My poor kitty cat :(

[Liviam]

I was feeding my kitty this evening and I noticed she had a big bulge on her side. I first thought it was her belly poking out (my kitty is well feed ) but I then poked it on it is rock hard and she meowed and wont let me near her. The lump is about the size of a softball. She has been off her food for about a week. I feel absolutely terrible because I haven't noticed it. Obviously I am going to get an emergency appointment with our vet in the morning but I am thinking the worse and that I'm going to have to have my kitty cat put down which is so sad.
My worry is and I feel absolutely terrible about it but I have to be realistic and that is we can't afford a massive vet bill because we already don't have enough money to cover our bills. So do I get choose what happens with my poor kitty or is it out of my hands and I have to do what the vet says? I feel so guilty and like a horrible person but I just can't pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for surgery/hospital stays etc but I am scared what the vets are going to say and if we can't afford the treatment are they going to make me feel horrible for making the horribly hard decision to put her down? I am gutted that I am going to have to make this choice based on money but I have to be sensible but I'm sitting here crying at the thought of it.
What am I going to do??

[Peach*]

Can they let you pay off your bill maybe?? Big huge hugs to you I hope everything goes ok for you and your Kitty.

[Glamourcide]

Oh sweetie, I hope your kitty is okay!! Most vets these days have finance options for big bills, you can apply for finance and it's like a loan - you can always give it a go if you are quoted a big bill.
In my experience, no, vets are really understanding that families have heaps of bills to pay and won't make you feel at all bad about making a choice purely because of $$. I'm sure most vets would rather see a beloved pet put gently to sleep because of money issues, than kept alive and in pain because the owner can't afford to treat them, kwim? They are usually really understanding and sensitive about these things (at least, the vet I take my little fur-children to is always very kind).

I really hope it's nothing too serious and that the vets can help your cat get all fixed up, for a price that works for you guys. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help, okay??
xo

[Phteven]

I hope that its nothing too awful and your little kitty is with you for years to come.
Talk to your vet about payment options and he might have a payment plan.

[ss_storm]

try not to worry too much, wait until you can get some answers from the vet tomorrow. Whatever the outcome though the vet will understand your situation. My mum had to have her cat put to sleep a month ago, his kidneys were failing and everything was starting to shut down. the vet suggested some things they could do to extend his life but understood and supported mum's decision to have him euthanised, due to the cost of treatment just for a few more months of life (he was an old cat anyway). So, long story short, they will understand, whatever decision you need to make.

fingers crossed for you that it's something simple to fix

[skybie]

Can u take puss to an animal shelter vets? they're usually alot cheaper.
hope its something mminor and not too expensive and u have ur happy kitty back soon xxx

[Cassius2]

i hope that it isnt anything too serious xx

if there is a vet bill that is astronomical, ask them if they do payment plans. many do these days as it's just insane how much animal treatments cost these days. i know some vets dont do it, but it could be worth a ring round if yours doesnt.

[Liviam]

I'll ask about the payment plan if the bill is too much. I'm so embarrassed to have to ask . Silly pride but I'm off to the vets now so send all your prayers this way. I'm going to cry and embarrass myself but I've had her for 13 years and she's slept on my bed every single night . She's my own personal hot water bottle.

[krysalyss]

It is probably just an abscess if it hasn't been there too long. It might be a couple of hundred but shouldn't be too much I wouldn't think as it isn't a huge operation to drain. But would require anaesthetic and ABs. Chin up. It might not be as bad as you think. Also if you have a good chunk of the bill for a deposit, some vets let you pay it off if you are well known to them. But be upfront about your finances as they won't trust you if you only say it at the end when they give you the bill. Big hugs.

[krysalyss]

I was just thinking that my previous post sounded a bit blase but I had my toddler on my lap hurrying me and I didn't want to not post IYKWIM. But I do know how you feel and what a worry it can be. Thinking of you and your cat and hoping that it all turns out ok.

[Glamourcide]

Fingers crossed for you hun!! Keep us posted. Sending your cat all the healthy vibes I can

[Laranna]

Hope your kitty is ok hun

[Glamourcide]

Also, I second what Krysalyss said about it maybe being an abcess, and pretty cheap for the surgery? My male cat got in a fight recently and a few days later I noticed he had a huge lump under his skin on his back - took him to the vet and they checked it out, found what looked like a puncture wound from a claw (which sounded right) and just lanced and drained it - cost me under $100 with antibiotics. About a year ago my female cat had a litter and then just after H was born, I noticed she was oozing yucky-coloured goo from her genitals... then she started growling and overgrooming and I realised she was in pain. Took her to the vet and they said she had a serious uterine infection and it was good I'd brought her in when I did or she would have died (within hours) I thought I'd be up for huge money as they had to put her under and give her a total hysterectomy, and it's more expensive when dealing with an advanced infection, but it was only a couple of hundred dollars... the vet was really nice and assumed I'd take the euthanasia option as money's tight, but when I heard it would only be a couple of hundred dollars I told him to take her out the back and do the surgery right now and I'd be back with DH's credit card within the hour. They said, 'Just pay when you pick her up' and threw in a course of a/b's for free... so I have my fingers crossed that your kitty's got an issue that *looks* bad but is easily solved!

[Liviam]

Well that appt didn't go well at all. Sadly it is a major operation that the vets are concerned doing because of her age, the size of the growth and there are little growths around it. They couldn't tell me exactly what it was and whether it was malignant or not but we only have two options - have her put to sleep or major surgery. The vets are worried how she will pull through the operation as they cant tell me how serious it is until they are in there. So it's either a serious major operation or a major operation . The worst thing they can't tell me how much exactly as they don't know how it will go but we are looking at minimum $1000 . Also when they remove the lump they won't test it unless I ask them to (another $250) so they won't be able to tell me if it has spread or not. They are concerned because she isn't eating or drinking either. So it looks like we are going to have to have put to sleep. They don't do payment plans and we have been rejected from the finance company they use . I'm so sad but I don't want her in any pain and the vet said she appears she is getting to the stage where she is starting to be in pain and that is not what I want at all. DH is going to take her down because I just can't do it. I don't want to scare her more. Sad few days ahead unfortunately. Thank you all so much for thinking of me and our kitty cat. Now we have to decide how we are going to tell DD. She is only three but shes worried about her kitty. Should we include her in the burial or do it without her knowing?

[Olive]

awww hun sorry about your cat. with DD is tell her the truth hun

[krysalyss]

Oh Liv how sad! Poor little one. I know you were worried about money but even if you had all the money in the world it sounds like you are doing the most humane thing anyway.
Big hugs to you and your family. I would include your DD in the burial. Our DS is the same age and our family dog died last year. He is buried in our yard. DS wasn't there because we were living away at the time but he knows that Bundy died and where the grave is. He talks about him and adjusted quite well. I think it is easier for him to understand than if he was just gone.
Thinking of you. xo

[Party-of-five]

sorry about you cat

[Peach*]

Oh my god Liviam, I am so sorry to hear that. I have tears in my eyes At least your beautiful cat wont be in pain anymore. Big hugs to you