Does your vet give you a discount for ferals?

kscatlady

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I really need to get the rest of my cats done. I was going to ask if they could give me a lower price since I have quite a few to do. I'm nervous though, I hate asking stuff like that. Who would I talk to? One of the vets?
 

Willowy

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Yes, talk to one of the vets directly. The receptionist doesn't have any authority to give discounts. If it's a large multi-vet chain, the individual vets might not have any say in pricing, either, and it's not likely you'd get a discount from a place like that. But vets in private practice of course get to set their own rates.

Since you have a lot of them to get done, ask if they'd offer a discount for having them all done at once. All you can do is ask, and most of the time if you ask, they'll work with you.
 

pami

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I agree, ask the vet directly. if he/she isn't willing, go to petfinger.org and put in your address on the left side. The list will show shelters and rescue groups. Start contacting them, they will know of vets who will do low cost or even free for ferals.
 

catsallaround

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I had 3 done recently and then found out the shelter does ferals(ONLY CATS WHO CANT BE PET?TOUCHED AND MUST BE EARTIPPED!!!) for 35 a pop..One clinic I used would cut me breaks on extras-free sutures the disolve or the antibiotic shot...I moved and they are to far away now...
 

emilydickinson

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I don't know where you live but I get the impression some cities will pay for neutering ferals. Our vet never mentioned this and it was only after I spoke with a feral cat charity that I was aware that we can get dear feral beast snipped for free.
 

kailie

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I would absolutely ask hun. All they can say is no.
Are there any organizations in your area who TNR ferals? One of the organizations I'm a major part of has numerous vets on board and we deal strictly with ferals. All the vets on board offer discounts. Now it is completely on THEIR schedule, and they let us know if they have appointments available or not, but it usually works out quite well.
Good luck!
 

momofmany

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I you don't ask, the answer will always be no.

My last vet used to charge me $25 for a spay and $20 for a neuter on my ferals. I haven't had to speuter a feral for a while so don't know why my current vet would charge me, but she does give me a "quantity discount" for her services.

Don't be afraid to talk to the vet about it. Every time I find a new vet, I explain my situation then ask them point blank if they will discount their services. If their answer is no, I find a different vet. My personal opinion is that if they aren't compassionate enough to want to help feral cats (or people like myself that are compassionate about animals), then they aren't passionate about animals. I've found that "country vets" are more often willing to work with you over "city vets" (and I am in no way slamming city vets here).
 
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kscatlady

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Originally Posted by Pami

I agree, ask the vet directly. if he/she isn't willing, go to petfinger.org and put in your address on the left side. The list will show shelters and rescue groups. Start contacting them, they will know of vets who will do low cost or even free for ferals.
I have a rescue lady that helps me sometimes. I just would rather not drive into Wichita with my crappy car, but I will if it will only cost half the price. The reason I like my vet and am hoping they will do it is because they accept payments. Pretty much no vets around here do that.

Originally Posted by catsallaround

I had 3 done recently and then found out the shelter does ferals(ONLY CATS WHO CANT BE PET?TOUCHED AND MUST BE EARTIPPED!!!) for 35 a pop..One clinic I used would cut me breaks on extras-free sutures the disolve or the antibiotic shot...I moved and they are to far away now...
I used to get them done at our local humane society, but they moved almost an hour away, and I'd have to drive there twice in one day. So I can't really do that any more.

Originally Posted by Kailie

I would absolutely ask hun. All they can say is no.
Are there any organizations in your area who TNR ferals? One of the organizations I'm a major part of has numerous vets on board and we deal strictly with ferals. All the vets on board offer discounts. Now it is completely on THEIR schedule, and they let us know if they have appointments available or not, but it usually works out quite well.
Good luck!
A lady that was going to bottle feed one of my orphan kittens is supposed to be contacting me with an organization that can help me. I don't have her number anymore, and she just had knee surgery, so I'm just trying to get it done myself now.

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

The worst they can do is say no, my vet was happy to help me out

Also, not sure how far away these are, but the KS Humane society lists a Mulvane vet as being low cost sputer clinic

Mulvane Animal Clinic
777-4283
10231 S. Rock Road

Link here to this one and others in the area
Yeah, they are lower then some vets, but they've never had any interest in helping my guys out. I stopped going to them, El Paso in the next town always seems to care a lot more then they do about my little guys.

Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
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kscatlady

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I really thought my vet would help me out, but they said the couldn't give me a discount! I guess I'll get in contact with Sherlyn, who runs Country Cats Inc. The vet she uses isn't TOO far and maybe I won't have to drive there twice in one day.
 
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