To think the vet/RSPCA are BU and what do i do now?

[Chaosdragon]

Saturday afternoon person knocks on the door to say that they have seen my cat staggering into the back garden and they think its been hit by a car as its dragging its legs. Me and DSs go and hunt for the cat which we find but it turns out not to be ours. Its quite clearly got cat flu or the like as has green snot running out of its eyes and its nose is completely caked over. It also doesn't seem able to stand.

I ring the vets to say can I take it in to be told they don't have a stray cat account and so to ring the RSPCA to get a log number so they can see it and the RSPCA will pay for it. Done and we take the cat in.

The good news is that theres nothing wrong with its back end, it seems to be staggering because its got an ear infection as well as the cat flu. Vet can't keep cat in surgery because there is noone there on the Sunday, so its agreed it will come home with me until Monday and I am given some medication to give it Sun night / monday morning.

Its the cutest little thing and mega friendly but its not eating or drinking and I ring the emergency vet sunday night to ask advice as medication is to be given on a full stomach. They say not to give one lot of the medication and ring my surgery first thing Monday as originally planned.

I ring my vet this morning and am basically told there is nothing they are willing can do. They can't have it at the surgery as they have healthy cats in and no isolation room. They won't see it or give it any more treatment as the cover vet on Saturday did a lot and bill is already £150 and she has only ever known RSPCA to pay up to £80 so they already won't get paid whole amount so cant do more. She knows local cat charities are full and it will be difficult for any of them to take cat it. Suggests I ring RSPCA

I ring RSPCA and am basically told to release the cat back where I found it as emergency treatment has been completed. I point out this likely means the cat will die and am basically politely told tough crap. After falling out with the call handler, it has been agreed that she will pass a message onto someone higher up the chain and see if there is anything else that can be done but am told that the policy with strays is emergency treatment only and then release.

AIBU to think both the vet and the RSPCA are utter jerks and what can I do with it now. I don't really have the funds for any expensive treatment for her, but I could pay to have her PTS rather than leave her to a long lingering death outside but that just seems grim.

I too had a negative experience with the RSPCA. The man who eventually came out to help (reluctantly and miserably) talked about how he’d been working away for a few years and has now come back to ‘this shit hole’ he was truly awful.

I really hope a charity can help. 🤞🏽

@Chaosdragon You do sound lovely and kind helping this wee moggie. However, I agree with the posters saying you should try and find the owner before having him/her put to sleep!

Doesn't surprise me about the RSPCA. They are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard, and only there on the front line when there's glory points in it for them (eg, rescuing iccle kitties.)

I am surprised at the vet though, as they are usually really helpful and caring......

Maybe advertise on facebook or take a pic and do a little write up of the moggie, and then photocopy a few and stick them around your area......

All the RSPCA want to do is prosecute whenever possible... They will do that before actually helping people to care for their animals... horrible people IMO.

Its just I always thought that you could take a sick animal to the vets and they would treat it

They will treat it, but they can't give out unlimited treatment - at the end of the day, there's no NHS for animals. While they're unlikely to leave an animal suffering, they can't afford to just treat random cats for free - otherwise everyone would turn up with "stray" cats and expect free treatment!

I’m sure the vet’s are hardly poverty stricken! They could put a collection pot on the counter asking for donations and they’d probably have enough by the end of the week.

For how much treatment, though? And where do they draw the line? I mean, what's to stop people pretending the animal they've brought in is a stray, and getting unlimited free treatment for it by going to different vets every time there's something wrong? I mean, there's no law that requires cats to be microchipped, after all.

Vets are a business and they're under no obligation to give out thousands of pounds of free treatment to random stray animals. This cat may only need £120 of care, but the next cat that's brought in could need thousands of pounds worth of surgery!

Op is rural, people dump animals in the country. Also by motorways. Nice.

The vet is a business & as such will only offer euthanasia if there is no owner to pay its bill.

Realistically what does this cat need? Antibiotics & general care at home?. Can your vets quote you?.

Bloody idiots don't care about anything only money. X

I would also chip in to a crowdfunder. Rather heartless of the vet, she needs to be on a drip by the sound of it. Blue Cross ? PDSA ?

I know vets are businesses, but you'd think that just from compassion they would be able to offer something.

Very few vets are lacking in compassion but compassion doesn't pay the bills. Also, most vets are not practice owners so it's not their choice, they have to follow company policy on treating strays and wildlife or risk losing their job for theft or misuse of company resources. Or pay it out of their own salary.

We do treat stray animals to alleviate suffering but no business can afford to provide ongoing treatment without being paid. We have staff costs, building costs, heating, lighting, the cost of materials and drugs and on and on ad infinitum.

This little cat is one of potentially dozens that are brought into that vet practice each year - are they expected to treat them all for free? If pretty much any vet practice had to assume full responsibility for every stray or wild animal that was brought in they'd go under within a few years. I myself have often undercharged, waived fees that were due and have paid for things out of my own pocket over the years - because we have to pay the suppliers for the drugs, the dressings, the suture materials, the syringes, the IV bags, the fluids etc. etc. - but I can't do it all the time.

OP I hope that Cats Protection or the local cat charity are able to help. Trust me, no vet enjoys having to say that we can't provide free ongoing treatment.

I would also chip in to a crowdfunder. Rather heartless of the vet, she needs to be on a drip by the sound of it

Would you donate to a crowdfunder for every single stray animal out there? Would you pay hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds for treatment? What about emergency fees for vets coming in out of hours to provide treatment?

Bloody idiots don't care about anything only money.

What makes them idiots? Compassion doesn't pay the bills. Medical treatment for animals can cost thousands of pounds - you only need to read the pet boards on here to find that out. Would you give away your time for free? A thousand pounds of your time? If not, why do you expect a vet to do so?

We took in two stray cats over Xmas. One had a prolapsed spinal disc and terrible skin condition. The other had bad cat flu. The vet gave a poor prognosis for both, but they are now fully recovered and very loving pets. I funded the vet fees to get them microchipped, deloused, wormed, neutered and treated. It was expensive, and we didn't want any more cats (already have two and a dog) but I felt I had no choice. The local cat charities could not help in rehoming, but the vet did knock some money off the bill. If you live in Devon then I would happily adopt this extra cat rather than see it PTS.

If you want to find the cat a home, you could contact your local newspaper or local radio station and ask them to help you. There will be a lot of animal lovers out there who will come forward I suspect.

And this is the exact reason why when we get a sick stray cat in and the vet suggests sending it home with the finder I bring it home with me instead. You've effectively been given responsibility for a cats welfare that isn't even your cat. The sad thing is I can almost guarantee you that if the vet had asked the nurses one of them woild of volunteered to go in on their day off to take care of the cat or take it home themselves (assuming they don't have cats/dogs).

What's actually wrong with the cat and what medication is it on? If it's skinny and dehydrated it probably should of been put on a drip ☹

I cannot believe people are saying pts that is outrageous!

There are many many charities out there that can help. Even if they’re the other end of the country, they have people like me who offer transport and fostering.

Nothing surprises me about the RSPCA. I know of several incidents where they ought to hang their heads in shame.

If the RSPCA/ PDSA etc paid emergency vet fees for every stray animal, they would go bankrupt. It is for the owners to get their animals looked after and charities have a necessarily narrow remit. Sad but inevitable.

RSPCA are not the wonderful charity ppl think, CEO on £140k salary, £29million on advertising per annum, just a few examples.

Little kitkat.

Shes got an upper respiratory disease and an ear infection. Her heads permanently tilted and shes staggering around like shes drunk but the vet felt that was because of the ear infection rather than anything else as she had no pain response when they were poking and prodding her.

She is very skinny. Whilst you cant see her bones you can feel them at the slightest touch and every single one of them. Shes also dehydrated based on my very accurate scruff up her skin and watch it it bounces back into place test.

I've syringed her some of the gravy from cat food in gravy mixed with warm water anyway which shes had about 5ml before shes gone bananas. Spilt a lot of it too but shes currently licking that off her fur so that's a bit extra in her :) will feed her again in a few hours and then hopefully can give her the metacam as shell have food in her belly.

Shes a sweetie.

She's beautiful!

And this is the reason I hate the RSPCA! My niece found a stray kitten and they told her to just let it go, we took it in and found it a home.

Can't you set up a gofundme? I generally don't like them but would donate for this.

OP it looks as if you have a new pet.

She’s awfully like my wee girl. Who is almost 20. 😳

Awww poor little thing. I'll donate if you set up something.

She is lovely. She does look very young. I am surprised she is as old as the vet said.

Poor baby.

Oh she’s so sweet !
Well done op, honestly . It’s so nice to know there are lovely people like you out there

I would post her on list cat FB groups as cats often get found miles away as they get into delivery vans. I’ve recently scanned a cat over 50miles from home.

I've learnt something on this thread.

Forget your starving twins, 47p until payday found down the back of the sofa and only half a tin of beans in the cupboard.

If you want mn-ers to offer cash then go for injured animals.

She's gorgeous! Have you tried plain boiled chicken? We give that to our boy when he's been poorly in the past as it is bland enough not to upset his tummy but he also really likes it.