Years ago a cat kept visiting my Mum's garden and appeared to be stray. After a few weeks, my brother feared the cat a stray so we took it to vets and could not trace any owners. I took it in and it was aged approx. 9 years old. I as never had a dog/cat before so was unaware of vets bills later down the line and just tried to do the right thing at the time.
I am on benefits so get reduced rate vets bills but I now have to go almost every two weeks now the cat is 17 and having lots of health issues. The centre is a 20 minute car journey which end up with a cat carrier full of stressed poo, drool and urine. I'm not sure if it's a false economy and maybe I should go to a regular vet who will be more thorough?
Cat is dripping faeces out of his bum or not finishing and having poo stuck in his bum which then is wiped on carpet etc. He absolutely stinks at both ends and cannot groom himself. His tail is at the wrong angle and his tummy has become acutely bloated and getting bigger. He is struggling with a weak back end and the added weight to move around. Vets have done a urine test, tried antibiotics and pain relief plus put him on a 'super senior food' as he is "no longer keeping hold of his protein from his food" but they just seem to be guessing on whether there is a bigger issue ie growth or organ infection - it is obviously costing more money in the long run for me and extending cats discomfort. Being a charity I guess they are limited in how much they can offer to one pet, appointments are always rushed.
Can anyone give an intelligent guess at what I should ask for from a private vet and what a reasonable vet will charge (I have used private in the past when employed and found a very fair priced one). DH is of the 'PTS' opinion but the cat eats, drinks and snoozes quite happily and responds to petting so I wouldn't say he had a poor quality of life - especially if some of these issues can be resolved.