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Original poster

Cat has a broken tail and I have no money!

83 replies

Catzparent · 31/08/2024 00:47

Hey guys.

My little girls' name is Willow and she's 4.
Today, after petting her and her growling at me(which she never does!) , I found out her tail is broken 😭

Unfortunately, I really don't have the funds as I'm at uni and work part-time.
I know is irresponsible to have a cat and not have money to pay for injuries like this if/when they happen but she's honestly just help me get through life so I've looked past this.

Now, with her injuries, I've been quoted £700 for the Xray alone. Treatment will be additional to this.

Does anyone know of any pet insurers who cover these sorts of things? There is "preexisting issues" insurance but they're super vague with their terms so I don't know.

If anyone has any suggestions, please PLEASE get in touch. I honestly don't know what to do so if anyone can put me in the right direction, it will be MASSIVELY appreciated!

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2024 00:51

Are you on or entitled to UC? Speak to the PDSA. They can provide treatment for animals whose people unable to cover the cost.
Unfortunately, no insurer will take on an existing injury.

caringcarer · 31/08/2024 00:53

Your poor cat will have to be seen by a vet. It must be very painful for a cat to growl at you. If you're on UC you can get help as the above poster stated. Failing that you could do a gofundme page for your poor cat if you couldn't put it on a credit card.

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2024 00:56

Also try speaking to local vets to see if any of them could offer a payment plan. I imagine independents would be more likely to do so than chains or franchises (most of which are owned by private equity and driven by profit above all else).

Original poster
Catzparent · 31/08/2024 00:58

Thanks so much for the advice 🥹

Unfortunately, I'm only slightly above the requirement for UC so not really an option....

I'm gonna have a look at those links that you sent @pinkwall
@caringcarer ,I'll have to do the go fund me as a last resort.

Thank you everyone.

It's making me so sad that I can't just pay for it.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2024 01:00

Talk to the PDSA anyway. They may still be able to help/advise you: they’re nice people!

BobbyBiscuits · 31/08/2024 01:01

Take her to blue cross. You have to wait sometimes quite a long time as it's a bit like pet A&E. If it's something serious she will be prioritised to an extent though.
You can make a donation when you're there. If you can afford just twenty quid or whatever then just put that. But you are not expected to donate at all I don't think if you explain you're in financial difficulties.
You must take her as it's not something that can just be left to heal on its own.

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2024 01:06

Completely forgot about the blue cross! None in our area. Excellent suggestion, @BobbyBiscuits!

caringcarer · 31/08/2024 01:06

Just a thought but do you know anyone on UC who does not have a pet? If so could they pretend the cat belongs to them too, you jointly own it and they could get it done free and I believe they just ask for a small donation. I hate to think of a cat in pain.

Gingerkittykat · 31/08/2024 01:07

£700 is very expensive for an x-ray, I recently paid £350 for sedation and a chest x-ray.

Will any vet look at amputation without an X-ray?

Can you get a credit card? I have one especially for cat and car emergencies and needed to use it recently for the breathing/ chest emergency.

Original poster
Catzparent · 31/08/2024 01:23

caringcarer · 31/08/2024 01:06

Just a thought but do you know anyone on UC who does not have a pet? If so could they pretend the cat belongs to them too, you jointly own it and they could get it done free and I believe they just ask for a small donation. I hate to think of a cat in pain.

I'm definitely going to ask everyone I know.
Hopefully I can find someone with UC.

The thing is, on the bluecross website, they don't seem to offer anything to people who aren't on UC therefore, I'm screwed if I can't find someone!

You guys have been great!
If there are anymore suggestions, as failsafes. That be amazing.

OP posts:
SamAndAnnie · 31/08/2024 01:35

OP as a minimum, your cat needs pain relief right away, not when you can afford it. Then you can think about options for treatment/PTS if you can't afford to treat. It's fine not to have insurance or savings, if that's your choice. Cat's welfare comes first though, which means pain relief and a solution to her problem, however unpalatable that solution may be for you.

Pre-existing conditions vet insurance will be for animals with a chronic health condition not for a new condition or injury.

Look into getting a loan (overdraft at the bank may be cheapest) or credit card for the vet bill. See if you can take on extra shifts at work/get a job if you don't already have one, to pay off the debt ASAP. If all you pay is the minimum payment on a CC you'll pay a fortune in interest.

TomatoSandwiches · 31/08/2024 01:41

She needs treatment, you can't in good conscious leave her like this until a godund me gets to that amount, try and get a loan or cc for the amount you need and then pay off with the gofundme or extra hours to cover it.

Is she microchipped? That was a recent requirement so they will do that alongside her treatment.

ncforcatquestion · 31/08/2024 01:53

I don't think you will get insurance for this. It's normal for big vets to charge £700 for an x ray, but I recently found a small local vets that charges under £100 for an x ray. Look around and you will find similar. Contact cats protection and other charities

fedupoftheheatnow · 31/08/2024 01:56

Even if you have to surrender your cat to a charity you must get treatment soon the cat can't wait for a go fund me page to hit a target

fairenough24 · 31/08/2024 02:07

Borrow,beg or steal.

SamAndAnnie · 31/08/2024 03:27

fedupoftheheatnow · 31/08/2024 01:56

Even if you have to surrender your cat to a charity you must get treatment soon the cat can't wait for a go fund me page to hit a target

Exactly. I've seen people begging with GoFundMe for vet fees a few times before, it didn't yield good results.

And OP, she can't wait until Monday for pain relief just because you don't want an out of hours call out fee. She needs to see a vet on Saturday.

Taluulaah · 31/08/2024 04:06

I came here to mention PDSA, if you know somebody on UC, housing benefit etc. but seems it’s already been brought up, so just want to offer best wishes to you and your cat, I know how awfully expensive these vet bills can be, and how upset and frustrated you must be feeling rn. Keep searching for a solution, something will come up I’m sure. Hugs to you and kittycat 🐾❤️‍🩹
Edited to mention crowdfunding, then saw it’s been mentioned n shot down already 😅

DoIWantTo · 31/08/2024 04:34

Vets offer payment plans. Please no one offer the OP money.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 31/08/2024 05:16

If you can't afford to pay for her treatment then you'll have to sign her over to a charity or have her PTS.

I know that sounds harsh but you can't leave her in pain just because you have no money.

Olympi · 31/08/2024 05:26

Have a look at these, they are a not profit vet consultantions are free and procedures much cheaper https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/prices

There is no way you will get it covered on insurance they all have a 48 hour period for accidents and 14 day period for illness. Assuming you've taken her the vet already? As soon as it's in the notes they won't cover. Those that cover pre existing for example many pets require 2 years free of any issues, and even then it's complicated.

She also needs to be seen ASAP. I would take a CC out or as others said some vets do payment plans. If your a student could you get a student overdraft?

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orcaborca · 31/08/2024 05:34

It may not be as expensive as you think. My old dear cat looked as if he had a tail that had been snapped in two. It hadn't, it was a cat bite on his tail, the swelling caused it to compress the nerves so the end half of his tail was totally limp. Some pain relief and antibiotics fixed it. Is she an outdoor cat?

thequeenoftarts · 31/08/2024 05:36

I'm sorry your cat is injured, as others have said she defo needs pain relief, however and I gonna put this bluntly, her tail can be amputated without x- rays. They are only to confirm what the vet already suspects but a good vet has an idea by feeling her tail and they then go above the break and amputate there. However without the x- rays, they also have no way of knowing if any further damage has been done to her pelvis etc, if she is able to urinate and poop then it is unlikely there is too much damage, but the vet is working blindly. What you may be able to do is ask at the vets if they have any new grad vets willing to do the surgery for experience ( under close supervision of course) and for a heavily discounted price. Also blue cross, pdsa were suggested here too. Also ask your vets about a payment plan, some do offer them, some wont. I know in Ireland some vets use HUMM to finance surgeries, bot sure about the UK tho. Worth looking into as well.

Tel12 · 31/08/2024 05:41

Get a quote from another vet. Ask about payment terms. You must get her the assistance she needs.

ncforcatquestion · 31/08/2024 05:46

Olympi · 31/08/2024 05:26

Have a look at these, they are a not profit vet consultantions are free and procedures much cheaper https://www.animaltrust.org.uk/prices

There is no way you will get it covered on insurance they all have a 48 hour period for accidents and 14 day period for illness. Assuming you've taken her the vet already? As soon as it's in the notes they won't cover. Those that cover pre existing for example many pets require 2 years free of any issues, and even then it's complicated.

She also needs to be seen ASAP. I would take a CC out or as others said some vets do payment plans. If your a student could you get a student overdraft?

If that's true, that it's 48 hours from taking it out and claiming for an accident, then she can do this and then go to another vet ( without mentioning the previous vet when she registers). My own insurance stated a period of two weeks for any claims

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