An ethical dilemma concerning my cat

Swan Red · April 26, 2017

I have two cats, brothers, that we've had for 9 1/2 years. One of the cats was diagnosed with diabetes last year and so is on a strict diet and feeding/insulin regimen, which means he gets injected and fed twice a day. They had been grazers in as much as there was always food for them but they've adapted okay now, both cats are fed strictly because we have to make sure the cat with diabetes isn't eating the other cats food.

Now the cats live in the country and there are feral cats around with whom they fight, a lot, as they are getting older they are less able for it. Took the cat to the vet a couple of weeks ago and discovered the cat with diabetes also has FIV, the feline equivalent to HIV. It won't lead to death for 6 years or so assuming he doesn't pick up an infection from the feral cats who he caught FIV from. This means I need to keep the cat indoors at all times to keep him isolated from the feral cats, the other cat come in and out as he wants but only when we are about because the cat flap is now closed permanently. So he's either stuck in during the day or if he doesn't get back after going for a stroll in the morning stuck out and has to wait for us.

Now the cat with FIV is pining to go out a bit more especially when he sees the other cat coming and going while we're in and I'm not sure whether I'm keeping him in for his sake or ours. I'll be devastated when we lose them but I don't want to prolong his life merely for my benefit at the expense of his quality of life, so do I.

A) Keep the cat in and hopefully healthy getting the next 6 years or so out of him as an indoor cat.

B) Let the cat out and take our chances with the feral cats in the area.

B will definitely shorten his life expectancy but may improve his quality of life. Other options such as Bonsai cats or euthanising the cat will be ignored other than for me to judge the person offering it. What say you?

Tosh · April 26, 2017

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