Well I've talked to the surgeon. It's this or him dying. It's also going to be between 2 and 3 thousnd dollars. She says that the amputation will maybe give him another 2 years. Jesus.

Also, Kristin, if you need to cancel tonight, it's totally okay. Just play it by ear and if you'd like company, we'd love to come. If not, totally understandable, too.

ETA: I'm so so sorry. These kinds of decisions are so awful. Thinking of you both.

Three thousand dollars to cut off a tiny little cat leg? Good god.

Oh, honey. {{{Kristin and Byron}}} I'm so sorry that the decision is such a stark one.

{{{Kristin and Byron}}}

((((Kristin and Byron)))) Do what you need to. And if you go with the amputation, make sure you know what that 2-3K covers.

{{Kristin}} {{Byron}}

Strength ~ma to you both.

It's all broken down. It covers all pre and post op checks, meds, labs, elizabethan collar, all parts of the operation, procedure, etc. Apparently it would be a lot less at the regular vets, but the regular vet says he doesn't have the level of equiptment or resources to deal as safely with an older cat. So I found out last night that between federal, state, and Bush rebate tax refunds, I'm getting 3000 back. I was going to use it to pay off the computer and vet bills to this point, but I have decided that it is going to pay for this instead. If the surgeon hadn't been so overwhelmingly positive about his prognosis, his potential to have a happy, healthy future, if he does have the amputation, then I wouldn't have done it. But she is. And if I don't do this, he is going to have a very painful, very slow death over the next few months. So. I've left him. I've cried a lot. I will pick him up tomorrow.

Today I need to get supplies to get ready for his recovery.

I know some of you probably think I'm crazy, hell, I would have thought that of myself, but this feels like the right thing, not just for me, but for him too. So there it is.

And for the record, March can fuck off and die.

Kristin, I talked with my vet about this, as he's done many amputations, including TC's. He says losing a hind leg is less of an adjustment than losing a front one for cats (it's the reverse for dogs). Since Byron is older, recovery will take a little longer. He'll be sore and achy, and he'll need stools and steps to get up on furniture, into windows, etc., and especially down. You'll want to make down, especially, easier, so that he doesn't stress the remaining leg.

That said, he'll adjust far faster than a human, and it won't bother him if he occasionally forgets the leg isn't there and topples over. If this is a choice between him losing a leg and losing his life, I think you know what his choice would be. All I can tell you is that living with our three-leggity beastie has been a joy, for him and for us. All possible good thoughts to you and Byron.

So I found out last night that between federal, state, and Bush rebate tax refunds, I'm getting 3000 back.

The universe's timing isn't always bad.