where do you draw the line?

Question

how much money would you spend on your cat for medical issues? or would you spend whatever it takes?

are you a bad kitty parent if you draw the line somewhere as to what you will spend on their well-being?

so, my question is to find out what YOU would do... i just wonder what other people would do in such a situation.

i already know that i am drawing the line where it stands because our kitties are part of our family & we are their mommies & daddies, but they aren't people. there is a difference to me. they are a part of the family, but they aren't human beings. they are sweet, lovable kitties.

it isn't fair for me to pick the answer i like the most, so i am sending this into voting!!!

Answer 1

i would spend what i could afford at the time....just from the previous question i think you need to switch vets...that might solve alot of your problems, especially with the unexplained procedures and the price gouging.....it sounds like they are making stuff up.....

Answer 2

It depends: Today if the cat is sick or it was ran-over by a car, the limit to spend would be about $200, but when my daughters were small the limit was more like $600.

At one time we put a cat down after spending $650 trying to fix it, and then finding out it would have to be in a cast and be kept in a box, on top of that the cat was not going to be able to walk properly. We felt that the Vet took advantage of our family.

Answer 3

I have gone past the limit of $200 on an 8 month old kitten. First it was regular vet bills...shots and worming. Then he got fleas...he is inside cat. Then we got him fixed because he started spraying. Since he came back from getting fixed, he has had watery diarrhea. That was 1 1/2 months ago. We have taken him to the vet twice and taking him back once more. If it cannot be fixed, I told my husband we have to get rid of him. I can't afford to pay more for a kittens medical bills than I do my own. I reckon that makes me a bad kitty parent.

Answer 4

I would spend whatever it takes. I just had this situation happen. My cat got very ill....the vet misdiagnosed her (I correctly diagnosed her to began with) so it cost even more money for x-rays, bloodwork etc. The bill ended up costing $1500.00, that we did not have at the moment. We ended up overdrafting our bank account, and had a really hard time in the next month catching up on our bills. I really HAD to come up with the money, as my cat is young and I could absolutely not put her to sleep for something that was treatable with a simple surgery and antibiotics. I really do not make a lot of money..but if I did I would not hesitate to spend it on my pets. My husband really did not want to pay that much for her and we fought over it. He said we should have a limit, but I disagree. If I had put her to sleep I would have been traumatized for the rest of my life. My cats are like my children, so I will continue to pay whatever it takes for them to survive. Of course in the case of an old pet who is suffering and there is really no treatment that is going to cure the cat, I would than maybe make the choice of euthanasia, if it was the best choice for the cat.

Answer 5

I would do what I could afford (maybe a bit more), but I wouldn't go seriously into debt. I love my kitties and pups and give them the best I can--but if it got into thousands I'd probably have to say no. The most I've spent on my kitty is $1000 (so I now own a $1000 dollar barn cat!!) Trust me she don't step one foot out the door!!

Answer 6

I have very expensive cats, so I would do whatever it took to save their lives. The only exception is if it was just to prolong their life and they would be in pain or not be able to live a full life. Also, sometimes I think you have to draw the line somewhere. I won't go bankrupt to save a cat, but I'll do what I can to get the cat care that it needs to live a normal life.

Answer 7

In my oppinion there is no "line" in loving your pet, would you draw a linee on your kids? i think not. My cat had to have his leg amputated and had to have shots and other needs cause he was gone for 2 weeks and came home with dehydration and a fractured Tibia bone, I spent $638.00 For the opperation, meds, and other things that they had to do to save his life, i didnt think twice on the price. But there are services that help low income or just anyone who cant afford to pay a bill for vets, the local Vet should have info on this, they take a collatoral from you in assurance u will pay, then they pay half the bill and u pay them back. It helps a lot, but only if u have a bank account or some kinda high worth collatoral

Answer 8

this depends on the medical issues! if it is something incurable, painful and will eventually kill the pet anyway, I'd put it down when it gets real bad!! if it is something simple and makes the cat only uncomfortable, and be help and give the cat a good life, i would spend as much it takes!!! can't really say for sure with out a lot more details!!!!!

Answer 9

Well, you HAVE to draw a line when you don't have the money.

However, I was recently in a situation where the emergency vet clinic was requiring waaaaaaaay too much money (almost a thousand bucks) to save my kitty's life.

Here's the thing, though. Just because one vet says, "This is it. Either pay up and save your cat's life or stop being cruel and put it to sleep," -- that doesn't mean you're stuck. In my case, I took my sweet baby kitty home and kept him quiet, then took him to my vet the next day. We talked about all the possiblities of treatment and payment, and he worked with me.

I have also gone for second opinions from other vets, when I felt it necessary. You can draw a line on what to spend, but don't rule out exhausting all your resources before you utterly give up.

Answer 10

Unfortunately our employers don't offer medical coverage for out pets. Draw the line wherever you have to. There are also alternative, natural medicines for cats.

Answer 11

I love my animals, but you have to draw the line somewhere. If I have to chose between an animal or going in debt, I say bye bye to the animal. My needs come first. But I never let it get that extreme. If you can't afford the animal then give it to someone who can. You have to think about your own welfare.