Cat with metastasized liver cancer. What to expect?

[Anonymous]

I got the call from the vet today that no one wants to receive. I had taken my 11 year-old-cat in for his annual checkup and because he had dropped weight in the last month. The vet thought it was hyperthyroidism but it turned out to be a malignant tumor on his liver that has metastasized to his lymph nodes, or vice versa. I'll get the final report tomorrow from the senior vet but the vet who did the MRI/ultrasound said he would not operate because it would be too traumatic for the cat and the cancer was too far spread for surgery to be of use. The cat looks, acts, plays, purrs, eats, and drinks just as he always has. You would never think he was sick. Has anyone gone through this before? What should I expect? A wasting away until a time when the cat just looks like it's in so much pain that I must put him to sleep? How fast?

[Anonymous]

So sorry to hear about your cat. We went through a different cancer with our cat. I'd say it is great news that your cat is eating and playing well. It turns out purring doesn't mean that a cat is happy necessarily. They purr to heal themselves too, which we didn't know. So I fear we kept our kittie in pain too long because we kept saying she is purring. Our cat lived a year from the cancer diagnosis. She was a long haired cat so the weight loss was only obvious when we picked her up. At the end we were feeding her anything she wanted- tuna fish, treats, etcs.

[Anonymous]

Ask the vet when you go in--or make an appointment to talk about it. The vet might give you a time frame to expect. Ask them to be direct about the time frame and what to expect.

Changes in behavior like hiding in closets and not eating and drinking are signs. Google "cat quality of life" scale. That helped me a lot with our cat this summer. Our cat was still capable of giving affection--but not leaving our closet much nor eating from a bowl we placed right near his spot.

I am very sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask the vet when you go in--or make an appointment to talk about it. The vet might give you a time frame to expect. Ask them to be direct about the time frame and what to expect.

Changes in behavior like hiding in closets and not eating and drinking are signs. Google "cat quality of life" scale. That helped me a lot with our cat this summer. Our cat was still capable of giving affection--but not leaving our closet much nor eating from a bowl we placed right near his spot.

I am very sorry.

+1
Also this discussion with a vet would be a good time to discuss when you both think euthanasia might be appropriate, so that if/when the time comes, there's less agonizing or discussion.

[Anonymous]

I'm really sorry to hear it. Also, when you have the discussion with your vet, see if s/he will do a house call for euthanasia -- or find a mobile vet who will come to your house. So much less traumatic for the kitty.

I would also advise erring on the side of euthanizing early -- better a week too early than a day too late, as they say -- your cat cannot fear death but he can suffer pain that he may not be able to express to you. It doesn't get any easier the longer you wait.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all - this is OP - I did everything you said. The vet agreed he would come to the house as a special kindness for our 30 years patronizing his animal hospital. I had described what my old 21 year old cat had gone through and he said there are much kinder ways. So that's settled. So far we haven't told the kids because the cat behaves in the same way he has always had - he's just wasting away. I can see it daily now. But the cat is still a voracious eater so I'm giving him everything he normally doesn't get - human sliced turkey and chicken from the deli counter - canned human-grade chicken and canned - she's just wasting away. Next to come will be yellow eyeballs and we will be able to see yellow inside her ears (white). At some point - i think when she stops eating - then I need to get her cortisone shots. Thanks everyone for posting and trying to help.