For context: not asking for money or donations just a solution. Our cat, 12M I will call Sam. We inherited him via neighbors in our apartment complex. We would leave our door open for the laundry room and he would sneak in and would refuse to leave, our neighbors knew this and so when they had to move they left him with us OR it was back onto our local public trail which is where he came from. Naturally we took him in. My parents never got him insurance, I was 12 when we took him in.
Fast forward to now. He has dealt with a swollen paw beginning late march. We took him to the vet April 9th and after an X-ray the verdict was a soft tissue injury and swelling. We were instructed to give him the prescribed medication until it ran out, prevent him from further damage (jumping or gnawing), and observe the paw over the next 3-4 weeks. If it got worse we would go back in. Now, May 5th we took him in and here is the dilemma. Physical observation and post X-ray vet is sure he has OSA in his pinky toe (we are sure as well, it’s SO obviously a tumor). Due to tendency of OSA spreading to the lungs we had a chest X-ray as well which revealed two masses, one near the heart and another towards the back to the spine.
Here is where the financial burden comes in. Long story short, my parents have never been good with finances so we can’t afford his treatment. I have offered my parents to sign up for a care credit card which I am preapproved for. Problem with that is I am an independent student, in the middle of acquiring my BA, paying off tuition, medical treatment, and a car loan as well as other misc bills. I make 1,800 monthly.
Quote for toe amputation $3015.41
Quote for CT scan to determine if growths in rib cage are carcinoma or abscesses $2858
Option 1
- do CT scan, figure out what the growths are, if cancerous euthanize him, if not cancerous continue his life and follow up with toe amputation
Option 2
- do toe amputation and pay for CT scan months later
Option 3
- euthanize
I feel immense guilt over option 3 but it seems the most logistical to me. I would put myself in so much debt for Sam I truly love him dearly but at the same time I’m paying off debts which I have acquired over time and attempting to live my life as well. I know this is my parents responsibility but I am attempting to find the most humane solution. Are there any programs or homes which will take in a cat for rescue in this situation. NO KILL. We do not believe in kill shelters, I know the current situation might seem like neglect but I think if I was older when we got him then it would be different. Reside in LA county.