Do I say something? [Upsetting content about a cat]

[FlowersAndShit]

A few years ago, a family member found a very young kitten by their house. Family member took the kitten in, and they developed a very strong bond, cat was well loved/looked after.

Fast forward a few years, cat struggles to urinate and is urinating blood. Family member has financial difficulties and between jobs, also doesn't drive and couldn't afford to take it to the vet.

2 weeks later, cat can't urinate at all, won't eat, is delirious and vomiting, cries when moving/crawling along the floor. Family member tries to get someone to take him to the vet, the next day.

At the vet, the cat is found to have a urinary blockage which is fatal within 48 hours if not surgically treated. Family member takes cat home, and asks around for money to pay for the surgery. I donated what I could afford, and some very kind person donated over £1000 and the target was reached.

Cat was taken to the vet again on the day, he was in a VERY bad state and I had a horrible feeling this poor cat was too far gone.

Anyway, the vet performed the surgery, and the poor cat died. Family member was devastated.

I was very upset/angry that he waited so long to get help for the poor cat, and as a result the cat suffered a long and painful death . Family member is very upset so obviously I'd never say anything.

However, the cat (unneutured male) was fed only dry food, which is well known for causing these fatal blockages in neutured male cats, as they aren't able to drink enough water, so they get their water from their food.

He has another cat, and I'm concerned that he might not be aware of the danger of dry food, and wanted to tell him how wet food is much better and could prevent this happening.

WIBU to put it in a really nice way or is it inappropriate? I just don't want his other cat to suffer but I don't want to offend this person.

He's 14 ghosty but thanks for that. I will. I have money to pay for him but it's worth checking out other options. He went to the vet two months ago for booster vaccinations and a general health check and she said he was in really good nick now he's had his rotten teeth removed.

It also cheers me every time I pick him up because he's not fat, but is surprisingly heavy for his skinny build - that unscientific test makes me feel he's doing okay

OP when you became aware that the cat was unwell why didn't you tell your family member about place like the RSPCA, Blue Cross, PDSA etc? Maybe you could even have offered them and the cat a lift if you had access to a car.

I don't drive and he isn't entitled to financial help as he isn't on benefits, just self-employed and hasn't been paid.

My vet told me it would be better for my cats, one of which is male and neutered, to eat only dry food. I do give some wet anyway though.

it would have been so much better if the cat hadn't been taken in by the skint person & instead went to live in a cage at a animal shelter for the last few yrs. Wildly superior situation.... Not. :(

At our vets we can take our dog in for whatever treatment is needed and then arrange a payment plan with them afterwards. I'm surprised these vets didn't

All 3 of my neutered boy cats are exclusively fed on a dry food diet on suggestion of the vet! They also have water available to them all day even if they choose to drink out of the tap - the garden - the bath - my glass! I had a cat who also suffered from a blocked bladder (and he was wet food diet) and the likely cause according to the vet was that he had been neutered too early! (He was a rescue to us so don't know when that happened).