I can't afford my vet bill

[oldmind]

My 9 month old cat isn't well. 2 trips to the vets with anti inflammatory meds and she still isn't right. They've told me to bring her back tomorrow for bloods and possible scans and I could be looking at over £1k for treatment.

I'm a single mum of 3 kids with additional needs. I've just gone back to work but only work 12 hours per weeks as I just cannot do anymore.

I did have insurance for her but I cancelled it as the insurance company I chose were terrible and haven't replaced it yet - I only did this a few weeks ago! A random payment came out of my account and I cancelled the whole thing.

Is there anything I can do?

Please don't tell me to not have pets if I can't afford them.

@Bulkypeepants nonsense I've done it loads of times.

Such a stupid comment 🙄😡 grow up!

Apologies if this has already been mentioned as I haven't read every reply, but if you can afford to pay in 4 installments then an app called Zilch could help. I use it when something random comes up that I can't afford in one go. You can pay either online or in person and it works just like a normal (yet virtual) credit card.
Hope your cat gets better soon!

Yeh course you have .. 🙄🙄😖😖 honestly, some people 🤬🤬

I've had her about 6 months. I'm waiting to hear from the rescue - I don't think for a second they should take her back but I do think they will give me good advice or point me in the right direction.

Have loads of vets now blacklisted you?

Do you have any vet hospitals near you? I found they offered over the phone consultation for free. I had a similar situation, very young cat who experienced severe breathing issues, which became more pronounced over weeks. I paid over £700 for various tests (thankfully insured) but I still had to have the money to pay out. Like you I became distrusting of the vet, although a friend rated him. Sadly the cat collapsed at home and we took him to a vet hospital. Initially they thought a cancer but after an ECG it showed a not that unusual heart condition. I can't recall the name now unfortunately.

Only an ECG showed it after 2.5k of tests. It was beyond repair as it was in transplant territory and he would need drugs for the rest of his life with limited chance he would recover. The hospital vet very kindly talked me through the prognosis which meant PTS was the best outcome.

Prior to this I had never had any cats with significant diseases so it was total shock. I now realise the vet was doing his best since I was pushing for answers and I feel guilty that I distrusted him.

Vets now have the ability to diagnose many more conditions but like the NHS the equipment is expensive and staff are highly skilled hence big costs.

My cat was a stray for 6 months and I know I gave him a lovely home and everything to make his life with us good. I really did adore him and he was my shadow because I think he sensed I would care for him.

It was really distressing because you don't expect a young cat to die. In reflection he wasn't as energetic as other kittens and the foster carer thought he must be older. He wasn't, he just had a serious condition.

Monitor this breathing anc if you think it is getting worse, keep him inside. I dread to think that my boy could have been lying outside alone.

If you want to PM me I can provide hospital details as they were happy to talk through results.

is there a PDSA nearby?

@ilovesooty nope I just pay it off.

I am but going to get her treated and not pay. I would never do that. I will sort it somehow.

I don’t mean to be rude but with 3 children with additional needs and you working part time perhaps this isn’t the best time for a cat. Cats have their own needs. All the best.

I have always had cats and have always been a good cat owner.

I got got this cat for my son with additional needs who has not got one single friend at the age of 15.

I just wouldn't have the bloods or scans done

I think firstly you need to be honest with the vets about what you can afford then you have a few options.
Look into PDSA.
Credit card or loan.
Return the cat.

Look for a non profit vet, Animal Trust if no one has suggested already are great. They're not means tested so open to anyone regardless of financial circumstances. They also do free consultations which were £50 a time in our previous vets!

our previous dog had a set of ear problems that th einsurance refused to cover (long story)
Once the vet realised that insurance wasn't going to cover it and we were paying, they were actually amazing at finding cheaper options etc. Including phoning thr speicalist centre for advice and then doing it in house. (referral to the centre plus treatment was about £3,000. Doing it inhouse following their advice cost us about £600)

They also wrote us all the prescriptions and told us where to buy it cheaper online. They worked really hard with us to keep it affordable.

So, yes vets CAN be really helpful when they know you can't afford it.

My vet offered it to me when my insurance didn’t cover the full bill. 12 months interest free. So it’s worth an ask.

OP if you’re in London you could try Celia Hammond charity also.

https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/home

Animal Trust are an amazing not for profit vets who are efficient and reasonable. Please try these guys first, I was quite 700 for dental work and they did it for less than half that

I spoke to the rescue who very clearly couldn't & didn't want to help. As they saw more cats I hoped they would have some pointers.

Don't be ridiculous. This is of course a distinct possibility with pets.

I work at a vets. The best thing to do is to be clear about what you can/can’t afford and ask them to explain what each test they’re suggesting will test for and how much it will cost. Work with the vet and make the plan together (any half decent vet will be happy to do so).

And for crying out loud do not do what another user has suggested and just claim to not have the money and not pay.

I agree.

Why is it ok that a defenseless animal doesn't get the help it needs because the OP has taken an animal on when they can't afford one. It's not the poor cats fault. Ot honestly makes me so mad!

It's basically saying it's ok for the cat not to get the right help because the OP took on something they can't afford. People are not entitled to take on animals, regardless of circumstances. The poor animals deserve more.

Just because you have paid doesn't mean they can magic an answer up for you. Think of how many medical appointments and tests some humans need before they get a diagnosis. Just because vets charge (because there is no animal NHS) doesn't mean they can just give us an answer.

I'm sorry it's incredibly expensive for you and I hope your kitty gets well soon x

@OohCookedPerfectly I haven't said my cat isn't going to get the right care have I? I'm asking for advice on what to do which is the first thing anyone else would in my situation.

My cat is very much loved and well looked after - chipped, neutered, vaccines up to date. Well fed. Flea and worming treatment every month. She is a very happy and well looked after cat.

My cat will get the help it needs - I have a family member since posting this that has offered to pay for her treatment which I will take however the rescue had also called me and has offered to help with her treatment also.

I am also eligible for help with the pdsa which will be my first port of call thanks to the lovely and helpful posts on here who directed me to it. I have filled out the form and it has been accepted so I can sort that tomorrow.

I am hopeful that she will feel better over night thanks to her medication she's had today and yesterday (which yes I have paid for) but if not then I have a better idea of what to do next.

She is extremely ill however I am annoyed at my vets that I have been twice now, paid twice and am absolutely no further on to know what's wrong with her.
Well if you won't pay for tests how on earth do you expect them to reach a diagnosis? It's not like your cat can tell them how she feels. Your vets have gone down the cheapest least invasive route by treating symptoms, if there's no improvement then tests need done to find out why, not hard to understand.
And no you shouldn't have got a cat you clearly could not afford.
Charity or loan seem to be your options now.