Would you get a pet pts because of the cost of treatment?

[Reluctantadult]

Vet treatment is absolutely hammering our finances. Dcat is 16 and diabetic, currently badly controlled and in the middle of trying to sort. Ddog is 12 and has just needed his second lot of tooth extractions - which comes with the territory for greyhound types unfortunately. I think we must have spent £800 teeth, £665 teeth, £3000 things at emergency vet for cat, £100 baseline per month diabetic care. No insurance. Luckily we've been able to pay, it's come out of a pot of inheritance dh received, £30k left which we are never going to see the likes of again and which is earmarked for the kids futures. Dh thinks if more things come up now, particularly with the cat, that might need to be it. He doesn't want to see more money going on diagnosis and treatment. I'm not sure how i would handle that decision. I would want to diagnose before pts, and have it medical led. But it's not really my money. But i would have to cuddle dcat when he goes and live with it. What do others think?

We happily spent money when we were investigating our beloved cat's illness, but I strongly resisted treatments or investigations that would have a huge impact on her wellbeing. When it was apparent that she wasn't going to be able to sustain a good quality of life, we said goodbye.

She was a lively and loving cat, and I didn't want her to die a shadow of herself because we were to selfish to let go. I'd rather mourn her than put her through all that just for me.

We are good earners, and at the end of the day we can make more money though.

Yes. Children trump pets. Our finances as a family are more important than keeping pets alive at all costs. I love my pets but they are animals.

I don't wish to turn this into a debate about veganism but I also eat animals(!)

It seems strange to have a moral imperative to spend a fortune on maintaining a cat with brittle diabetes yet to also eat meat. The principle difference is only your relationship to the animals in question. I think we should treat animals with respect and without cruelty but I don't think we should keep them alive at all costs (and clearly under some circumstances I believe it is acceptable to kill them purely for our own benefit).

If my cat developed brittle diabetes I would have him PTS. I genuinely don't think the benefits to the animal justify the cost and it is not natural for them to have injections etc just to remain alive. Even though if someone said spend a certain amount and the cat will certainly live a completely healthy unmedicated life as a result, there would be a limit to that amount, because I've got to contrast what else that money could be spent on.

I would pay (and have paid) or his dental care as the costs are somewhat more finite.

@Littlemissfroggy that's exactly how I feel. Humans trump animals end of.

I've a few animals love them all dearly but if I had to Chuck a load of money at them to keep them alive then I'd have no problem pts. My next door neighbour has spent 9 grand on her pet in the last two years. Mental.

My cat was PTS last week, as it was time. I'm heartbroken to loose her. But I must admit it's a huge financial relief as her insurance premiums were astronomical. I'm £100 a month better off now. Having said that, she was worth it and I wish she was still here. But money has to be a consideration.

This is so so hard and we can’t give you an answer. I probably wouldn’t pts just because of the bills, but this isn’t just about the bills, this is a chronically ill cat that has already lived far beyond its natural lifespan and is unlikely to improve.

I pts a cat where cost were spiralling out of control and even with all that cost the cat was still getting more ill and had low quality of life. If the treatment had fixed the cat I would have carried on paying.

By the way my cat also had rotten teeth which the vet wanted removed, but then the vet discovered anaesthetic would kill my cat. Vet then said don’t remove the teeth and explained that if ignored the rotten teeth would simply fall out naturally! Which they did. So do ask questions about what is essential treatment and what is not.

Very sorry about your cat. The end of life is rarely dignified or fast.

Yes, and have done. It's a continuum, isn't it? I obviously wouldn't have a pet pts to save a few hundred quid, but equally if the cost was £20k and beyond the reach of my insurance I probably would. In the case when I did, I had unexpectedly lost my job and was raising my kids on UC, the cat was getting on a bit and the health condition was chronic. I loved that cat but needs must.

I asked the vet what she would do if t was her cat. She said euthanise. I suspect your cat’s vet might say the same @Reluctantadult.

I started this thread in April, here is Cat today in his favourite spot in the garden, doing very well currently bless him.

I'm really pleased to read your update I was worried you had gone ahead @Reluctantadult
DCat is gorgeous and would have been missed. I wouldn't have PTS. Cats are family xx

No I wouldn't . However the more contact I have with vets the more I think they push the most expensive exhaustive treatments . Medical care is eye watering and I can understand why some people may have no choice if the animal isn't insured .

If I had money earmarked for my children's inheritace then I definitely would not spend that on a pet, even if it meant putting the pet to sleep or rehoming it.

It seems strange to have a moral imperative to spend a fortune on maintaining a cat with brittle diabetes yet to also eat meat. The principle difference is only your relationship to the animals in question.

@Littlemissfroggy It's very normal and human to be attached to people and things that we have established relationships with. It's simply part of our natural survival instincts.

Without it, we would all be completely overwhelmed and incapacitated by all of the suffering, natural disasters, war, famine etc in the world that we can do nothing about. Imagine if you felt as strongly about every person you don't know as you did about your immediate family.

I understand your point, but it's also a bit illogical to expect people not to feel differently about their pets than animals they eat.

Yes, I would. Not a popular thing to admit on MN at times, but I can not, and will not, see my child's life be badly impacted, by the cost of veterinary care. I have insurance for both dogs- which has never paid out yet despite costing a small fortune itself, and a maximum amount I can/ will/ would be able to affords after that, then it's whether a residue would take them- unlikely and as an older animal would probably be distressing, or PTS with us there.

I wouldn't put a dog to sleep because he had to have some teeth out. I'm a cat lady so provided my cats seemed happy I would pay for their treatment if it was £100-200 per month. If necessary I'd put it on my credit card but I can afford to pay for them. My cats have given me years of love and affection and I couldn't repay that love by PTS unless my vet advised me it was in their best interest. My previous cat lived until he was almost 21 so 16 seems like a lot of life left to me. I'd ask the vet if dcat was in pain but also be monitoring his quality of life. I just knew when the time came to put my previous cat to sleep from his behaviour.

He doesn't want to see more money going on diagnosis and treatment.

Thats very cold thing to say if the treatment is not unfair on the animal. If my partner thought like that he’d be out the door.

@leonde

No of course I completely agree, I feel very differently about my pets than I do about the animals I literally eat, of course. I have no intention of eating my pets I have a relationship with them, feel very fond of them and feel responsible for their wellbeing. I actually do feel I morally owe them a bit more than other random animals.

Nevertheless I was just trying to say if we can literally kill and eat other animals it doesn't feel relatively speaking like a moral wrong to no longer spend outrageous amounts on chronically sickly or dying pets. It seems like a perfectly morally okay decision to me, not something to feel guilty about. However, I quite agree that how a person may feel about the decision emotionally is a completely different matter than what is the "right" or "wrong" thing to do. If that makes sense.

I'm glad that the OP's cat looks so well and that they are happy with the decision they made.