Help! Sick cat! =(

[Bricknee]

A friend of mine's cat is very sick. =(
She's grown up with this cat & it's very dear to her. The only thing is, their family cannot afford to take it to the vet. She says her cat will not eat or drink. Can anyone tell me approximately how much a visit to the vet would be? I'm hoping to maybe raise money to help her.
You can visit & join the facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=...d=198839199088

[temperpolk]

I would love to donate to your friend, so she could get that kitty to the vet ASAP, but when I go to the site I'm not sure what to do

[Starfish]

tell her to discuss it with the vet - they will often do a payment plan or ask about Care Credit. several vets will accept Care Credit, but you have to apply for it. The vet I took TC before I applied said they take almost anybody.

Edit: Go here to check it out http://www.carecredit.com/

You can even see what vets will take it. It is a very good option to save your cat.

[Bricknee]

If you are interested in donating, please join the facebook group and i'll figure some form of online payment out. Thanks!

Also, we're in Canada. Is Care Credit available here?

[mrblanche]

Once a cat is too sick to eat or drink, it's an emergency situation. Cats are designed by nature to do both on a steady basis, and no food or water intake for just a few days can be enough to start them on the long slide downhill.

Contacting a vet will give you a good idea of their attitude. You might call your local shelter tomorrow to see if they know of local vets who are willing to work with you. I know I'd take my cat to the vet I usually use without a moment's doubt, even if I had a negative number in my checking account.

[valanhb]

Per our policy, I'm going to move this thread to Cats SOS, which is more appropriate for this type of thing. I'm also posting a reminder of our Rule regarding solicitations.

5. Solicitations – TheCatSite.com does not encourage or promote solicitation of money from our members. We will help in every way possible with our knowledge and support, but as many of us have multi-cat households and work with local rescue groups, monetary support is not always possible to causes or people we do not personally know. Members are allowed one posting in the SOS forum for each organization. Repeated postings for the same cause or organization will be deleted.

The needs of rescue workers are great and we recognize this fact. To care for multiple cats, find suitable homes, good vet care, food, etc. is costly. From time to time you will see some posts come up to ask for donations for a cause. It is YOUR responsibility to check out these solicitors to the best of your ability. More often, you will see pleas from individuals asking for money to be sent directly to them to assist with veterinary bills. Some come up with slick websites, others just have heartwrenching stories. In each of these cases, the poster is allowed ONE thread, to be placed in Cats SOS.

In either case, if you feel compelled to donate money ask for references, phone numbers, call around the area and find out if this is a legitimate cause or a scam. For personal pleas, get the veterinarian’s contact information and send money directly to the veterinarian to help with bills for that particular cat. If that information is not available, you have the answer if the plea is legitimate or a scam.

Be very careful before you send any money: no matter how effective the plea is, check it out first before opening your wallet.

[Starfish]

Originally Posted by Bricknee

If you are interested in donating, please join the facebook group and i'll figure some form of online payment out. Thanks!

Also, we're in Canada. Is Care Credit available here?

maybe not, but ask your vet about payment plans and if they have something similar. I was totally wiped out when my cat ripped out his stitches on his arm (already maxed out mom's cc for the initial injury) and they were suprisingly helpful. Try more than one vet if you have to. Each vet is different.

[eilcon]

It really sounds like this an emergency situation. Here's a link to an article that provides some options if you can't afford vet care, but I wouldn't wait on getting this cat to the vet. Sending many viibes.

http://www.thecatsite.com/Health/76/...erinarian.html