I hope you and Bear have a good outcome.

I had to say goodbye to my emotional support cat two months ago. He helped me through losing my mom 6 years ago, his “brother” four years ago (they weren’t related, just a bonded pair when I adopted them), and my dad last year. He was 18 and started having problems breathing and eating. We went to the emergency vet when he jumped up on his sunny resting spot and I saw that he couldn’t catch his breath. I was lucky. He made the decision easy for me.

My wish for you and Bear is that no matter what happens, you will not second-guess whatever decision you make. It’s hard enough to lose a fur friend, especially one that’s been by your side for 17 years, but you don’t have to make the grieving process harder by playing the “if only I’d…” game. Bear is counting on you to do the right thing, and IMO, any decision you make from a position of love and compassion is the RIGHT thing.

Get well soon, Jester! You have good humans looking after you.

Sorry to hear this sad news. Gigi was beautiful. I had a mackerel tabby, too, but mine was short-haired. He was also mine for a little over 11 years and I miss him every day. I hope your heart heals soon.

Seems like the second part of the sentence answers the question in the first part.