Cat needs eye removed, anyone any idea of typical costs?

brians_daughter

Does anyone know through experience or otherwise how much an operation to remove a cats eye would be?


Long story below for anyone that's interested!!!


We have recently got a kitten, the first thing we did before we collected him was purchase pet insurance, it's the sensible thing to do.

Last week I noticed he was squinting so off to the vets we went, conjunctivitis was the diagnosis, £75 handed over. Few days later no improvement so back we went, new treatment given £68.

He has been to another vet on Thursday who's been highly spoken of by everyone I have spoken to. (lost faith in the initial one) who immediately gasped and showed me a huge ulcer on his eye, he got another vet to look at it who's an expert in eye trauma. Gave us 4 lots of eye treatment. He's been back this morning, my brother took him for me as my cars in for MOT

Vet rang to say basically there's nothing else for it, his eye needs to be removed on Monday.

Obviously we are all very upset, but its just hit me that the insurance won't cover the operation as it is a direct result of the infection that he had (unknown to us) before he was part of our family, so therefore before he had insurance.

Now I'm wondering how much this is going to cost and where on earth I'm going to find the money! I budgeted £200 (plus monthly insurance fees) for the kitten for things such as injections, worming and the possibility he may need to see the vet for initial check up etc but never expected to be faced with this.

paddypaws101

Sorry I cant help with any idea of costs, but just wanted to assure you that he will cope just fine after the op.
One of mine lost his eye at about 5 months, before I got him and he is as happy and playful a cat as I could wish for.

Fire_Fox

So how long after you got the kitten did you realise he had an eye problem/ conjunctivitis? Have you paid for the kitten, was this a reputable breeder? Does vet number two think the eye could have been saved if vet number one had done a better examination or different treatment?

You really need to ask your vet about the costs, they vary widely around the country. You may be able to neuter at the same time which might save you a little.

Fosterdog

Have you spoken to your insurance company to see if you are covered? Is it directly linked to the infection or just a coincidence?

Mayflower10cat

To give you a ball park figure, our tabby cat Sam, back in 2007, had an eye removed due to a cancerous growth at the back of the socket. So the Op was to remove the tumour (as far as possible) and also the eye. I'm pretty sure several post op check ups were included also strong pain relief and injectible anti-bs. The total cost was £680.

brians_daughter

Fire_Fox wrote: »

So how long after you got the kitten did you realise he had an eye problem/ conjunctivitis? Have you paid for the kitten, was this a reputable breeder? Does vet number two think the eye could have been saved if vet number one had done a better examination or different treatment?

You really need to ask your vet about the costs, they vary widely around the country. You may be able to neuter at the same time which might save you a little.

Hi, thanks for the response. We've had the kitten just under 3 weeks, he had his first injections and health check and all was great. We noticed his eye was "funny" last Wednesday and worse Thursday. Took him vets Thursday then back again on Monday (this week) as it wasn't getting better. Vet said often eye problems can look worse before they got better but something didn't sit right with me after a further few days.

So, took him to vet 2. I asked vet 2 could vet 1 have done anything differently he said "possibly, he went on to say that to be honest without taking scraping samples it's hard to diagnose and its general practice to work up ie start with general treatment rather than put the kitten under anaesthetic on a first visit. So I doubt vet 2 would state without a doubt vet 1 is at fault.

We got him from my sons friends aunt, her cat had been caught just before she was due to be neutered.

Yes, ordinarily I would've asked re indicative costs but as my car was still at MOT garage my brother took him to the vet so my conversation with vet was over the phone and very brief. All I was concerned about was the poor kitten, it's only once it'd sunk in I realised my kitten fund wouldn't cover this, vets is now closed until Monday so just thought I'd ask on here, I realise costs vary but I thought at least if a few ppi said "I paid x amount" I would have a figure in my head.

Thanks

brians_daughter

Fosterdog wrote: »

Have you spoken to your insurance company to see if you are covered? Is it directly linked to the infection or just a coincidence?

Yes, spoke to insurance. There's a period of x days where they're not covered even though you pay the premium. Both vets have stated that this infection has been lingering or at least a good 3 weeks, so probably before he was our kitten and isn't covered due to the 'waiting period'

100%, without a doubt connected to the infection.

brians_daughter

Mayflower10cat wrote: »

To give you a ball park figure, our tabby cat Sam, back in 2007, had an eye removed due to a cancerous growth at the back of the socket. So the Op was to remove the tumour (as far as possible) and also the eye. I'm pretty sure several post op check ups were included also strong pain relief and injectible anti-bs. The total cost was £680.

Eeekkkk... Thanks for that tho. I'm hoping that its going to be reasonable as vet 2 charged me £56 and that was for 4 different drops/antibiotics and an injection for pain relief and consultation. I was expecting at least double that.

Goodness knows where I'm getting that kind of money from. As I say, I thought by having the £200 and the insurance I was being sensible and that we hadn't gone into this unprepared. Obviously I was very wrong.

Fire_Fox

brians_daughter wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the response. We've had the kitten just under 3 weeks, he had his first injections and health check and all was great. We noticed his eye was "funny" last Wednesday and worse Thursday. Took him vets Thursday then back again on Monday (this week) as it wasn't getting better. Vet said often eye problems can look worse before they got better but something didn't sit right with me after a further few days.

So, took him to vet 2. I asked vet 2 could vet 1 have done anything differently he said "possibly, he went on to say that to be honest without taking scraping samples it's hard to diagnose and its general practice to work up ie start with general treatment rather than put the kitten under anaesthetic on a first visit. So I doubt vet 2 would state without a doubt vet 1 is at fault.

We got him from my sons friends aunt, her cat had been caught just before she was due to be neutered.

Yes, ordinarily I would've asked re indicative costs but as my car was still at MOT garage my brother took him to the vet so my conversation with vet was over the phone and very brief. All I was concerned about was the poor kitten, it's only once it'd sunk in I realised my kitten fund wouldn't cover this, vets is now closed until Monday so just thought I'd ask on here, I realise costs vary but I thought at least if a few ppi said "I paid x amount" I would have a figure in my head.

Thanks

I wish people would not let their female cats out before they are neutered, 'accidental' pregnancies happen constantly and is why rescues have huge waiting lists. And pregnant spays can be done in the early stages.

If the eye infection happened before you got the cat will they pay a portion? A responsible breeder would have given you two weeks insurance so you'd have been covered from day one.

brians_daughter wrote: »

Yes, spoke to insurance. There's a period of x days where they're not covered even though you pay the premium. Both vets have stated that this infection has been lingering or at least a good 3 weeks, so probably before he was our kitten and isn't covered due to the 'waiting period'

100%, without a doubt connected to the infection.

So was it a full two weeks between taking out the insurance and the fist symptom on Wednesday? If so I think it's worth arguing the case because you have a vet check up where he was given the all clear. Let's say a pet is diagnosed with cancer after a few months, that would have been there months or years but no symptoms and not diagnosed - it would still be covered.

brians_daughter

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I wish people would not let their female cats out before they are neutered, 'accidental' pregnancies happen constantly and is why rescues have huge waiting lists. And pregnant spays can be done in the early stages.

If the eye infection happened before you got the cat will they pay a portion? A responsible breeder would have given you two weeks insurance so you'd have been covered from day one.



So was it a full two weeks between taking out the insurance and the fist symptom on Wednesday? If so I think it's worth arguing the case because you have a vet check up where he was given the all clear. Let's say a pet is diagnosed with cancer after a few months, that would have been there months or years but no symptoms and not diagnosed - it would still be covered.

We bought the cover when we brought him home, 3rd sept first trip to vets was thurs 13th (10 days) and 9 from when we first noticed.

I will plead with them, I had issues with them about 2 years ago, but just went with them as they've always been ok with our other cat.

Last time they Initially refused to pay out on a claim for my other cat who had a stroke - the reason being because he hadn't been immunised - it took us 3 months to settle it.

We finally got them to pay out when the animal hospital wrote a letter to the insurance company to say that he was an indoor cat and they actually recommended AGAINST him being immunised as there was no risk, now we've got the extra kitty he's been vaccinated just incase kitten wants to go out.

Given our last experience I can't imagine them covering something they don't have to.

I've told the kittens mothers owner what's happened, her response was "I can't believe you've broken it already" when I suggested contributing to costs (said I would provide evidence the kitten came to us with this inflation) she actually laughed in my face!

It's the not knowing what the costs are that's frightening! If I know we need x amount I can plan how its going to be found. My eldest has just told me I can borrow it from his savings.... He may just regret saying that!! :rotfl:

gettingready

OP - where in UK are you?

Real;ly sorry to hear about your kitten.

If you are in LOndon, try Celia Hammond as they will charge a fraction of regular vet fees.