AIBU to get my cat put down.

[AssumeItWasSomethingClever]

Our cat is 5 years old. He had an abscess under his front leg which we got treated and cost us £160. About two weeks later he started to be lethargic and I felt another lump. Took him to the vets, they said it was another abscess and that they'd syringe it. They quoted us £200. They then discovered that there was another abscess behind the second abscess and that the flesh behind it had started to decompose. They then said it would be £600. He's then had further complications which was yet more money. He's now ripped out his stitches twice costing a further £400 each time. We've got pet insurance but we've surpassed the claim limit. We've got an almost 1 year old and I'm a SAHM so we've only got 1 wage coming in.
It's worth saying that I love the cat and do not want to put him down! If a vet even would. He's otherwise in good health but we can't afford to provide him with any further treatment. I'm at a bit of a loss here and was just wondering what I should do. I was thinking of taking him to a shelter but I'm concerned they'd also put him down.

I think you have done the very best you can for your cat. It really might be time to make that very hard decision. You both need peace.

An animal PTS is not suffering OP. You clearly care about the cat and are struggling to make the best choice. You are not choosing PTS on a whim or just because the cat is a bit inconvenient. If that is the choice you ultimately make taking everything into consideration, then please don't feel guilty about it. The cat won't be in pain any more. It will not be suffering.

£400 for that amount of work seems reasonable. Poor cat is really going through it. Have you told them you are considering PTS? It's worth having a frank discussion at this stage I think.

I'm sorry to hear about your poor cat ,

A while ago, I was living in yorkshire and took in a cat with rodent ulcers- we couldn't permanently look after him then- after a lot of ringing round- the cats protection at evesham took him- even though we didn't live near- i explained i'd tried to find a nearer cat shelter, but couldn't. They took him and improved his ulcers and eventually found him a home- this was over ten years ago- but maybe they could offer some advice -on the phone- I think it could be worth seeing if a different branch would be helpful- if you got the right person

www.cats.org.uk/evesham

There is also a nice sounding charity in the gloucester ledbury area called 'New Start cat rescue'- Tel: 07598 752992 (Adoptions)
Tel: 07510 134805 (General)
Tel: 07443 496154 (Admissions

they might be able to offer some help or advice,

also, sorry if I missed it it you had said, but have you tried explaing to your vets about your financial situation- i think vets are used to people having to do this, I've had to, and they were nice and helpful about it, or ringing other local vets for a second opinion, even?

good luck , I hope something can be worked out

OP . I am a HUGE animal lover and have owned horses, dogs, rabbits and cats. I prefer animals to people. But.... vets can be bastards - I got charged 80 quid for a 2 minute consultation and antibiotics which didn’t work. When I went back a week later with same problem / another 80 quid for different antibiotics- no discount despite the first ones didn’t work. Still no joy so they said ....hmmm, it’s maybe not an infection but inflammation- so 60 quid for an injection of anti inflammatory. Through all this I couldn’t have been in the surgery more than 15 minutes in total. They act all ethical not wanting to PTS but have no problem fleecing you for treatment even when it doesn’t work. Keep alive and the money keeps rolling in and they are all cutting about in range rovers.

And those talking about insurance - I pay 36 quid a month for my 2 cats but the excess is £99 so I haven’t been able to claim anything. When we had rabbits, one got cancer and the vet wanted me to pay around £3000 for tests, surgery and chemotherapy so that we could get “another 6 months” out of her - a bloody rabbit!

OP I would seriously consider getting PTS. The way this virus is going we will all be dead soon and I see a case of a man passing it to his dog. There must be plenty multi millionaires on MN tonight if they seriously think the average family can find this amount of cash for a sick pet.

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream That was me too. My cat was also 13. She had one surgery to remove a tumour that was much bigger once they got inside, so many stitches on her stomach! Our vets don't do chemo for cats but like you I wouldn't have done it anyway.

She was so traumatised by the surgery that I wouldn't have put her through that again when the inevitable 2nd tumour came. In the end, I got another year with her. Broke my heart to have her PTS but it was the kindest thing for her

OP, I'm so sorry your kitty is so poorly. Like PPs have suggested, I would investigate further with regards to if another vet can do something.

Clearly this cat is very unwell and it doesn't make you a bad owner to consider euthanasia under the circumstances. Poor cat and poor you