this post was submitted on
9 points (66% like it)
18 up votes 9 down votes
shortlink:
to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture...

8
9

This is reddit; surely someone can tell me something about cats, cat cancer and marijuana right? We have maybe a day or two left together :( (self.AskReddit)

submitted ago by [deleted]

My vintage sidekick has recently been diagnosed with cancer, diabetes and hyperthyroid (sp?) and kidney disease. We could do surgery but at 14 it seems selfish of me to put her through that along with chemo and pills and needles. So I brought her home last night to be comfortable. I've offered all kinds of goodies to eat but she has hardly any appetite and the vet says she's nauseous and feeling generally unwell. Arrangements are in place for the vet to come to my house when it's time (a day or three I'd guess). In the meantime is there anything else I can do to make her happy/comfy? I've been reading online this am that marijuana smoke (blown in her vicinity) may ease some pain and encourage her to eat. Can anyone confirm this? Anyone have any experience? My heart is breaking but if it will give her even another hour of pleasant, purring joy I will do anything. I don't smoke but could get it in an hour. Thx guys and please forgive typos - on phone.

all 23 comments
sorted by:
best
hot
new
controversial
top
old

[–]Lorimor 12 points13 points ago

It is time to do what you can for your kitty and let her go with some dignity. It is time. Don't hold out. We held out much too long for our puppy and I still feel bad that his last days were more about us than him. I am not saying that is your situation but if your pal cannot eat and is sickly and not getting better it is time. I know how hard this can be and I am sorry.

[–]brock_lee 6 points7 points ago

Yup. I went a day too long with my last cat. Don't go a day too long.

[–]gergsie 1 point2 points ago

I agree. My favorite cat passed in May. I knew it was time to let him go, but my family wanted to wait a little longer. The thing that convinced everyone was when the vet said, "he's not in pain, but he's suffering." Then everyone understood. OP, if you can get a vet to come in rather than taking the cat out again, this is a great option which lets the cat pass in a comfortable and familiar surrounding. I'm sorry.

[–]Lorimor 0 points1 point ago

My vet said the same thing. We had brought our kitty in and he was so terrified of the crate I couldn't imagine doing it again. He died quietly with everyone who loved him touching him.

[–]tjblue 9 points10 points ago

Hang out with her and pet her.

[–]venuswasaflytrap 6 points7 points ago

Pet her lots

[–]PatsBabe 7 points8 points ago

Definitely stay with your cat and pet her/him. Even while suffering, it will be comforting and more pleasant for her/him. My heart goes out to you and your cat.

[–]Lorimor 5 points6 points ago

This is very true. One of our cats that rarely came near anyone spent the last month of his life in my arms. I would cradle him with his head on my shoulder.

Whisper too him and pet him. And call the vet.

[–]PatsBabe 8 points9 points ago

Yep, animals have emotions too and they have feelings.

[–]PatsBabe 2 points3 points ago

Yep, animals have emotions too and they have feelings.

[–]Dax420 6 points7 points ago

Yes, it will definitely work.

Story time: Back in the day we used to hot box my friends bedroom after school. She had 2 cats, one of the cats was a total pothead. Somehow the cat knew when we were going to spark one and would come running into the bedroom. If the door was already closed he would scratch at the door until we opened it and let the cat in. Cat would chill on the bed while we smoked, then eventually wander back into the living room, finish it's entire bowl of food (barely stopping to breathe) and then down the whole bowl of water and pass out in the sunny spot on the top of the couch. This happened daily. Silly stoner cat.

[–]Midgers 1 point2 points ago

Must have been a fat cat too.

[–]Wanna_fight_about_it 6 points7 points ago

Catnip. Give it a try.

[–]JeepChick 3 points4 points ago

That used to be her favoritest thing...she won't go near it anymore. Thanks for trying though.

[–]Anna_Draconis 5 points6 points ago

Pets know when it's their time, they make the decision for you. Just hold her and be there for her, it's hard but it's all you can do. Don't delay going to the vet, it's just another day that she suffers.

[–]trapped_in_a_box 4 points5 points ago

I say try the pot smoke. It works with humans in the same condition and I've never seen anywhere that it will harm her. It's worth try. Warm thoughts to you and your kitty.

[–]GorillaGirl -2 points-1 points ago*

Actually, marijuana, inhaled or eaten, is toxic to cats, so if you really want to kill it yourself, do this. Exposing cats to cannabis can lead to depression, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, and coma. She definitely would not die happily. Instead, just snuggle and pet her, and if she likes to lay in laps, do that.

That being said, my cat also had cancer for about a year. We put her on steroids and she got a lot better, but it sucked shoving those pills down her throat. She had good days and bad days, but we thought she might pull through because she was a feisty bugger. Anyway, she lived for a while, but one day she took a nosedive. She was cold, couldn't walk, couldn't eat or drink, nothing. I ended up having to take her to be put down that day. You're just gonna have to let your baby go so it can go peacefully and without pain. I don't think she would want to be put through all that crap, especially if survival and recovery is not guaranteed.

EDIT - My various sources. This was a reply, but I figure it's just easier to add here. Whatever. And for the record, I'm not anti-pot, I'm just anti-potentially harming a pet who is already quite ill.

I caught this last year during a Yahoo! News Christmas special as a reminder of what you should not feed your pets. But I did verify this with a few other sites.

Anything I typed in regarding marijuana toxicity to cats, affects on cats from marijuana ingestion/inhalation, and things in general that are toxic to cats, the information I found regarding marijuana was not positive. It's illogical to say that because it works on humans means it's probably okay for cats. For example, chocolate and acetaminophen, two things you definitely do not want to feed cats.

Further EDIT: To be clear, a healthy cat may not die from marijuana exposure and would recover, and some cats (like trapped_in_a_box's) may not have a reaction, as long as the amount to which it was exposed was not tremendous, but it is still toxic and, I would think, should generally be avoided. I wouldn't risk making OP's cat miserable, or worse, killing her, which could be possible due to her weakened physical state.

[–]SoundHound 9 points10 points ago

Actually, marijuana, inhaled or eaten, is toxic to cats, so if you really want to kill it yourself, do this. Exposing cats to cannabis can lead to depression, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, and coma. She definitely would not die happily. Instead, just snuggle and pet her, and if she likes to lay in laps, do that.

Sorry to be 'that guy', but this is news to me. Do you have a source for that information?

[–]trapped_in_a_box 5 points6 points ago

Funny - my cats have never had a negative reaction to eating my stash. Got a link to verify that?

[–]Ozwaldo 3 points4 points ago

toxic to cats

where the fuck did you get that from?

[–]cmk1454 0 points1 point ago

I would have to agree with letting the kitty go. My cat of 19 years got diagnosed with kidney disease. It was a horrible site and i still get upset to this day. She stopped eating, walking and being happy. I would carry her around the house to all her favorite spots. Cats don't want to live like that. I sat her down and literary explained to her what had to happen (I know.. I know..) It was comforting knowing that maybe she understood. We took her to the vet and she passed away very gently. Its time for your kitten to pass, just think about what a wonder life they lived. They will look down on you in kitty heaven!

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2012 reddit inc. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

π Rendered by PID 3768 on app-05 running 86c9e1d.