Kitty Troubles
 

Hey guys,

My wife and I recently adopted a cat. We got him from the Humane Society and we didn't know it but he was really bad off. He had an upper respiratory virus, ringworm, a tape worm in his intestines (yes, a tape worm, like two-feet long disgusting worm on Discovery Channel tape worm), ear mites, and fleas. $900 to fix all of that.


Well, now he has two broken bones in his paw from a fall and the vet says it's going to cost $2500 to fix.

If we don't fix it, he will limp for the rest of his life and it will become painful at around age 7-10ish years old. His paw will also be visibly deformed (it is now already). He'll have to be on joint strengthener and pain medication from that age on. Right now he is acting fine - he jumps around and jumps up and down from the counter and tables and runs around the apartment like nothing is wrong. His paw just has a massive bulge and he favors it and limps a tad.

If we do fix it, he'll make a full recovery and be fine.

We are taking him to a licensed surgeon to get a second diagnosis, but let's just pretend this is how it's going to be.

We love him to death but we just can't afford to keep doing this. We didn't expect a $900 vet bill and we are still recovering from that. Now $2500?

What would you do?

I know the answer seems glaringly obvious, but I Keep thinking back to those hair-lip commercials with the poor kids in foreign countries that didn't have the money to get their lip fixed and now they have to live their life with a deformity because of money.

I spent $1500 on my cat to get four bladder stones removed in January. She was in pain, though, and it wasn't exactly something she could just live with. One of my friends asked me why I wasn't just putting her down. I've also spent about $1000 so far on my horse this year in vet bills - lymphangitis - and he hasn't even had his spring shots yet.

I may just be a bleeding heart, but I can't stand to see animals suffer/have potential for future problems just because I didn't want to carry a credit card balance for a couple months. If one of my horses had a severe colic and a good chance of survival/good future health with surgery, I'd cough up the money and worry about asking for help later. That's just how I am, though - my animals are my kids.

Edit: I would definitely try to get a second opinion, though. My vet in Ohio apparently would have done the bladder surgery on my cat for $500, but it wasn't something that was a "wait a few weeks until I can get home again" thing.

Edit2: The amount I spend on vet bills (about $4,000 in just over 6 months) is part of my motivation for going to vet school.

If you know there is something wrong, that you can help with, at least for me, I'd find the money. I don't think I could live with watching him suffer in pain and knowing I decided to save my money instead of help. I love my cats too much.

I have had an average of 3 cats ast a time for the last 20 years.....loved them all,but they are just cats,not people....this cat will do just fine with out making the vet's boat payment!
.....next time pick your cat more wisely,not on emotion...xoxoxoo

I'm also a cat person, but I doubt I'd be able to part with that kind of cabbage in order to keep kitty healthy. It's a tough nut to crack, but like bobby mentions, it's just a cat.

If you have oodles of cash just lying around the house that keep getting in your way, then go ahead and spend it. Personally, I just couldn't justify such a shell-out.

Look at it this way, you could easily "save" another perfectly healthy cat that is slated for euthanasia that has a better chance at a good, long life. You didn't purposely break the cat's paws, it was a very unfortunate accident.

Ok, since you brought up those commercials...that $2500 could pay for 10 kid's operations. If you have it to spare, donate it. Your kitty will understand. Do your due diligence, of course, but go look at this website:

How To Help - International Children's Surgical Foundation

I would say that the cost of the surgery will probably be worth it in the long run. Kitties can live well into their teens, even beyond, if they're well-loved and cared for. All those years of pain medication and joint supplements may very well add up to what you would have spent on the surgery over a great length of time (I have met kitties who were in their twenties). You're absolutely doing the right thing when it comes to asking for a second opinion. Vets, like doctors, are not infallible, and additionally, different vets charge different prices. It's good to be a savvy consumer and shop around before settling on the vet that is best for your pet and your wallet.

He looks a lot like my kitty Ruff did when she was little.

Look at it this way. Your kitty may live to be eighteen. If you divided the surgery up over 18 years of a quality life, that's $111/year. Not so bad then, is it? Yes, kitties are expensive. So are dogs. It's kind of the risk of being a pet owner.

I voted 'no' but it's really up to you. They're pets, not humans, and will be happy to live by your side for a year as much as 10. But if the emotional cost of it outweighs the monetary, then go for it.

if you have the money I say do it, contrary to what others have said, to ME they are not just "cats" they are part of the family and I could not sit by and let one suffer

I voted no. I don't have that kind of money to spend on my own healthcare, much less one of my animals.

But it's not my cat. You make your decision. You're the one who will see the cat every day for the next 10-15 years.

I own a car, I paid $525 bucks for legal services the other day, the damned car is worth 2500 now after I paid upto $6600 for it. I'm still making payment's and that vehicle is annoying ... it's just a vehicle cats are not "just cats"... fix the feline. I promise you it's the one thing you wont regret. This is not a luxury, a car, or a commodity were not talking about, it's a pet.

My vote was no, but I'm kind of old fashioned about these things. I also wouldn't want the cat to suffer, and would probably euthanize. Poor fella....

I think your heart is in the right place to worry about the cat, and if you choose to keep it, you should probably get him fixed up, so that he suffers the least.

( I have a soft spot for orange tabbies.... ) These are obviously not easy decisions

We spend a lot on our four cats. The attendants at our Vet's office know us by name when we walk in the door. We have our Vet's cell and home numbers to call him at any time if we need him. It is very painful when you make the payments. Last summer another customer at the counter was visibly shocked, as I was, when she realized my bill was $960. (We were comparing) That doesn't happen very often, but I know what you are experiencing. I will also say that I have never looked back and regretted what I have spent on them. Have you considered contacting the vet school in Raleigh at UNC? They may have a public clinic, and their costs may be lower. Definitely check with another veterinarian in your area. $2500 does seem a little high to me, but I've never had to deal with broken bones. This is a difficult situation you are facing, and I hear you.

I didn't vote, because I don't really want to tell you what to do, rather than give my perspective and perhaps clear up the choice. First, no matter how much any of us love our pets (I have a cat and I adore her), they're not people and, bottom line, if it comes down to you eating or the cat eating, you're going to pick yourself, and you should. I'm not saying that's the situation, but I think you need to be realistic about the fact that $2500 is a lot of money to spend on an animal who may or may not ever suffer the negative consequences of having a broken foot. That's a full month's rent plus all utilities for my wife and I (hate Bay Area housing prices, that's another story).

I think if you truly have the money and aren't having to gouge your savings or your lifestyle too much, you should go ahead and do it. As snowy pointed out, cats can live for a long time and aggregate expenses to care for the problem later in life might end up being as much or more than the surgery now. However, I think you should make the decision a financial one and not an emotional one, and we can't help you with that question. I don't think you should be risking any meaningful financial harm to yourself in order ot make it happen.

how much does an amputation cost?

When you start having to feed him pain meds and the like, you're going to look back and think "we should have fixed it". If you're committed to keeping him, I think you should do it. Cats can live a long time, and 10 years of pain meds and other costs from related complications I would think would be much more than 2500.

It's just something I think you'll regret if you don't do. 2500 is a lot, but not that much. If you're not going to do it, maybe look into adopting him out to someone that would be willing to....just a thought.

Maybe I should disqualify myself... I am notoriously anti-cat. I find even the initial $900 investment excessive. I can't imagine spending $2500 to heal Gabe, our Great Dane, and he means as much to us as your cat does to you. I would mess him terribly, but the answer would still be "No."

I vote no, though I wish there was a third option for the Old Yeller approach.

I know I'd end up doing it. My pets are like family; I'd save up from other areas, put it on a low/no interest credit card if necessary. Once an animal comes into my house, it's on easy street. Then again, I have enough money that I can afford to do it, and it wouldn't kill me. If I didn't have the money, I'd make the best choice I could. I also second the idea of looking around for vets that might do it on a reduced fee basis. I had a vet up in Illinois whose wife was a surgeon at the local hospital. He was able to get a lot of great used equipment and unused supplies from the hospital, which enabled him to do certain procedures that others couldn't, or for much lower fees. I wish I could find a vet like that around here.

I would also consider mailing a ziplock bag full of tape-worm infested crap to the vet at the shelter. I know it's a "no guarrantee" situation with most shelters, but that seems like a lot of stuff that they should have caught.

We've spent that sort of money on our cats (well, specifically one of them who has had trouble in the past).

If you take in an animal, you are taking responsibility for it no matter the circumstances. You don't just get to take responsibility when it is convenient to do so, but also when it hurts a little.

If you can't do it financially, then you must make the effort to place the cat with someone who does have the fund and who cares enough to do so.

I voted no but I guess it depends on your income. I'd spend up to a hundred or so. If I was financially independant..............................................

If you decide to get an animal, you aren't just getting a fun little plaything to fool around with when convenient and then discard when things get harder. You're taking responsibility for the care and wellbeing of a living animal. Animals sometimes cost money. We recently dropped 3 grand on back surgery for my dog. It sucked, but it happens. If I don't want to risk spending money, then I shouldn't get an animal.

Oh, that said, the humane society was grossly negligent in not checking the cat over before they allowed you to adopt it. The hum. societies here, anyway, will not even let you consider adopting an animal until they're sure it's as-healthy-as-possible, and has been neutered/spayed. They should have treated the cat before you got hold of it, but at minimum they should have been aware of the cat's condition and informed you about it. I suspect this "humane society" isn't a very good operation, since it seems they don't even bother to have a vet check their animals over.

Good news everyone!!!!!

We talked to a specialist that, well, specializes in cat & dog orthapedic surgery. He said the surgery wouldn't be a good idea. He said the bones are so small that the likelihood of an effective surgery are slim to none. Since Sebastian is so young still that the bones will fix themselves (if not a bit awkwardly).

Bad news in the short-term for Sebastian: CAST AND ANTI-CHEW COLLAR!!!!

http://www.thetuttletwins.com/splint.JPG

Good news!

Cats love those collars ... not!

When I last adopted from the humane society they gave me a voucher that offered a discount on my first vet bill also spay/neuter. In addition to that they also stated that if during the course of the vet appointment it was determined that any antibiotics etc were needed they would reimburse for the amount of the prescription. Of course this was quite some time ago, and your humane society may not offer this but I would check into it.
-----Added 9/2/2009 at 09 : 06 : 00-----
I didn't catch this, I actually had to amputate a toe on my dog. It ended up costing me around $600 if I recall correctly. It was worth it however as he kept had repeatedly fractured the same spot. I have seen animals get along quite well three-legged.

That's great news, and maybe the cast/collar won't be so bad since I'm sure Sebastian will be getting much attention while wearing his new color-coordinated accessories.

That colour suits him!!! Dont worry he will lap up the extra attention and when he is all better will probably 'limp' when he wants something....animals are very smart

So cute! Thanks for sharing the photo. I'm glad that he's young enough for this kind of treatment. Awesome that you went for a second opinion.

Thats fantastic!!

Awwh, teh wittle kitteh has eh bloo kast!
-----Added 10/2/2009 at 06 : 31 : 43-----
You're heartless! Don't you know that cats are more valuable than people?

That's great news, Redjake!!!

Dude, you are fucking up. Just thought I'd give you a heads up. Expect a phone call from the management.

@ mm lol

Cats indeed!

Glad to see your lovely kitty Redjake, it's good that you found an alternative that suits everyone :)

Now that's some funny stuff!!!

I have a cat. It's my wife's cat. I am not a cat person. So of course, the cat only lays in my lap. She only comes to me to get her head scratched.

Stupid cat.

Glad to hear teh kitteh is doing better.

Next time see if therte is a teaching veterinarian hospital around, they tend to do things like this cheaper.

I'm so glad you found another way that's good for the cat AND for you.

I had a post on here a while ago (I think there was some pruning done) about a cat who I witnessed get hit by a car, and the driver left. I was so upset. If I was that upset by a cat getting hit, I couldn't imagine seeing a person.

Anyway, the cat was badly hurt. Money wasn't available at the time to pay for what that cat needed.

I did bring it to the closest vet, and relenquished legal control/ownership, even though it wasn't mine to begin with (I guess because I was the one who brought it in).

Long story short, the manager of the hospital pretty much fell in love with the cat and adopted it. Paid for all the surgeries she needed, and so the cat had a good home. I was lucky to get to see the cat all the time, as I got a job there shortly after.

Not everyone would go to the extreme this woman did to save that cat, but it's just such a nice story that I had to share it.

Cats are not "just animals" to me. My cat is my companion and my friend to me. She looks directly at me when meowing as if to convey a specific message. She knows to come sit by me on my couch or in bed when I pat the space next to me. She know how to tell me things by her actions, and I even pick up that she has certain meows for certain things.

I got her when she was a year old at the MSPCA shelter, and she's now. She's now going on 13 years this year :) (sorry, I tend to ramble a lot)