Sometimes being an animal lover means making some really tough choices.

I thought I would share this information if anyone else finds themselves in this situation.

There was a street cat living outside my apartment and for a long time he was doing really well, until he started going downhill badly.
I was feeding him every day but he stopped eating, was losing weight and looked really bad.
He obviously had serious problems as his back legs became lame and there's no way he could have taken care of himself anymore.

So I took him to VSL Veterinary Clinic yesterday, where he was euthanased.
I first went to the Khmer vet but they don't do it, and Animal Mama was closed for a couple of days.

VSL provide a really good discount for street cats, and all up it cost me $98 to have him put down and cremated. I opted not to collect the ashes.
I'm sure I could have found a slightly cheaper price but I didn't want the pool old guy to suffer anymore.

Walking along the street with a friend late one night in PP a couple of years ago, we came across a tiny little baby kitten that wouldn't stop meowing / crying. It was all on it's own, I presume having been abandoned by its mother and it was clearly blind. I don't know much about cats, I'm not sure if it was blind because it wasn't old enough to have opened its eyes yet, or if it really was blind and that was why it had been abandoned by its mother. We really didn't have a clue what to do. Neither of us were in a position to take it home with us but we couldn't just leave it wandering around meowing / crying and bumping into everything. We briefly considered putting it out of its misery but soon realised neither of us had it in us to do that, so I'm ashamed to say it, but we just decided to leave it. We just couldn't think of anything else we could do for it.

I wouldn't call myself an animal lover per se, but it's human nature to try to help an animal in distress.

Just out of curiosity, what would you have done?

That's a tough situation Newborn cats have a low rate of survival without their mother and she possibly abandoned him because there was something wrong with him.
I would have taken it, I am quite set up to deal with a tiny kitten but even then, chances of survival would have been low.

I would have taken it for a few days to make sure it could survive.
Then I'd get on some of the Facebook groups, there are several cat / pet owner groups in Phnom Penh and hopefully find a foster home at least.
I couldn't keep it long term with my 5 cats.

PAWS, Animal Mama and expat Facebook groups would be the first place to start.

Next time bring it to me please. I have an expats special $45 ea. or 4 for $100.

David Gordon wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 10:35 am Next time bring it to me please. I have an expats special $45 ea. or 4 for $100.

Expats special for what?

nothing in David Gordon's positing history suggests qualified vet.
perhaps he would use the cat for bait or target practice or something.

rozzieoz wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 6:12 am Sometimes being an animal lover means making some really tough choices.

I thought I would share this information if anyone else finds themselves in this situation.

There was a street cat living outside my apartment and for a long time he was doing really well, until he started going downhill badly.
I was feeding him every day but he stopped eating, was losing weight and looked really bad.
He obviously had serious problems as his back legs became lame and there's no way he could have taken care of himself anymore.

So I took him to VSL Veterinary Clinic yesterday, where he was euthanased.
I first went to the Khmer vet but they don't do it, and Animal Mama was closed for a couple of days.

VSL provide a really good discount for street cats, and all up it cost me $98 to have him put down and cremated. I opted not to collect the ashes.
I'm sure I could have found a slightly cheaper price but I didn't want the pool old guy to suffer anymore.

Sometimes euthanasia is the kindest option

I'd guess the cremation is the bulk of the expense

rozzieoz wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 10:25 am That's a tough situation Newborn cats have a low rate of survival without their mother and she possibly abandoned him because there was something wrong with him.
I would have taken it, I am quite set up to deal with a tiny kitten but even then, chances of survival would have been low.

I would have taken it for a few days to make sure it could survive.
Then I'd get on some of the Facebook groups, there are several cat / pet owner groups in Phnom Penh and hopefully find a foster home at least.
I couldn't keep it long term with my 5 cats.

PAWS, Animal Mama and expat Facebook groups would be the first place to start.

This is also a possible option https://ar-cambodia.com/

Bluenose wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 3:19 pm This is also a possible option https://ar-cambodia.com/

Yes! Thank you

Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 1:52 pm I'd guess the cremation is the bulk of the expense

That was $44, they offered to give him back to me afterwards but I rather let them deal with that part of it.