Can’t afford vet treatment

[Helpforcat]

We got two cats seven years ago. Since then our financial situation has drastically worsened due to redundancy (both!) after Covid causing serial job changes. Fortunately this is going to improve over the next few months.
We’ve barely managed, this past year has been particularly challenging however due to one of is retraining and getting a new job (the other has a steady job now too) everything should be much better.
We kept our cats because we felt like it was there home and we’ve always fed them. However last year when things were really bad, I stupidly cancelled their pet insurance. Which was so stupid. I’ll obviously get it back, but we were missing payments for various things & really struggling.
Now one of them has a really sore paw. Neither of them have ever had an accident before but obviously chose now. I’m going to get treatment for him today, however what do I do as I can’t pay/no insurance.

Has anyone ever managed to get treatment in similar circumstances? I’m aware there will be treatment plans however I’m afraid to take on any extra debt after the last several years, although if there’s no other option I will.

I’ve considered giving them up but we are nearly at the other side and if I could have seen the future I’d never have got them but we love them and things should be improving soon. We aren’t on any benefits anymore so don’t qualify for support from charities and we live in Scotland.

I’m aware that’s really long however just wanted people to understand we’d never have gotten them if we knew the future.

Can you borrow money from family or friends?

Monet aside your cats heath is the priority at the moment , Can you speak to a cat charity ? They sometimes help with vet costs , talk to them they might be able to help also the vets , many offer payment plans , I know you are aware of this but it’s at least a way forwards , some work places offer a pay loan again another way forward , I hope you get it sorted successfully, you seem to be working things out

Have you any idea what's wrong with the paw ?
While I don't advocate you trying medical treatment if it's a small cut , knotted fur , torn nail you may be able to treat it yourself.

I’m going to get him an appointment for today and try speak to a charity in the meantime.
He’s got a cut but the pain seems to be elsewhere in his paw if you touch it.

Hello everyone
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Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

This would be a simple issue that doesn’t require expensive treatment. Get the cat to the vets asap and it could be just a standard appointment charge. If for any reason it is more have a chat with the vet about a payment plan.

I’m not sure why anyone has reported this thread, there was no indication that I was asking for money.

I was simply asking if anyone had been in a similar position and what they did or had any advice. It’s very clear that I’m already taking him to the vets 🙄.

I think in the abscence of any other option you will just have to get into more debt unfortunately

I hope you get it sorted.

I would just go to the vet and see what they say. If you have to pay it slowly then so be it don't view it as debt.

I was worried about money when going to the vets a few weeks ago as cat hadn't eaten for 3 days.

It cost £70 for consultation and some yucky paste that's still in cupboard as couldn't get it into cat!!!! He is all fine now.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people on MN who use sick animals as a way to get people to send them money - I’m not for one minute suggesting you are - but there have been lots of stories of it happening in the past and people have taken off with hundreds of pounds of people’s money.

Many vets won’t accept payment plans anymore as they’ve had too many cases of people treating their pets and never paying the bill. Could you use a credit card or borrow from family?

Have you tried the PDSA?

As a per poster said try the PDSA https://www.pdsa.org.uk if you are a low income etc family you are able to use them.

We help the pets of owners in need.
To be eligible for our free veterinary service, owners must be in the catchment area of one of our Pet Hospitals and receive one of the following:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Universal Credit with a Housing Element

To be eligible for our reduced cost veterinary service, owners must live within the catchment area of a PDSA Pet Hospital and be:

• In receipt of means-tested benefits (including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income support, DLA, ADP, JSA, ESA and PIP)
• A pensioner living in houses Council Tax bands A-D

We’d love to help everyone, but as a charity our funds are limited, so you do have to be eligible for your pet to receive PDSA treatment. Our website contains lots of information for keeping your pet healthy and happy.

I know a few vets local to us that have started doing Klarna so you may be able to split the bill that way . Hope it’s nothing too serious and I’d restart the insurance ASAP as if they’ve not been to the vets for much there won’t be many exclusions .

Definitely Pdsa

Have you checked out the blue cross website.
I think maybe also call the vet and get some idea of costs.

There was a time when I couldn’t afford the vets bill for my cat and I was just very upfront with her about that. She agreed to a payment plan and even said she’d rather have a small amount monthly until the bill was cleared, rather than me saying I could pay more and then missing a payment when I didn’t have enough money.
Worth asking your vet.
More recently, one of my cats had a sore paw and it was a bite that had gone infected. The cost was not much at all, however appreciate if you’ve no money it doesn’t matter how little the cost would be.