Ok this is the second time in 5 years the Animal Specialty & Emergency Center of Brevard has declared one of our cats mortally ill and to have them undergo $3K-$5k procedure or else we need to put them down ASAP because they were suffering. To be fair, my cat was in distress after the short car ride, but he's a turkey, he's huge and unhealthy. It has happened before. To be fair, yes, he does have congestive heart failure, which is not a fatal diagnosis. It was diagnosed a decade back. They did have to put him on oxygen. I don't disagree with that. But before taking him in, he was otherwise a happy cat, eating, drinking, using the litter box, etc. He is an old man though, slowing down at 13 years old. He weighs 26lbs. He was not suffering though. I get that it is a business and vet's deserve to get paid for their talent. However, no emergency vets work with you and I think in the best interest of the families involved they should work with people. IF they truly cared about a pets' well-being, they would help, not hurt a pet owner.
I can understand the emergency vet visit costing $300 after they helped themselves to testing. But that does not cover anything besides them looking at him for a minute. They convinced me to sign a CPR form which would cost $1200 if performed. That includes CPR and stabilization. They convinced me that he may need it any moment. You become the prey for $$$ the minute you enter the door. I felt robbed and in more pain when they do a money grab before knowing anything. He had a bit of fluid buildup, but in a human, you get put on diuretics. That was not even suggested until we rejected euthanasia and wanted to take him home to live his last minutes or hours with his family. I may never be ready, he is the only piece of my mom I had left because she found him just before she died. She loved him. So I have a hard time letting go, but would not put him down because they claimed he was suffering. His suffering lasted one hour and I feel so much guilt because I did take him in the car when he is scared to death, literally. It was only for 4 minutes there and 4 minutes back. That was too much.
Getting my Squeaker home resolved the distress after an hour. He's back to being a relatively happy cat, eating his tuna, eating his treats and being lazy. No signs of suffering at all.
I will never ever in my life again go to this vet. The last time they did this was with Jason's cat Mira. She went on to live 6 months after a stroke, as she was just blind but not suffering.
Squeaker will get every last second with his family and die loved. I don't know how much time I have left with him, but he is alive and he is happy. If he suffers one moment, I will be the first to know and then, we will make that decision. Not a vet who hasn't known him more than 5 minutes.
![Ok this is the second time in 5 years the @[100063835546477:2048:Animal Specialty & Emergency Center of Brevard] has declared one of our cats mortally](https://www.jensnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2b7e37166b-10163266165843763.jpg)
Originally posted on Facebook on June 23, 2026.
