Vet bills - excessive?

[PawsyMcPawFace]

My dcat had an accident and I took her to the out of hours vet. She was too injured and they put her to sleep. I was gutted
I wasn’t insured. I’ve always had cats and have always paid the bills myself but this one was a corker. She was in overnight, had xrays and was put down the following morning. It cost £1,200. The most I’ve paid is around £400.
I’ve queried this as it seems excessive and I was given no warning just how much it was going to be. They told me the X-ray would be around£300 and I knew the consultation was £150. Splutter. But bloody hell! The X-ray was in fact £350 plus vat.
I have checked the consent form and half way down it says overnight stay approx £1000 but it’s not clear. I was upset at the time. They sent me the consent forM and asked me to email it back agreeing to the treatment, which I did.
I’m just miffed that they didn’t make it clear, they could have put it in the body of the email. Also it just seems so expensive. The communal burial was £60. I paid for one a few years ago and it was £17! I just feel like I’ve been ripped off and I’m trying to gauge average costs.
I’ve paid some if it and will have to come to an agreement to pay bit by bit.
Anyone else?

Sorry to hear about your cat. I think that sounds fairly reasonable. We've run up bills of 21k! My insurance premium is becoming unaffordable!
Because if the NHS I think we have no idea how much medical stuff actually costs.

I am so sorry about your cat.

But for an out-of-hours overnight stay, plus x-rays etc. that sounds perfectly normal. Like @Toddlerteaplease says, we're so immune to the cost of medical treatment thanks to the NHS, that vets bills can seem extortionate.

Estimate of costs are always put on consent forms as it was in this case. Those costs sound about right to me. Sorry about your cat though

Sorry about your cat. we in the UK really have no clue when it comes to paying for healthcare because we always get it free. Healthcare is really expensive, for humans and animals alike.

Thanks all. If it sounds reasonable then so be it.
I’ve insured my other cat now! Guess I must have been lucky over the years!
I am gutted about dcat. She was so sweet and special.

So sorry you lost your cat. Vet bills can soon add up especially out of hours care. Our lad ran up £2.5k last summer. Three nights stay in hospital, couple of scans, blood tests plus medication and maybe other stuff I've forgotten. Have you got the full breakdown of the costs?
I do agree that as we don't pay for healthcare as we use it we have idea of how much things actually cost then add on an extra 20% VAT it is a lot.

I do think it seems very high
Consulation at my vet is £50 so £150 for you seems very excessive. Even allowing for one at admission and one in the morning when they decided to PTS that would be a third less. Can you ask for a breakdown of costs? Was there any reason for xray to jump up so steeply?

@MamaGothel

I do think it seems very high Consulation at my vet is £50 so £150 for you seems very excessive. Even allowing for one at admission and one in the morning when they decided to PTS that would be a third less. Can you ask for a breakdown of costs? Was there any reason for xray to jump up so steeply?

It was all out of hours treatment so it won't just be the consultation that's more expensive - everything will be pricier.

We also had a £2.5k bill this month (2 nights in an out of hours vet, various x rays etc) so afraid it does sound about right. Very sorry for your loss.

Thanks. Yes £150 wAs out of hours and in the city. I took the other furry ginger to the vets the other day. It was £50 for consultation and medication in the village vets.
Still miss her