Funding for cats dental work?

[Mygosh]

My cat is nearly 7. He has started to get gingivitis and needs a tooth extracted. The vet has quoted me £900 today. I only have £300 in savings and currently on disability.

Does anyone know of a charity who may be able to help me? I've contacted cats protection and RSPCA, neither can help. I live in Peterborough, too far away from PDSA/blue cross to help.

Please don't judge me, I may be poor but I love my cat more than anything. He is insured but this doesn't cover dental work. I do not have family I can ask, I'm pretty much alone.

Hi, the Department of Veterinary Medicine Cambridge Veterinary School see pets for reduced cost if on a low income. They are so lovely and my mums cat received the best care.

hope this helps.

https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/

That’s expensive, can you shop around? We live in a high cost of living area just outside the M25 and I’ve just had a quote as both my cats need a tooth out and a scale / geberal clean. I was quoted £637 each for having a routine dental plus one tooth removed. We have a “healthy pet club” which costs £16/m and gets the cost down to £425 so I’ve signed up for that again for a year…
I realise £637 is still a lot but it might be worth ringing around, as it may well be a fixed cost that is easy for them to quote you.

And i agree that it sucks that dental work is excluded from most insurance policies. The first time our cat needed it; the vet said it wasn’t just routine but a named condition and we were able to claim. But of course that meant we could never claim again for it, doh!

Thank you for the suggestions. I have contacted the veterinary school, although dentals are not listed on their schedule.

Yes, I am going to try another vet, because the quote says removal of 3-7 teeth and this was not discussed in the consultation. In fact, the vet said that maybe 1 tooth would need to be removed! It's possible they over quote things at this practice.

How far away are you from a PDSA hospital? Is travelling an option?

That's very expensive, l would shop around, email local vets for a quote to remove a cats tooth.

I would shop around

Our cats just had a clean for gingivitis and it cost £180, we were quoted a maximum of £400 if she needed teeth removal

Yep... PDSA.

Then get your cat insured.

PDSA is in London or Leicester. I have rang them, they said I don't live in the catchment area.
@AllAroundMyCat my cat is insured. But, as I and others have mentioned, dental work is not covered unless it's from an accident.

Our DCat had all but 2 teeth removed in December due to infection in his gums and gingivitis which wasn't covered by insurance. Cost £938.

The blue Cross have a vetinary care fund to help people who aren't in their catchment area have you tried that OP?

Think you need to find better insurance. My cat had dental work that was covered. Maybe look at AnimalAid or DirectLine.

as to PDSA … google nearest branch.
they have branches all over the country. Not just London or Leicester.
Theres one near me in a provincial town in Kent and one in a small town near my my mum in W Mids.

I've just googled PDSA and they have over 100 branches.

My cat had several teeth extracted in December, it was £520 and we are in the expensive South East. Definitely shop around.

We were overquoted for dogs dental, it was about £300 less than originally quoted so hopefully similar for you.
Can you see if your vet can accept a payment plan - could you afford that or put on an interest free credit card ? not ideal i know but all other suggestions fail. Most things like PDSA will I think require you to be on a means tested benefit.

Blue cross funding is through a vet referral only, so yes, I will ask the vet. Thank you!

My cat doesn't travel well, he pants like he's going to pass out. I live in quite a big city but there's nothing nearby. Leicester is at least 60 miles away. I feel bad putting my cat through the dental anyway without lots of travelling.

My cat just had 6 Teeth out and that cost £877. Was done in two stages. Which I wasn't happy about. I was originally quoted around £300 to remove one tooth. So £900 for one seems a bit much. Or was that the worst case scenario?

Nottingham has a PDSA if that's nearer? My vet was really shocked that my cat needed 6 out. She only expected one.

@Toddlerteaplease
Vet said he has mild gingivitis and may need one tooth removing. I'm going to ring around tomorrow. There's an independent vet that I'm hoping will be cheaper. I expected to pay around £500. I've got a credit card for emergencies/vet bills, but I'll struggle to repay £900.

I took my other too to the vet my parents used. A scale and polish cost around £200 a year ago.

There is a PDSA hospital in Nottingham, I know because I took my cat there - it’s known as Vets Now but is a PDSA centre. Have you rang the PDSA helpline, there might be one closer than you think?

There are 48 PDSA centres in England, hopefully you’ll find one not too far away?

@DrunkenElephant yes I rang them. They seem to have catchment areas and I live too far away. I will try calling them again, maybe I'll get different advice from another call handler. Thanks for the advice.

PDSA have an online eligibility checker that I've just been on. Nothing available in my area. My best bet is a cheaper vet!