What's wrong with my cat???

Question

I know I should take him to a vet.....but I don't have the money to help him. All I can do for him is put him down. And all the vets are doing are draining my of my money. I don't have what it takes to help him.......and he's my best friend. My aunt says he has cancer. I don't know what to do! I don't have the money for any kind of help and I really hope it's not cancer, bacause I just got through my Mom having Breat Cancer. If anyone knows a good vet in the Gwinnett county in Georgia. PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!

Answer 1

Hi Ivy...

List of Vets in GA: http://www.gvma.net/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=97

At least one of these should be able to help you :

AAHA Helping Pets Fund
AAHA-accredited veterinary practice applies for a grant on behalf of the pet in need. For veterinary practices, assistance is limited to $700 per calendar year. Each pet and family is limited to $500 per calendar year. Owners must be able to document their financial hardship by being on food stamps, unemployment, SSI, Medicaid or TANF or similar, if in Canada. In certain situations, if the vet signs a letter stating the owner has financial hardship, the grant may also be approved. They will only pay for needed medical care for sick pets. http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/root/

Care Credit CareCredit, offers no fee, interest free loan plans (for periods up to 36 months) with a low monthly payment for Veterinary Medicine. These plans can be very helpful and are much lower in costs than credit cards, bank loans, etc. They also offer loans for longer periods at a rate of 9.9% interest.
http://www.carecredit.com/

Cats In Crisis Nine Lives Emergency Fund
This organization offers $150-$200 for cats with illnesses not covered under their other funds to pay for vet bills, treatments, etc. to individuals who are unemployed, receiving government assistance, on Medicare/Medicaid or have other reasons for needing financial help.
http://www.catsincrisis.org/nineLivesFund.html

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance
Provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
http://www.fveap.org/

Help-A-Pet
A nonprofit organization which provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose owners are unable to afford the expense. If your income is less than $20,000 (individual) or $40,000 (family), you may qualify for up to $500.
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html

In Memory of Magic (IMOM)
Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. Dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. Four different funds.
http://www.imom.org/

LifeLine/LifeLine Rescue by United Animal Nations
Aids companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28

The Pet Fund
Provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. The "triage" system for deciding which cases to fund is based on the stated financial need of the animal owner, the opinion of the treating veterinarian as to the medical necessity and urgency of the treatment needed, and the demonstrated capability of the animal owners to be responsible for their animals. Owners need to complete an application and funding agreement and provide proof of income. Vets will have to sign a waiver and provide an estimate of treatment costs. They advise you to call first [phone]. Grants are capped at $500.

Answer 2

If the vet is draining you of your money, does that mean that the cat was seen by a vet? Only the vet can tell if the cat has cancer or not. You dont say what his symptoms actually are. Another common problem in elderly cats is kidney failure due to old age, which will make them become very thin and sickly. Your best bet is to have the vet check him. If it is cancer, the vet may be able to tell just by palpation or seeing tumors. If its kidney problems, the vet may be able to give you fluids, special foods, and medication to help prolong his life and make his life more comfortable. It would cost as much money to have him put down as it will to have the vet examine him and make suggestions of what the problem is and how to treat it. So give your old friend a fighting chance and let the vet examine him and give you an idea of what the problem might be.

Answer 3

Well looks like you are going to HAVE to take the cat to the vet, call the vet and see if you can make payment arrangements, or borrow the money, or get a credit card. Why would your mom think the cat has cancer....it takes blood testing to determine that...she cannot just tell by looking at the cat, only the vet can tell you that! Also, if you cannot even afford to take this cat to the vet why did you post a question only 2 hours ago asking where you can get a cheap or free Chihuahua???!!!??!!??!!??!??! If you cannot afford pets....then DON'T own one!

Answer 4

I understand your situation with regards to money. I had a dog from the time I was 15 until I was 30. It wasn't like I was broke when I got him, mom paid for everything back then. As the years went on and I moved out on my own, my ability to cover vet bills went downhill. Especially when he got old and sick. He needed Science Diet and was on numerous meds that required getting labs every couple months. Let me tell you about the vet bills I had!! Hopefully this is what has happened to you, and not what everyone else has assumed.

My vet allowed me to make payments whenever I could. They know me and trust me. I actually had to put my baby down in May of this year and I still owe the vet $400.

Any friends or family that can help? I actually blew off a different bill each month when I had big vet bills. Screwed up my credit, but hey, life's too short and my dog was too damn important to me.

Edit...

DO NOT GET ANOTHER PET! I didn't know about the last question from you. And to think, I wanted to help you. No, I wanted to help your poor cat.

You gonna be on answers in another month asking us where you can get free or cheap vaccs for your new puppy? Let's be realistic here...

Answer 5

Ivy, I'm very sorry that your cat is ill. I'm going to give you a link that may offer you some solutions. But, I want you to also remember that part of the responsibility of owning an animal is being able to take it to the vet. If you can't afford care for your pets, then you should not get another one. Even when I was a starving college student who couldn't afford food and could barely make rent, my cats always had vet care, no matter what.

Again, I completely sympathize with your situation, but please consider what you are going through now before you take the responsibility for caring for another animal.


Edit: WAIT A MINUTE! You have another question about getting a free chi???? What the??? Here I am feeling all sorry for you, yet you want to go out and get another animal to condemn it to a life of no vet care and you only feeling bad about that for a second? If you can't afford to take your cat to the vet, you CERTAINLY can't afford a new animal. Shame on you, shame on you, shame on you. Go volunteer at a shelter rather than get another animal that won't be cared for properly. Learn some responsiblilty!

Answer 6

by potential of the time you grow to hearken to a transformation on your cat's habit the cat has been in misery for extremely a while. No thank you to tell what's incorrect of direction, vomiting is a symptom of many stuff, a danger poisoning. The prognosis desires to made by potential of the veterinarian. To do? pass outdoors and get the cat into the homestead. Take the cat in to the veterinarian ASAP.

Answer 7

Sweetie there isn't a way to help him unless you take him to the vet. he will get worse. My cat had lukemia, and we went to the vet and got some meds, and it made him feel worse. So take him to the vet, see if it's cancer, if so, have him put to sleep. If you love him and he's your best friend, that's the right thing to do, you don't him in pain anymore do you?


Sorry for you, but I wouldn't want my pet suffering cause I didnt want them to die. you know? Good luck and i hope its not cancer, but get help for the cat before he dies..

Answer 8

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. Try calling the local animal shelter and ask for a referral for a less expensive vet...like a free clinic for animals (good luck). But the reality is you will probably have to put the poor thing down, I know that it sucks for your, but if your cat cannot be healed (because of financial reasons or terminal disease) then you need to put him out of his pain. I could never let my precious cat sit around in pain all day, that would hurt me too much!

Answer 9

He needs to see a vet. No excuses. If you can't afford the vet, you cant afford the pet. Call around and see if you can find a vet that will set you up with some sort of payment plan.

Answer 10

Call your Vet or another and ask if anyone would be willing to take the cat to keep him from being Euthanized if at all possible, the worst thing you can do is nothing, the cat will suffer for it.

Answer 11

At our practice, we offer payment arrangements to people who need to treat their animals and are short of funds. Additionally, we keep a fund in house to help people in financial distress do those things necessary to help their pets. If you have a local humane society and/or rescue groups call them. They may be able to offer assistance. In the meantime, unless your aunt is a DVM, get the advice of a vet