charities for help with vet bills?

We have 13 cats,and i can honestly say,all our pets are well looked after.We have no pet insurance,obvioulsy,too expensive for so many cats.But the first sign of a sneeze or any of the cats look off colour,straight to the vets they go.Half the time nothing is wrong with them,just us over worrying,but we still fork out.We have become regulars at the vets,he knows all the cats by name and sight.One of our oldest cats,who was 24 when she died,only ever went to the vets twice,once to be neutered,and another time when she was old and ill for antibiotics.But we have another cat,only young,he has been to the vets quite a few times,he suffers with ezcema,so needs monthly treatment etc.

We had one cat who broke its leg,to have that seen too we forked out over £200.And another cat was in a road traffic accident,she had to have her tail and back leg amputated,all very much touch and go with her,that cost us £350.We squirmed at the time at hearing the costs,but they are our family not just animals,and we would go without ourselves to make sure our cats are ok.

Actually we are taking one to the vets Tuesday,the vet says he is ok,but he seems to be loosing weight,we are going to ask for blood tests,we know it will cost,but that is how much we care for our cats,all 13 of them.

Oh,before anyone says,yes we get all our cats spayed and neutered when young,none have given birth.All the cats we have just appeared in our garden as very young cats and never left,even though we asked in the neighbourhood,if they belonged to anyone.Ages range from 22-4 years

My mum's dog, a fantastic near pedigree GS, was got originally from the RSPCA shelter after being found on the streets after being used in a puppy farm. My mum got this dog from being nervous, severely underweight and barely eating to being a lovely dog, who, although she had a few problems (barking at cars/lorries, chasing cats) was lovable and adorable. My parents are on a low income, is that a reason for them not giving an animal a second chance at life?

Last week, they had to take the dog to the emergency vets, who did a scan, and said there was a growth in her chest cavity. So, the decision was made to put down an up until the growth was found, nearly perfectly healthy 13 y/o GS. She wouldn't have been allowed the op to remove it as she was too old, so it was better to let her be put down. All the vet charged for was to put her down, not the scan, not his time, nothing. That's a person who, although someone may not be eligible for help, will still try and help not the person first, but the animal.
(And yes, I do miss her)

It is unfair to say we shouldn't have them if we cant afford them.
We have had our cats 10 years, and now our situation is very different to then!
Both our cats we took in back then as they had no homes.
Now it seems they may have asthma, or a similar problem, and we have tried to do everything we can.
We are struggling on a very low income, 3 kids and our lifestyle disappearing around us.
We cant meet our bills, are unable to pay for the investigative tests on the cats, and are not eligible for any help that I can find.
Is there an answer other than hope the cats survive without help?

Note that The Pet Fund appears to be a USA charity, so not a lot of help to us here.

MrsTine wrote: »

Yes... rehome them or insure them.

I'm sorry but pets are a luxury - not a human right. If they need treatment and you can't afford to provide it then either rehome the pet or have it humanely put down.
I have 2 cats and a dog as well as a human child. I have had all my furs insured from day dot because I knew I couldn't afford huge vet bills - even when money was so tight I was eating noodles and did nothing but go to work (and did overtime to save on heating and power at home...) I still paid my pet insurance.

If you can get help from PDSA or another charity then great but their resources have been seriously pushed to the limit with the increase in applications and unless you are in their catchment area they cannot help.

I agree with the above 100% and I am on JSA with an pre-existing rescue cat. It's very hard living on benefits but not true that most cannot afford pet insurance, most are not prioritising pet insurance. Either you see your pet as your one luxury, or you see it as essential to your mental health: so why isn't it's veterinary care high up on your payments list? :huh:

There is always something we can give up - go vegetarian or vegan, ask for pet insurance for each birthday and Christmas, turn the heating down or off, cancel cable TV or your mobile phone, cancel your TV license and watch iPlayer .... if you cannot see where in your budget to cut back I guarantee the DFW board can. If you are already on a DMP you can put pet insurance down under other insurance.

It's irresponsible and selfish to take on a new pet that needs neutering and vaccinating, knowing you are going to have to tap an already stretched charity to do so. Why not long term foster one of the many older 'lifers' already in the care of a rescue? Then all food and vets bills will be covered.

It's irresponsible and dangerous to allow an un-neutered kitten out of the house to get herself pregnant, she could have died during the birth and now there are a load of new kittens for a charity to fund. Even if she escaped you could have had an early pregnant spay done - many vets and rescues recommend this for the mum's safety.