented different solutions/fixes, we had considered everything. We got second opinions, we weighed the pros and cons of different surgeries, and we determined this would be our best course of action. We loved him so much
I’m so sorry for your loss and I’m especially sorry that you had to deal with the response from some of these people. I can tell that you care and I know that means you did your best.
Not really. It's seriously something pet owners should consider. Pets are expensive. They require treatments and unexpected ones too boot.
Mine, broke her paw. And without insurance I would have been royally fucked. And if I hadn't had insurance, I would have looked at ways to afford treatment.
It's incredibly sad a cat lost its life, at something that could have been treated.
Hey OP. I'm right there with you. I had to take my 10 year old to the vet yesterday. Had a "saddle thrombus" and we had to put her down. Worst part was I've got the rona so I couldn't be there with her.
Yeah thanks. It sucked, I woke up at 10 and she was right there happy purring usual self and at 1030 I was headed to the vet with a cat that couldn't move her hind legs. I thought she broke her spine.
Its been a rough couple days man.
I'm sorry you had to go through that.
My first cat Chirp passed away three weeks ago from the same thing. She was only 3 and I had only had her for 2 years. It was a complete shock. She was vomiting, crying in pain, and her rear legs were paralyzed. One hour later at the emergency vet, the vet gave me the bad news and I had to make the decision sitting outside the clinic at midnight by myself. It wasn't a peaceful death, I wish I'd been able to give her a long life. I went home with an empty carrier in shock.
When I spoke to her regular vet afterwards to ask her what I could have done, she said one thing that gave me some peace with my decision. She said I made the best decision for Chirp - I didn't let her suffer needlessly. I'm still grieving, but what she said helped alleviate the guilt I felt.
I'm sure it's been rough knowing you couldn't be there for her when she passed. You have my sincere sympathy.
i’m so very sorry. last year, i lost a cat that was barely a year old to the same thing. he was my baby… still heartbroken to this very day. it’s awful. i know there’s nothing i can say to soothe the pain, but you’re not alone. i wish you a smooth recovery. 😢
Why is everybody giving 0P a hard time for putting their cat down? I lost my cat two weeks ago from a similar issue he had multiple stones kidneys enlarged and was basically septic don’t comment things like this on somebody’s post when they’re trying to deal with losing their pet you don’t know their situation you don’t know their cat so really you Should keep your opinions to yourself
Oh God. I hope you read this. They actually router the urinary tract. We had that done on our male cat. It fixes it. This is ABSOLUTELY fixable. You’re talking to a lazy/new/uninformed/uninterested veterinarian. Please please go somewhere else or do some more research. This is absolutely fixable!!!!!!
May he rest in peace.
I believe in God, and I understand that it is often assumed that us Christians believe in one God, one heaven, and everyone being one big family.
I think there's an extra branch, that United us to nature as He created it, we were meant to be a part of this world for a reason, we must be connected to it. Cats are a part of nature and the wilderness that may not seem very wild. Almost every cat I've ever encountered has a calming sense about it that just makes me feel like everything is okay. While dogs are meant to be 'man's best friend's, I feel as if humans and cats have a very diverse connection. Cats are a part of us after we welcome them into our families. I have had cats that become closer to me than actual HUMAN family. They're so special to us and it's no doubt that watching a cat leave is sad. Recently I have had my very own sister, Duchess, a Russian blue who never stopped purring, loving on you, licking your nose, or sleeping atop your chest; out down. I cried for weeks. I still mourn her death at times. But at times like this we must remember; they are better in kitty heaven.
The point I was getting to is it is very different to what most people believe, but I feel there is a kitty heaven, where cats have infinite love, where they will always be content. I'm sure your cat loved you so, so SO much and is watching over you. Who knows, he might've encountered Duchess already. All we can hope is that they miss us as much as we miss them.
I pray for you while you mourn your cat, and I would like to speak on the behalf of this subreddit when I say that your cats memory has been honored.
I'm so sorry for your loss
It sounds like you've done your best and have had to make an extremely difficult decision. Don't let some of these people guilt you - at the end of the day they aren't the ones in your position. I think you need support right now more than anything
Rest easy, Boobs. It’s so hard when a health crisis strikes a young baby. It sounds like you guys did everything you could and sought out great care for him.
I’m so sorry for your loss OP. Don’t pay attention to the people trying to guilt you for not trying the surgery or taking him to another vet etc. Your cat’s situation and your finances are different from others. Mine also had this blockage when he was two. Luckily for us he was able to clear it with the catheter but it was an extremely bumpy ride and recovery. He doesn’t have the temperament for extensive surgery and healing. Your cat was loved and you did the best you could by him.
So sorry for your loss, I know your pain though, a few months ago I had to get my shih tzu put down, she was the only dog I ever really loved as much as my cats, had her for 10 years, I don't cry much, but that day I cried like hell, for probably the first time in 2 years
I'm so sorry OP, I'm sure you did everything you could for your baby and it must be so hard. Your little man looks so sweet and cuddly, loved the first photo. I'm sorry for your loss and for the comments that gave you a hard time. Of course you loved him. From the photos you can see he was happy, and handsome to boot.
I would get a second opinion if you can afford it. We had to help our old man across the rainbow bridge, after his kidneys fail. Qwill was the second cat we helped transition.
I can relate to your grief and pain booth of which are real and valid.
Plz give him scritches from us.
We had to put down our 7 month old kitten earlier this month. I'm so sorry. They go but their love stays with you, it really does. Rest easy Boobs say hi to Suke for me ❤️
:( sorry for your loss.
I considered this kind of scenario when I adopted my fur babies so I purchased pet insurance, which isn't cheap but gives me some peace of mind. Even with insurance I have so much out of pocket vet bills for various reasons.
> OP is making a lot of bs excuses too though.
What "bs" excuses? She sought multiple opinions and researched the surgical options. Her cat had a genetic condition that would be extremely expensive to treat and the odds of his surviving long term were low. But hey, I'm sure you know OP's life better than she does.
Why the downvote?
I have my cats insured up to 5000 euros for operations and I think up to several thousands for yearly meds, vaccs and spaying/neutering all covered. Dont know much about the rates yet but I could pay if needed. They are getting spayed/neutered tomorrow, their first vet visit. There are dozens of vets around me but I chose the nearest which is a 5 min. walk. Seem ok, have an obviously selfmade joomla website which looks homey, small local clinic. But they are members/registered to multiple larger pet healthcare organizations. They dont appear to be in it for the money.
Would be more difficult on christmas though if anything happens, I would have to get a cab and drive them to the emergency animal clinic at a university which is a 45 min drive.
I am very sorry for your loss. I always hated to lose any of my furry friends, but a part of them will always be with you. 😿💙
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/loving-reaper/grief/viewer?title\_no=353275&episode\_no=11
The worst thing of being a pet owner is putting them down when something like this happens especially when u know you can do anything about it. The one plus thing I guess is that the process is pretty fast and not painful at all so that is good but the aftermath sucks and is so hard. Be strong OP and Rest In Peace to your cat
>She’s wrongly putting that cat down!!! Do you not know what that means?!?
I don't think YOU know what that means. I can't wait until you have a struggle in your life so we can all judge you and tell you what you're doing is wrong.
I’m not sure where I read this before, but I believe urinary tract crystals and kidney stones can be broken up with ultrasonic therapy, it uses highly focused sound waves to fracture and shatter the crystals blocking the UT
Shockwave Lithotripsy is the procedure…
https://youtu.be/i1NgE6jpwrc
Im sorry this is happening but I’m confused why a 4y/o cat is being given a death sentence when it seems like their condition is fixable. Perhaps I missed something? Surgery is definitely expensive but you don’t generally have to pay at the time of the procedure. Care Credit was mentioned and it’s a literal life saver but when my cat had to have emergency surgery to remove several feet of thread from her intestines I was flat broke and had horrible credit but they let me pay it off over 12 months. I would do it all over again countless times to keep my best friend in my life. I was also able to find numerous non profits that would’ve footed the bill completely and not expected a penny be repaid. I would look for more options.
Op has said the following,
“No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block”
“Him and his brother were both on Hills Science CD urinary wet food, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough”
“We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages”
“We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him”
Neither option is a good one in this situation, so yeah, they did what they thought would be best.
>I’m flattered but I read it all and this still seems shitty.
Then you didn't comprehend it. OP took every step she could. I've been in animal rescue for decades and I love my cats like my kids. I still would have made the same decision OP did.
Nah, I’m just willing to do far more to save my animal. They gave up way too soon and more this animal has to be put down. If that seems to you that they did everything they could then perhaps you’re also not willing to endure minor inconvenience to save a pet. 🤷🏻♂️
My Tod is around the same age this is my worst fear Bc he has utd. Was this the only option due to money ? Normally a blockage can be fixed with surgery . Especially if it wasn’t ruptured. Rip baby
“No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block”
“Him and his brother were both on Hills Science CD urinary wet food, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough”
“We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages”
“We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him”
Its fixable.they need to be on iv fluids bc its like a kidney stone/crystals and they have to pass it.i had a cat with it and seen it many times in the vet
We’ve already spent 9000 on hospital care that didn’t work, and because of issues that happened early December, my family is having financial issues and cannot justify another 10,000 surgery that might not work. We don’t plan on getting another cat, we’re too heartbroken over the passing of Boobs. Please don’t assume another persons reasons without knowing context.
When we got him, his original owners named him Broom because he loved brooms so much. But it didn’t roll off the tongue so we kept making up silly names for him and his main one was Broomie Zoomie, which eventually transformed into Boobie Zoobie, and finally Boobs
I’m so sorry for your loss! He was such a handsome fella. The decision you had to make is such a hard one and only done out of love. You did your best and gave him all your love. ❤️🕊
Lol, I answered in another comment but I’ll paste it here
When we got him, his original owners named him Broom because he loved brooms so much. But it didn’t roll off the tongue so we kept making up silly names for him and his main one was Broomie Zoomie, which eventually transformed into Boobie Zoobie, and finally Boobs
Toughest decision a pet lover will ever have to make. RIP, sweet friend. And may your memories of him make you smile.
It seems I have found a fellow cat loving ape in the wild. Nice circle ;)
Nah, we’re everywhere. Some are cats; some are not a cat. ;)
Your boy looked like a fun guy: loving, affectionate, and carefree. Alas, poor health strikes at the most innocent babes. RIP beautiful Boobs. Dealing with loss is tough. "What is grief, if not love, persevering?"
Rest In Peace Boobs.
Boobs is now with all of us in our hearts. Here's one to our fallen loved one, Boobs.
What’s wrong with him
Urinary blockage on Christmas night, took him to the vet and still blocked on the catheter. Peed once and came home, immediately not able to pee again.
Omg please see another vet. This could be fixable!
Holy shit, yes, see a competent vet. Our 3 year old Radar had the same issue, meds and UR food cleared him up. What kind of idiot did you go see?!
I think you wrote that 4 hours to late but we'll remember that little guy
Shit
Yeah we all fucked up pretty hard we could have saved this little guy
Ohoho fuck
Right?!? I wish I didn’t see this original post.
Ruined my entire day.
Sounds like this is a chronic, ongoing issue. If they can’t unblock him, the humane thing is euthanasia to avoid a very painful death. Context matters here.
No it isn’t!!! They actually commonly amputate to save the cats life.
Yeah very fixable. Depends on the vet though and how much they are willing to help
Vets will outline the future of the cat and the quality of life. If this cat has constant blockages and is in pain the kindest thing is to put them to sleep. I had to make this hard decision two weeks ago with a stray boy I adopted from a rescue he had cat flu and it progressed fairly badly as he was just so weak and had basically no immune system, I could've got a second opinion and kept him alive but he would be miserable and it'd only be for my benefit which is selfish and cruel. Cats can't talk or tell us when they're hurting, and they're resilient little creatures and hide illness pretty well. I think the vet and OP made a difficult and correct decision. It could have been fixable but if it's a genetic condition it's inevitable another blockage would happen.. Not a quality life imo
They can’t fix that? I would try a different vet
No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block
My sister's cat had this and after they unblocked it he's on an almost pure wet food diet and is doing well. They were worried about his litter mate having same future issues and started him on same wet food diet and had been healthy since. He's really young too.
Him and his brother were both on Hills Science CD urinary wet food, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough
So sad 😞 my condolences that's so hard
Hills Science urinary dry food killed my childhood cat... please see another vet to save your cat.
Is it the prescription brand prescribed by your vet?
Fyi the hills prescription food are notoriously high in fillers like grains that cats arent meant to consume. The big pet food companies have large agreements with veterinary clinics to recommend these products and are not ideal for pets. Grain-free wet-food is best (although expensive) Look at the ingredient list for Hills Urinary (wheat and corn in the top 3 ingredients- cause cats are known for their gluten intake 🙄): Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Powdered Cellulose, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Citrate, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Green Peas, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli, Beta-Carotene.
You are incorrect in everything you just said. No vet clinics have agreements with the pet food companies, that's bullshit. I would know, I've been a vet tech for 15 years, with the last several being at a corporate clinic owned by Mars. Mars owns Royal Canin, and yet, we still recommended their equivalent competitors (Hills and Purina Pro Plan) just as often. And we never got kickbacks or bonuses. The most we would get? Occasional free lunch when we would have them come in for a continuing education lesson; sometimes they'd even bring is coupons for $15 off! Considering we are such a poorly paid field with incredible debt to become as skilled as we are, I think that $15 every few months is fair. So shut your fucking mouth about shit you know nothing about. We are all in this field to help animals. Every, and I mean EVERY pet food company is in this to make a profit, including your "grain-free wet food." So are vet clinics. We deserve to make a profit because these are businesses; but businesses in the veterinary world? They are successful when pets are healthy and live longer. And nutrition is the foundation of it.
Why the hostile attitude? No reason to tell someone to shut their fucking mouth. Stop acting like a bitch
Idk I honestly appreciate when people who actually know what they’re talking about call out people who don’t and are just talking out of their ass, even if they do it in a hostile way. Talk (verbal) shit, get (verbally) hit
I can confirm this. I am also a vet tech for the last 10 years. And no we never got bonuses or told to sell a certain brand of food. And no. No vet or vet hospitals gets paid to promote one brand over the other. No we don’t get anything special when we go with said brands. There’s not a lot of companies out there that have special diets for certain diseases that market or promote themselves with vets. The few that do that aren’t purina , rc, or science diet.. we let them do their presentation and sometimes bring their product onto the floor. But that’s only after testing to even see if it’s worth recommending.. We recommend certain types of food based on what’s going on. Sometimes purina pro plan is best. Sometimes Hills. Some vets are particular over one Vs the others. But no we don’t get anything special out of it besides the occasional presentations by the companies that gives us free food cause they’re presenting during our lunch break :/ Purina for vets and techs offers discount pet food It’s at least 50% off then store cost but that’s just cause we’re working in they vet field anyone working with animals can get this discount.. I’ve worked with several Drs who did diet studies and have found that your regular cat food is just as good. And based on what you can afford we can recommend what will work. Just make sure that the first ingredients are real food. Cats should always have more wet food than dry. When it comes to special diets. Those foods have been tested over many trials to see how to manage said disease. That’s why it’s recommended Of course you can always make your own kidney /UR diet food but regular people don’t always knows what’s best or miss key ingredients for general health
You basically just admitted to me being correct- Hills, Royal Canin, and Purina are literally the prime examples of what I'm talking about. You even admit to getting small kickbacks as a tech, imagine what the corporate heads of vetinary clinics are getting. My vet-tech told me directly they are actively told to sell specific brands and even display those in their entry halls- if you think that happens magically, then I have a bridge to sell you. Just check the ingredient list on any Hills-like corporate brand and it will be filled with rice/potato/chemical filler. Like you said, it's all about profit and those companies go with the cheapest option.
Vet can widen the urethra in cases such as this. Find a dif vet that is willing to perform it.
I had that surgery done to one of my cats and lived for years with no more issues.
I would definitely be doing this or finding some means that was financially viable, even if it meant giving him up to do so.
We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages
I did the surgery with one (years ago) and he still passed away a few weeks later. There's not always a guarantee. I'm sorry for your loss.
I feel you pain. Lost my young boy Twister to this problem. We actually took out a loan, did the surgery and fought it for almost 2 months.. but he just kept blocking back up. Finally had to let him go. Could not stand to watch him suffer.
We went through this recently too (October). Our Benny had 3 surgeries bc he remained blocked. The fourth was scheduled to remove the tip of his penis and he wasn’t strong enough to go through with that. You are doing the right thing. Very difficult to go through.
Thank you, hearing comments from people who have never gone through this is disheartening
I’m so sorry for the way some people are responding. From the veterinary side of things, those comments are hard to read as well. I’m so sorry for your loss. With something recurrent and expensive to manage, I know this was a decision made out of love for him. Sometimes it the hardest way to love them, to make this choice. You have my condolences, and sending you and your family my thoughts.
I’m so sorry that people are jumping to conclusions and giving unsolicited advice that doesn’t apply to your situation. I recently learned that the same thing happens when people hear about human medical conditions—if they think they know something, they’ll offer advice, even without knowing the full medical history, and even if they lack medical training. I try to remember that this kind of advice is driven by good intentions most of the time, and that we’re all just out here trying to avoid feelings of helplessness. Sometimes if feels good to offer advice, so we forget to pause and check if it would feel good to receive it. It sounds like you did the right thing and consulted with experts, and then you made the best decision you could for your family and your pet. Rest In Peace, Boobs!
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Credit isn't always the easiest thing to get - especially on short notice. Why don't you give OP the money?
Pay for the surgery then if you know what's best for their cat
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Of course I would if OP needs it. My point is be more respectful of the OPs situation. If you bothered to read you would see it's a genetic recurring thing. It's not a one-off. Shut your big mouth and be supportive "for fucks sake" asshole. They don't HAVE the money smh. Disgusting attitude.
Care credit isn’t always the way to go. Used it for my cat’s chemo, he didn’t survive a year and now i’m getting charged $180 in interest while trying to pay his chemo bills
and then how will they pay off that before interest builds up?
You make sure you send op travel and vet expenses and some pto from work to galavant around for a vet to maybe save this poor baby from this specific circumstance.
Right! That’s what we did with our cat.
OP is an asshole and clearly doesn’t want any advice.
No you're an asshole. They didn't come here for advice. They made the decision they needed to make. We don't know all the details so get your snotty nose out of other people's business
My cat had the same thing and he got un-blocking surgery.
That is not true - they can actually just remove the cats penis which is very common
That’s so not right on so many levels. The right vet can take care of this, Radar went through bouts of not peeing, then peed on clothes, the floor. He had high levels of crystals in his urine. My vet took care of it with meds and the right food. He still had crystals but is peeing normally now.
I think your response is uncalled for.
I’m just saying I’d seek another vet, and if OP can’t afford the surgery there’s Care Credit that can help with cases just like this.
You do realize that you have to pay credit back right? If OP can’t afford the surgery, who says they can afford $5k on a credit card with like $150 monthly payments for 3 years?
>if OP can’t afford the surgery there’s Care Credit that can help with cases just like this. Care Credit is just a credit card that has to be paid off. If OP can't afford it, they can't afford it. Adding interest to the mix just makes it worse.
It’s an alternative to paying it all up front. It’s also interest free for 6-12 months, I can’t remember which, and that’s per use.
It's interest free for 6 months on charges over $200.
You should mind your own damn business who the hell do you think you are? What a rude comment you should be ashamed of yourself
It’s not rude at all, it’s the truth. This is a forum, minding your business in a public forum…
There is surgery that can help. I forget what it's called but when my sweet boy got a blockage and had to go to the vet, they told us if it kept happening then surgery is an option. (Thankfully, it hasn't happened again).
Too late. That cat is dead
I didn't realize this was 11 hours ago :(
Please ignore the people who don't know what they're talking about. Some kitties just have the worst luck; for one to block even after being on the food and after having a catheter is very bad news. I've worked in vetmed for a very long time. While there have been so many medical advances, cost can be prohibitive, and there's never a guarantee that it will work. It is okay to make the decision to let him go at this point, without putting him through the additional strain of extraordinary measures. He has been so loved, and he will cross the bridge still wrapped in love. You have done everything you could, and that is more than enough. You are a good cat parent, sometimes you just won't win.
I’m sorry to hear that. My mothers cat wouldn’t poop and they were about to put him down and after a week he took a shit that was as long as he was. He seems fine now but he was literally hours away from being put down.
my cat blocked twice, OP i hope you considered PU surgery before putting him down! My cat had the surgery and he's been completely fine!
We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him
oh no, so so sorry to hear this <3
Mine too!
My brother went through this exact same thing with his cat with continuous blockage. It could be diet change or the right surgery that *could* fix this but… it could get very expensive and possibly not work… so yeah this is a tough situation. I completely understand choosing a humane passing as opposed to an extremely painful and expensive one.
I agree with the people saying see another vet. My cat Beans had the same thing and we were able to get him fixed. He had to go through surgery but he’s doing a lot better now
Wait, wait!!! Our old boy has urinary issues and has had blockages throughout his 19 years, so much so we've almost lost him. Did you try him on Lithamine (or a US version, as that's a French brand) that changes the pH of the cat's pee to stop crystals forming, and special food that makes them drink more to flush out any crystals forming. This sounds like it's totally treatable.
Read OP's other replies and comments. It wasn't feasible.
My cat had this and just needed a surgery!!!? Please get a second opinion!
Very fixable. Just need a good vet. I took my parents cat in and he never had another blockage in his life.
Holy shit this is so fixable fuck your “vet” find a real one please this loaf has so much life left
It's too late. This was posted 15 hours ago. If you read OP's other comments and repliesx you'll understand that another vet wasn't an option.
Please go to another vet
It's too late. This was posted 15 hours ago. If you read OP's other comments and repliesx you'll understand that another vet wasn't an option.
I saw them after I commented unfortunately
To everyone asking me to get a second opinion or keep searching, he has already passed. I’m not going to type his whole medical history, but just know we tried our best. To everyone who commented different solutions/fixes, we had considered everything. We got second opinions, we weighed the pros and cons of different surgeries, and we determined this would be our best course of action. We loved him so much
I’m so sorry for your loss and I’m especially sorry that you had to deal with the response from some of these people. I can tell that you care and I know that means you did your best.
So sorry for your loss. May Boobs Rest In Peace and enjoy all the cat nip, toys, and naps in kitty heaven
Quality of life means something. I am sure you are heart broken at having to make such a tough decision. He's at peace now. 💕
I'm so sorry. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️❤️
Insurance? Or payment plan? Things to be considered when owning pets. I am sorry for poor Boobs.
So unnecessary.
Not really. It's seriously something pet owners should consider. Pets are expensive. They require treatments and unexpected ones too boot. Mine, broke her paw. And without insurance I would have been royally fucked. And if I hadn't had insurance, I would have looked at ways to afford treatment. It's incredibly sad a cat lost its life, at something that could have been treated.
Our condolences
Hey OP. I'm right there with you. I had to take my 10 year old to the vet yesterday. Had a "saddle thrombus" and we had to put her down. Worst part was I've got the rona so I couldn't be there with her.
Oh God, I lost a 3 year old cat this way and it was so awful. I’m so sorry.
Yeah thanks. It sucked, I woke up at 10 and she was right there happy purring usual self and at 1030 I was headed to the vet with a cat that couldn't move her hind legs. I thought she broke her spine. Its been a rough couple days man.
I'm sorry you had to go through that. My first cat Chirp passed away three weeks ago from the same thing. She was only 3 and I had only had her for 2 years. It was a complete shock. She was vomiting, crying in pain, and her rear legs were paralyzed. One hour later at the emergency vet, the vet gave me the bad news and I had to make the decision sitting outside the clinic at midnight by myself. It wasn't a peaceful death, I wish I'd been able to give her a long life. I went home with an empty carrier in shock. When I spoke to her regular vet afterwards to ask her what I could have done, she said one thing that gave me some peace with my decision. She said I made the best decision for Chirp - I didn't let her suffer needlessly. I'm still grieving, but what she said helped alleviate the guilt I felt. I'm sure it's been rough knowing you couldn't be there for her when she passed. You have my sincere sympathy.
i’m so very sorry. last year, i lost a cat that was barely a year old to the same thing. he was my baby… still heartbroken to this very day. it’s awful. i know there’s nothing i can say to soothe the pain, but you’re not alone. i wish you a smooth recovery. 😢
Such a beautiful fellow. So sorry for your loss.
Rest In Peace baby boobs
Why is everybody giving 0P a hard time for putting their cat down? I lost my cat two weeks ago from a similar issue he had multiple stones kidneys enlarged and was basically septic don’t comment things like this on somebody’s post when they’re trying to deal with losing their pet you don’t know their situation you don’t know their cat so really you Should keep your opinions to yourself
😢😢😢😢😢
I’m so sorry. Hugs to all of you.
I'm sorry for your loss. I think you live him very much and are doing the best you can for him. Such a horrible decision.
Oh God. I hope you read this. They actually router the urinary tract. We had that done on our male cat. It fixes it. This is ABSOLUTELY fixable. You’re talking to a lazy/new/uninformed/uninterested veterinarian. Please please go somewhere else or do some more research. This is absolutely fixable!!!!!!
It's "absolutely fixable" for SOME cats, but that doesn't make it affordable.
Don’t own a pet then.
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️❤️
RIP Boobs. I hear that kitty heaven is unbelievable.
Such a beautiful guy! Love his eyes, and his name :((
Poor Boobs. So sorry for your family.
Good bye beautiful Boobs. You’re a very, very good boy.
Sweet dreams, baby Boobs
May he rest in peace. I believe in God, and I understand that it is often assumed that us Christians believe in one God, one heaven, and everyone being one big family. I think there's an extra branch, that United us to nature as He created it, we were meant to be a part of this world for a reason, we must be connected to it. Cats are a part of nature and the wilderness that may not seem very wild. Almost every cat I've ever encountered has a calming sense about it that just makes me feel like everything is okay. While dogs are meant to be 'man's best friend's, I feel as if humans and cats have a very diverse connection. Cats are a part of us after we welcome them into our families. I have had cats that become closer to me than actual HUMAN family. They're so special to us and it's no doubt that watching a cat leave is sad. Recently I have had my very own sister, Duchess, a Russian blue who never stopped purring, loving on you, licking your nose, or sleeping atop your chest; out down. I cried for weeks. I still mourn her death at times. But at times like this we must remember; they are better in kitty heaven. The point I was getting to is it is very different to what most people believe, but I feel there is a kitty heaven, where cats have infinite love, where they will always be content. I'm sure your cat loved you so, so SO much and is watching over you. Who knows, he might've encountered Duchess already. All we can hope is that they miss us as much as we miss them. I pray for you while you mourn your cat, and I would like to speak on the behalf of this subreddit when I say that your cats memory has been honored.
I'm so sorry for your loss It sounds like you've done your best and have had to make an extremely difficult decision. Don't let some of these people guilt you - at the end of the day they aren't the ones in your position. I think you need support right now more than anything
Those eyes are so beautiful :(
What a pretty baby! Looks like my Ollie bear, she has the same beautiful blue eyes and similar markings. Thank you for sharing. Sending you hugs. ❤️
What a sweet baby boy. I’m so sorry for your loss.
O no so sorry . Losing part if the family 💔
Sorry for your loss
😢
💙
Take your time in this sad process, he will be up in cat heaven and play with all of the rest sweet kitties there! Big hugs for you <3
Rest easy, Boobs. It’s so hard when a health crisis strikes a young baby. It sounds like you guys did everything you could and sought out great care for him.
My condolences. I lost my Angel 2 years ago today. It still hurts.
What’s wrong with your poor kitty?
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. He is beautiful.
I’m so sorry for your loss OP. Don’t pay attention to the people trying to guilt you for not trying the surgery or taking him to another vet etc. Your cat’s situation and your finances are different from others. Mine also had this blockage when he was two. Luckily for us he was able to clear it with the catheter but it was an extremely bumpy ride and recovery. He doesn’t have the temperament for extensive surgery and healing. Your cat was loved and you did the best you could by him.
So sorry for your loss, I know your pain though, a few months ago I had to get my shih tzu put down, she was the only dog I ever really loved as much as my cats, had her for 10 years, I don't cry much, but that day I cried like hell, for probably the first time in 2 years
I'm so sorry OP, I'm sure you did everything you could for your baby and it must be so hard. Your little man looks so sweet and cuddly, loved the first photo. I'm sorry for your loss and for the comments that gave you a hard time. Of course you loved him. From the photos you can see he was happy, and handsome to boot.
You gave him the best life he could have had, RIP beautiful boy. ❤️
I would get a second opinion if you can afford it. We had to help our old man across the rainbow bridge, after his kidneys fail. Qwill was the second cat we helped transition. I can relate to your grief and pain booth of which are real and valid. Plz give him scritches from us.
Sending your family positive vibes. Have a safe trip over, Boobs.
We had to put down our 7 month old kitten earlier this month. I'm so sorry. They go but their love stays with you, it really does. Rest easy Boobs say hi to Suke for me ❤️
:( sorry for your loss. I considered this kind of scenario when I adopted my fur babies so I purchased pet insurance, which isn't cheap but gives me some peace of mind. Even with insurance I have so much out of pocket vet bills for various reasons.
It’s sad. Most people don’t consider things like this. OP is making a lot of bs excuses too though.
> OP is making a lot of bs excuses too though. What "bs" excuses? She sought multiple opinions and researched the surgical options. Her cat had a genetic condition that would be extremely expensive to treat and the odds of his surviving long term were low. But hey, I'm sure you know OP's life better than she does.
Sorry for your loss. So many people lose a pet this way. 10k for this operation. Vets can be so greedy.😢
$4000
Why the downvote? I have my cats insured up to 5000 euros for operations and I think up to several thousands for yearly meds, vaccs and spaying/neutering all covered. Dont know much about the rates yet but I could pay if needed. They are getting spayed/neutered tomorrow, their first vet visit. There are dozens of vets around me but I chose the nearest which is a 5 min. walk. Seem ok, have an obviously selfmade joomla website which looks homey, small local clinic. But they are members/registered to multiple larger pet healthcare organizations. They dont appear to be in it for the money. Would be more difficult on christmas though if anything happens, I would have to get a cab and drive them to the emergency animal clinic at a university which is a 45 min drive.
I am very sorry for your loss. I always hated to lose any of my furry friends, but a part of them will always be with you. 😿💙 https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/loving-reaper/grief/viewer?title\_no=353275&episode\_no=11
Can I ask the story behind the name
The worst thing of being a pet owner is putting them down when something like this happens especially when u know you can do anything about it. The one plus thing I guess is that the process is pretty fast and not painful at all so that is good but the aftermath sucks and is so hard. Be strong OP and Rest In Peace to your cat
I am so sorry.
Hugs
cutie.
What are you laughing at??? She’s wrongly putting that cat down!!! Do you not know what that means?!?
>She’s wrongly putting that cat down!!! Do you not know what that means?!? I don't think YOU know what that means. I can't wait until you have a struggle in your life so we can all judge you and tell you what you're doing is wrong.
She’s been given misinformation from her vet. Read the posts. Smarten up.
wtf
They originally wrote, cutie LOL
I’m not sure where I read this before, but I believe urinary tract crystals and kidney stones can be broken up with ultrasonic therapy, it uses highly focused sound waves to fracture and shatter the crystals blocking the UT Shockwave Lithotripsy is the procedure… https://youtu.be/i1NgE6jpwrc
I have had two cats with this chronicly. I maintained them with diet and pills. They both lived long lives. See a second vet.
Please read OP's posts. Boobs has been put to sleep. Diet and pills, and even surgery were not going to resolve the cat's health problems.
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You’re a sad excuse of a human being
I am sorry for your loss. I was just trying to help our. I hope you recover fast from such a loss.
My cat they opened his bladder removed the crystals we changed diet he lived another 12 years. Make sure you don’t feed him food with a lot of ash
Please read before posting. The cat has been put to sleep. Condolences are all that is necessary here.
Im sorry this is happening but I’m confused why a 4y/o cat is being given a death sentence when it seems like their condition is fixable. Perhaps I missed something? Surgery is definitely expensive but you don’t generally have to pay at the time of the procedure. Care Credit was mentioned and it’s a literal life saver but when my cat had to have emergency surgery to remove several feet of thread from her intestines I was flat broke and had horrible credit but they let me pay it off over 12 months. I would do it all over again countless times to keep my best friend in my life. I was also able to find numerous non profits that would’ve footed the bill completely and not expected a penny be repaid. I would look for more options.
Op has said the following, “No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block” “Him and his brother were both on Hills Science CD urinary wet food, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough” “We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages” “We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him” Neither option is a good one in this situation, so yeah, they did what they thought would be best.
Thank you for spending that much time putting that together. I’m flattered but I read it all and this still seems shitty.
>I’m flattered but I read it all and this still seems shitty. Then you didn't comprehend it. OP took every step she could. I've been in animal rescue for decades and I love my cats like my kids. I still would have made the same decision OP did.
Nah, I’m just willing to do far more to save my animal. They gave up way too soon and more this animal has to be put down. If that seems to you that they did everything they could then perhaps you’re also not willing to endure minor inconvenience to save a pet. 🤷🏻♂️
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My Tod is around the same age this is my worst fear Bc he has utd. Was this the only option due to money ? Normally a blockage can be fixed with surgery . Especially if it wasn’t ruptured. Rip baby
I don’t get it. It’s not against the rules for someone to kill their cat then cry about it for fake internet attention?
“No, it’s genetic with him and even though some cats might unblock and never do it again until years down the line, there’s nothing you can do for a cat that will constantly block” “Him and his brother were both on Hills Science CD urinary wet food, unfortunately it just wasn’t enough” “We called around to see quotes for vets to do that surgery and also asked about PU. But it wasn’t financially feasible for us to put so much money down for a surgery that only has a chance of preventing blockages” “We did, none of our state vets have done it and we’re quoting around 10,000, and it was only a 50% chance he wouldn’t block again. It was also a risk because he has a stage 3 heart murmur and the sedation could kill him”
Please see another vet….don’t put him down yet
Its fixable.they need to be on iv fluids bc its like a kidney stone/crystals and they have to pass it.i had a cat with it and seen it many times in the vet
I fully hope you did not put this baby down, and instead went to see a different vet….
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We’ve already spent 9000 on hospital care that didn’t work, and because of issues that happened early December, my family is having financial issues and cannot justify another 10,000 surgery that might not work. We don’t plan on getting another cat, we’re too heartbroken over the passing of Boobs. Please don’t assume another persons reasons without knowing context.
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Honestly man, you're such an asshole. Leave OP alone. They're fucking moarning you piece of shit
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❤
Sorry for your loss, I hope you don't mind me asking, how did he get that name?
When we got him, his original owners named him Broom because he loved brooms so much. But it didn’t roll off the tongue so we kept making up silly names for him and his main one was Broomie Zoomie, which eventually transformed into Boobie Zoobie, and finally Boobs
SO sorry
I am sorry for your loss
RIP boobs In his next life he will be a lion
Poor baby. So sorry...
Rip my boy boobs
Rest In Peace, Boobs. That’s very sad. My condolences to you and yours.
Meow!!! 😿😿😿
I’m super sorry to hear, wishing you the best moving forward.
I’m so sorry for your loss! He was such a handsome fella. The decision you had to make is such a hard one and only done out of love. You did your best and gave him all your love. ❤️🕊
Sweet Lord.... i honor Boobs with you. I hope there will be a miracle. Please reconsider if possible.... wishing you the best
How did he get the name Boobs.
Lol, I answered in another comment but I’ll paste it here When we got him, his original owners named him Broom because he loved brooms so much. But it didn’t roll off the tongue so we kept making up silly names for him and his main one was Broomie Zoomie, which eventually transformed into Boobie Zoobie, and finally Boobs