Sick, sick kitty, but money's tight. Please help!!

I have an older cat. He's about 8 yrs or so. He recently started crying out in pain while eating, hardly ate anything for a couple of weeks and got very skinny. I brought him inside and he eats now without any obvious pain, but he hasn't seemed to gain any f his weight back. He sneezes alot and has become VERY lazy. He has even started growling and hissing at us. There are large scabs and sores all over him. He also has slight diarhea. I really love this cat, but I am a single parent and can barely afford myself and 2 children, let alone a huge vet bill. If anyone has ANY helpful info or can help in ANY way, PLEASE email me directly at [email protected].

Have you tried contacting your local SPCA offices??? They may have some affordable vet service.

Your cat needs to be seen by a vet ASAP, and the vet bill won't necessarily be huge. Since money is tight, look for an affordable low-cost veterinary service or a vet who will work with you and let you make payments.

First off, you cat does need medical attention. There are a variety of things that could be wrong; fleas, mites, mange, a bacterial skin infection, internal parasite infection, etc. You should consider isolating him from your family until you know what you're dealing with; and don't let him back outside. How current is he on his vaccinations? It sounds as if he's a strictly outdoor cat. If he lives out doors and he's not current on vaccinations, you're in for a wide range of possibilities. If his vaccinations are up to date, then at least you've narrowed down some of the big diseases.

Next, adult cats gain weight very slowly. Cats gain in ounces while humans gain in pounds. You might try feeding him feline a/d, a food for debilitated cats. Other folks use baby food; keeping to those flavors that are all meat.

I understand you're tight for money, but the animal needs attention. Perhaps your humane society or local pound can put you in touch with veterinary help at a reduced fee.

the kitty needs to see the vet. Your vet might be able to work out a payment plan for your. We normal charge or vet bills on credit cards when we don't have the cash. Maybe not be the best idea in the world but when an animal is sick they need the vet. We just took one kitty to the ER and it was under $150 and that was for an emergancy vet visit. Our normal visits are around 95 and my is expensive.

Princess, you got off cheap on that ER visit compared to mine. My most recent ER visit cost $340.00! I also have to use credit card to pay for vet care. Like you said, it's not the best way, but it gets the cat care and time for you to find money to pay the bill. I use a credit card that gives my money back for my charges, thus reducing the overall bill by a nominal percentage.

I understand about money being tight. But pet ownership is also about responsibility and this cat is dependant upon YOU and no one else. If he is crying in pain when he eats, he could have rodent ulcers on his tongue or in his throat. I just lost a cat who had this going on with him. He had been in prime health and then just started dropping weight rapidly. He was in a lot of pain and when I took him in for a procedure, he died at the vet's.

There are options out there, call your vet and ask about payment plans, ask about surrender for better care papers. Call the local animal shelter and talk to them. Vets are usually really good about holding checks for people. Mine does this all the time for me. Your cat does not have the option of seeking treatment for himself.He needs you to make that call and he is depending on the person he loves to take care of him.

Originally posted by jmvito
Princess, you got off cheap on that ER visit compared to mine. My most recent ER visit cost $340.00! I also have to use credit card to pay for vet care. Like you said, it's not the best way, but it gets the cat care and time for you to find money to pay the bill. I use a credit card that gives my money back for my charges, thus reducing the overall bill by a nominal percentage.

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It was for sebastion's puffy eyes. He didn't need any blood work done or anything so it wasn't too bad. They just looked him over and gave us gell stuff to put in his eyes. When we took isadora and she had to get fluid injections and blood work done it was over 300 Another reason to take kitties to the vet early. It is MUCH cheaper if you can correct the problem before it gets bad.

I'm still in sticker shock! I have added two cats to my house since May. I totaled up the vet bill to date, and I have spent about $1045 so far, and expect another $100 bill for Penny's care today.

My 2 oldest cats (16yo and 14yo) were never sick! They were in the vet office for an annual visit and that's it. Since May, I have dealt with Bleu's FLD ($362,) a new kitten visit for Penny, vacs, spaying, and now this bizarre sickness, ($599), and Bailey's (now named Duffy) new kitten visit last week for $84.00.

Sorry to say, but there is a price tag on love! LOL. I'll get over the bills, but I would never get over loosing one of my babies.

cats are not cheap pets. They aren't expensive if they stay healthy but when they get sick, they REALLY get sick. I don't even want to think about my vet bills. They have to be way over 2000 for this year so far.

YIKES! Two grand -- ouch!

I believe that some people too are at a disadvantage when it comes to vet care, and I am not talking about the financial aspect of it, though that does come into play. But for example around where I live, all the vets are excellent when it comes to large animal care. The one vet I used to have, who specialized in feral cats, left some time ago to go teach back east. That leaves my group in with vets who know only the farm animals and not the smaller animals.It is a whole different type of medical discipline.

That is not to say that some don't try, because they do, but since cats (out here anyway) are looked on as barn cats and not much else, a prize angus bull will get better treatment because it is what the vets study for and what they know. In the last four years, I have lost one cat per year. Each cat was taken to one or more vets, each one was in *treatment* of one kind or another, and each cat died while under that care. It is pretty daunting when I think about it. I think if we lived in the city where everyone has cats, the care would be better than where we live now.

we have 8 inside kitties and three outside kitties and we are taking care of another kitty. So that is a whole lotta cats.

It is okay though. Most of them "work" for me as models for my collars so after talking to my accountant and my mom who is is a account we figured out a way for them all to be tax deduction

I have a great vet.It is the whole family.MR,Mrs & their daugther! He only does the farm animals and the other's do everything else.

We have spent over $3K since the first of the year on the cats. About 85% is vet related.
Please check around where you live for an affordable vet. You cat is counting on you and the example you set for your children will last a life time.

This cat is in terrible condition. He is going to die if you dont take it to the vet.

Originally posted by hissy
I believe that some people too are at a disadvantage when it comes to vet care, and I am not talking about the financial aspect of it, though that does come into play. But for example around where I live, all the vets are excellent when it comes to large animal care. The one vet I used to have, who specialized in feral cats, left some time ago to go teach back east. That leaves my group in with vets who know only the farm animals and not the smaller animals.It is a whole different type of medical discipline.

That is not to say that some don't try, because they do, but since cats (out here anyway) are looked on as barn cats and not much else, a prize angus bull will get better treatment because it is what the vets study for and what they know. In the last four years, I have lost one cat per year. Each cat was taken to one or more vets, each one was in *treatment* of one kind or another, and each cat died while under that care. It is pretty daunting when I think about it. I think if we lived in the city where everyone has cats, the care would be better than where we live now.

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aww hissy i'm so sorry I live in a fairly big kitty and the vet care around here for cats isn't so hot either. It would be wonderful to have a vet that just did cats. My normal vet has 12 kitties of his own I think, so he really loves cats, but his partner got pregant and is on leave so he is sooooo busy right now I just don't think he has the time to do his best. He is a really really great person though and he tries his best to spend alot of time with each animals. it is just hard to get an appointment.

For a low fee of about $8 a month, or so, you can buy pet health insurance for your cats. I'm not exactly sure how it works as I live in the U.S., but it sure makes sense if you have cats in need. The insurance covers routine check-ups, vaccinations, illness, and accidents. The problem with the US is that people can't buy or afford health insurance for themselves, let alone for their pets!
We need some type of a system here as costs keep rising.

I paid $75 for each kitten at the shelter. The money covered the first set of vaccinations and testing for FLV/FIV, plus certificates for spaying and rabies shots. My vet gave me a complimentary bag of Hills Science Diet dry food for kittens at my first visit. He cleaned out Cindy's ears with mineral oil.

You can get pet insurance in the US too. It just doesn't cover everything. Routine checks and shots are mostly what they cover. As for accidents and illness they will only pay part. I say chuck the payments into the bank and it will do them more good.

Check with social services, sometimes they will have lists of low cost vet care.

We have pet's health insurance here in Germany. A lot of people who had it said that 1) it didn't cover all major costs, and 2) if the pet developed a chronic illness, the insurance company often canceled coverage. What was suggested, and seems like a good idea, is to open up a savings account and to deposit the premium you would pay every month for insurance. That way you can build up a little "nest egg" for your pet in the case of something major. Our record was set 12 years ago - $8,000 in one year. We had a 13-year-old dog and a 23-year-old cat, both with hyperthyroidism and kidney trouble. I'd hate to think what it would cost today - at least double that, I guess.