Page 4 | I can't afford my vet bill

oldmind · 2024-06-20T17:48:51+00:00

My 9 month old cat isn't well. 2 trips to the vets with anti inflammatory meds and she still isn't right. They've told me to bring her back tomorrow for bloods and possible scans and I could be looking at over £1k for treatment. I'm a single mum of 3 kids with additional needs. I've just gone back to work but only work 12 hours per weeks as I just cannot do anymore. I did have insurance for her but I cancelled it as the insurance company I chose were terrible and haven't replaced it yet - I only did this a few weeks ago! A random payment came out of my account and I cancelled the whole thing. Is there anything I can do? Please don't tell me to not have pets if I can't afford them.

Overtheatlantic · 20/06/2024 21:25

oldmind · 20/06/2024 20:34

I have always had cats and have always been a good cat owner.

I got got this cat for my son with additional needs who has not got one single friend at the age of 15.

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I’m very sorry for your son but this doesn’t negate the needs of the cat: best wishes

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:22

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:20

@frazzledbutcalm she's on a mixture of wet and dried food. I've cooked her some chicken too but she won't touch it. Water bowls are always full.

Not using the litter tray either. Both vets said her tummy feels fine. It sounds like respiratory issues but not 100%.

For the moment, while she’s poorly, only feed her wet food, at least that way she’s getting water.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/06/2024 21:22

Is it a chain with a green logo. and a rhyming name, by any chance?They are owned by private equity and their prices are shocking.
£1,000 for a scan and bloods is ridiculous.
Can you speak to another, independent vet?

Original poster

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:21

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:21

No idea where the gif came from 🤣🤣🤣

It's ok - it made me smile! Thank you for standing up for me!

OP posts:

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:21

No idea where the gif came from 🤣🤣🤣

Simonjt · 20/06/2024 21:20

fluffypooch · 20/06/2024 20:27

@Bulkypeepants nonsense I've done it loads of times.

What, spouted absolute bullshit?

Original poster

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:20

@frazzledbutcalm she's on a mixture of wet and dried food. I've cooked her some chicken too but she won't touch it. Water bowls are always full.

Not using the litter tray either. Both vets said her tummy feels fine. It sounds like respiratory issues but not 100%.

OP posts:

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:20

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:18

@OohCookedPerfectly yes but I've had plenty of advice since I posted.

I have another vet I can now take her too through the pdsa and blue cross and the bills will be much more manageable - hopefully.

I have another cat who I have insurance for however for this one as I said, I went with a different company who I thought would be decent but they weren't. Cancelled it and stupidly forgot to sort it.

Yes that's my mistake. Fair enough - I'm a shit cat owner

@oldmind please ignore @OohCookedPerfectly she’s being pretty horrid. You’re not a shit cat owner .. if you were, you wouldn’t be trying to get help.

Netflix Never Have I Ever GIF by Mashable

Simonjt · 20/06/2024 21:20

fluffypooch · 20/06/2024 20:21

Get the treatment done and when it's time to pay just say you haven't got it and offer to pay it off. What can they do? They hardly gonna keep the cat 🤷🏻‍♀️

They will go to court to claim the money back, if OP refuses to pay there are then two options, a high court writ or an attachment on her earnings.

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:19

Oh, and £90 consultation?? Ours are nowhere near that!

Original poster

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:18

@OohCookedPerfectly yes but I've had plenty of advice since I posted.

I have another vet I can now take her too through the pdsa and blue cross and the bills will be much more manageable - hopefully.

I have another cat who I have insurance for however for this one as I said, I went with a different company who I thought would be decent but they weren't. Cancelled it and stupidly forgot to sort it.

Yes that's my mistake. Fair enough - I'm a shit cat owner

OP posts:

frazzledbutcalm · 20/06/2024 21:18

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:15

@Blueberry911 I didn't explain this very well.

I called the vets again at 4pm to say she still wasn't well since yesterday- she did pick up this morning but went back down hill in the afternoon.

My vet receptionist told me to come back in at 6pm as an emergency so I did however it was a different vet I saw today. She basically said there was nothing she could do at this time of day and said I would have been better to wait and bring her in the morning. No idea what is wrong with her (that's fair enough) but I ended up paying for another £90 consultation to bringing her back at 7.30 in the morning. She also told me I will definitely need my purse.

I just didn't like the vet.

What food is your cat on and how much is it drinking? When it’s hot like this, mine literally are floored/lethrgic .. but they drink loads of water a day. If yours isn’t drinking enough, maybe that’s part of the problem?

SecondStarOnTheRight · 20/06/2024 21:18

I don't know if it will help, but I'm sure I've seen some vets accept Klarna etc. It might help if you can't get PDSA help or something.

But I really hope kitten pulls through. 🩷

Abi86 · 20/06/2024 21:16

Overtheatlantic · 20/06/2024 20:32

I don’t mean to be rude but with 3 children with additional needs and you working part time perhaps this isn’t the best time for a cat. Cats have their own needs. All the best.

Even poor people deserve the opportunity to have a pet. The reality is we all have a threshold of how much we're prepared to spend on our pets - even you!

The OP looks like a very deserving and caring owner.

Original poster

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:15

@Blueberry911 I didn't explain this very well.

I called the vets again at 4pm to say she still wasn't well since yesterday- she did pick up this morning but went back down hill in the afternoon.

My vet receptionist told me to come back in at 6pm as an emergency so I did however it was a different vet I saw today. She basically said there was nothing she could do at this time of day and said I would have been better to wait and bring her in the morning. No idea what is wrong with her (that's fair enough) but I ended up paying for another £90 consultation to bringing her back at 7.30 in the morning. She also told me I will definitely need my purse.

I just didn't like the vet.

OP posts:

OohCookedPerfectly · 20/06/2024 21:15

Opinionwontchangeluv · 20/06/2024 21:12

Animals were meant to be outside, we in the western world made them pets. You are worthy of having a pet.
I know RSPCA and PDSA can see you on low income

No-one is entitled to own a pet for their own benefit if they can't afford to take care of them properly. Unfortunate, but true.

OnTheBoardwalk · 20/06/2024 21:12

Do try PDSA and see if they can help you

i had £10k insurance and had to find another £4K for treatment for my cat. It was the wrong decision. Finding the £4K was difficult however it wasn’t the right decision for my cat and she suffered

appreciate a younger cat could be different

OohCookedPerfectly · 20/06/2024 21:12

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Opinionwontchangeluv · 20/06/2024 21:12

Animals were meant to be outside, we in the western world made them pets. You are worthy of having a pet.
I know RSPCA and PDSA can see you on low income

Drivingmissmarigold · 20/06/2024 21:11

She is extremely ill however I am annoyed at my vets that I have been twice now, paid twice and am absolutely no further on to know what's wrong with her.
Well if you won't pay for tests how on earth do you expect them to reach a diagnosis? It's not like your cat can tell them how she feels. Your vets have gone down the cheapest least invasive route by treating symptoms, if there's no improvement then tests need done to find out why, not hard to understand.
And no you shouldn't have got a cat you clearly could not afford.
Charity or loan seem to be your options now.

Original poster

oldmind · 20/06/2024 21:09

@OohCookedPerfectly I haven't said my cat isn't going to get the right care have I? I'm asking for advice on what to do which is the first thing anyone else would in my situation.

My cat is very much loved and well looked after - chipped, neutered, vaccines up to date. Well fed. Flea and worming treatment every month. She is a very happy and well looked after cat.

My cat will get the help it needs - I have a family member since posting this that has offered to pay for her treatment which I will take however the rescue had also called me and has offered to help with her treatment also.

I am also eligible for help with the pdsa which will be my first port of call thanks to the lovely and helpful posts on here who directed me to it. I have filled out the form and it has been accepted so I can sort that tomorrow.

I am hopeful that she will feel better over night thanks to her medication she's had today and yesterday (which yes I have paid for) but if not then I have a better idea of what to do next.

OP posts:

Blueberry911 · 20/06/2024 21:00

oldmind · 20/06/2024 19:52

She is extremely ill however I am annoyed at my vets that I have been twice now, paid twice and am absolutely no further on to know what's wrong with her.

I could try another vets - I have contacted the rescue where I got her from to see which vets they advise

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Just because you have paid doesn't mean they can magic an answer up for you. Think of how many medical appointments and tests some humans need before they get a diagnosis. Just because vets charge (because there is no animal NHS) doesn't mean they can just give us an answer.

I'm sorry it's incredibly expensive for you and I hope your kitty gets well soon x

OohCookedPerfectly · 20/06/2024 20:55

Overtheatlantic · 20/06/2024 20:32

I don’t mean to be rude but with 3 children with additional needs and you working part time perhaps this isn’t the best time for a cat. Cats have their own needs. All the best.

I agree.

Why is it ok that a defenseless animal doesn't get the help it needs because the OP has taken an animal on when they can't afford one. It's not the poor cats fault. Ot honestly makes me so mad!

It's basically saying it's ok for the cat not to get the right help because the OP took on something they can't afford. People are not entitled to take on animals, regardless of circumstances. The poor animals deserve more.

Otterock · 20/06/2024 20:51

I work at a vets. The best thing to do is to be clear about what you can/can’t afford and ask them to explain what each test they’re suggesting will test for and how much it will cost. Work with the vet and make the plan together (any half decent vet will be happy to do so).

And for crying out loud do not do what another user has suggested and just claim to not have the money and not pay.

OohCookedPerfectly · 20/06/2024 20:49

Carock · 20/06/2024 18:52

Also no one expects to blow £1k on vet bills out of nowhere, that doesn’t make you not worthy of an owner. The only mistake you made was cancelling insurance without having another. I’m sure it’s no one you’d make again. You’ll have to be aware though, new cover may now cost more or won’t cover anything your cat now has.

Dont fall for the trap of saving a little in a pot, instead of insurance. £1k for a cat is actually not much in the grand scale of things. My last cat cost me an additional £4k in vet bills - on top of the £4k limit!! Find a good insurance that is over £6k cover at least imo

Edited

Don't be ridiculous. This is of course a distinct possibility with pets.