Hi everyone im new here, just thought i'd join as i really could do with some advice.

I have four cats, one is 3 years old and he's really ill. He keeps being sick and isn't eating much, at least not without puking it back up. He's always been quite a sickly cat but has been like this now for about four weeks. He's lost a lot of weight (the vet said over a kilo and that was a week ago) I've tried chicken, rice, fish and even scrambled egg which my vet recommended but he won't touch it because he's very fussy. I feed them James wellbeloved biscuits as its the only food he really seems to like. I've spent over £100 now on an anti- nausea jab, anti-nausea syrup type medicine, and anti-nausea tablets - all of which haven't worked. He's usually quite feisty and doesnt like being pulled around or touched unless he initiates it. He's also very destructive and scratches the carpet but he's been very quiet and slow, very well behaved haha not his usual self at all, letting me touch his paws, pick him up and even let me squirt medicine in his mouth which he would never let me do before (usually we have to take him to the vets just to get his claws clipped as he doesnt like it) he sounds like a pain lol and he is but of course i love him and as you can imagine i'm very worried about him. He doesn't go out. Does any one have any idea of what it could be?

Also the vet says he needs an endoscopy which could cost between £500 and £800 and i really can't afford it. does anyone have any advice on where i could get this procedure done at a lower price.

I've tried blue cross, pdsa and rspca none of which are prepared to cover the cost unless you're receiving job seekers allowance. I just don't know what to do the vet said it could be anything from an obstruction to a tumour. Obviously i don't want to lose him and i don't want him put to sleep but i have just moved house and with christmas coming up i really don't have much money. He doesn't have insurance as he has a very rare medical condition to do with the skin on his paws which means the insurance would be very high if they were to cover him at all.

I know it seems like i have all the advice i need as i've been to the vets but i'm at a loss. I dont know what else i can do, if there is anything else any other option

Thnak you

Gosh I'm sorry! Ask if your vet has a payment plan because you may be able to work something out!

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Hi thanks for replying, i think i might have to as there doesn't seem to be much else i can do

/Hi

Sorry to hear of your sick cat. I presume the vet has run bloods - have they revealed anything at all?

My advice would have been to contact PDSA but you have obviously been there. As already suggested perhaps ask the vet if you can work out a payment plan - most will. My other only suggestion which may be a bit OTT would be to ask friends and family for a small donation instead of a Christmas present - after all what could be a better Christmas present than seeing your cat recovered. Just a thought.

I hope he recovers.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

have you tried rinigng round other vets for prices?

Tell them your situation and that you nneed a payment plan..

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He needs blood tests before invasive searches unless the vet can feel something suspicious and obvious by palpitation ? Insurance would not have cost more than usual, he just would not have been covered for pre-determined conditions but it`s too late now as he is under the vet for whatever is going on now, [ that`s no help to you now but might be to others who think an existing condition would cause a problem getting reasonably priced insurance ].
Blue Cross etc help people who are on other benefits, not just jobseekers so if you are on any at all, or anyone in your household is who can take him in their name, they might still be able to help, other than that a decent vet will accept a payment plan so do ask around.

Given the urgency, if there is no way to raise the money in advance, [ if you can`t find a decent understanding vet ], then I would frankly have someone who is eligible for aid take him under their name then do the honourable thing and set up a donation payment plan through a standing order until the cost of treatment is covered afterward.

[ PS, a friends large dog recently had an endoscopy under GA for an intestinal problem and it cost about £150 so do ask your vet for a breakdown of the quote as it`s a ridiculous range of figures that you have apparently been given....]

Yes, blood tests and x rays as an absolute minimum, how does the vet know an endoscopy is needed without any basic investigations? I'd think about going to another vet actually.

I do hope you get some help for your poor cat soon.

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