Cat-astrophe

Why oh why do pet emergencies seem to always happen on a weekend?? Yesterday, I had to rush my cat to the vet ER, with an obvious urinary tract issue. I noticed the night before that he was licking at his genitals, and worried one might be coming on when he tried to pee outside his box. I had no idea it would come on like a freight train…

I heard some pissed off sounding meowing in the early morning hours, but went back to sleep with it not quite registering. When I awoke in the morning, I looked for my cat, Bono, and found him under my bed. More meowing that sounded like he was hurting. So I borrowed a crate from a friend, and heard on the message machine from the Animal Healing Center that for emergencies, go to this place. The Pet Emergency and Specialty Hospital in La Mesa. Off we went. 

Bono was taken right away to the back, and they asked to give him pain meds, which I agreed. I was told it was good we came right in, because he was blocked completely. Any longer, and his bladder would have exploded!  They were going to need to keep him for 48 hours, and give him fluids and monitoring, with antibiotics and such. They would make up an estimate. I cringed when the vet said to not get sticker shock…

The low estimate was over two grand, and another grand on top for the high estimate! Good Lord! That’s more than Borias’ orthopedic surgery was! I was already into them for what they were doing, so felt I had to stick with them. What a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. How to afford that? I had just a few hundred dollars to my name. So I applied for Care Credit, and surprisingly got approved for $500. But I have to pay it back within 3 months. But at least it helped for the time being. If I didn’t pay up front, then they wouldn’t be able to treat Bono. So I gave them all I had, for living, pet food, and Borias’ acupuncture.

I have tried animal help organizations, but being the weekend, it’s not easy to reach anyone. I got a couple pledges from some local groups, for tiny amounts. It’s ironic that I was just going to post about a new project, working with FACE to do photography to benefit them. They are a new organization that helps people with emergency bills, so they don’t have to euthanize their pets. Now I’m having to seek help from them, myself. Most places are out of funding, with the economy situation. This is rough. 

Bono is doing well. He had to be catheterized to get through the crystals and push them out. He’s on fluids and being monitored, with his kidney levels really high. I hope he’s going to be ok. Can’t wait for him to come home! ( I bet he can’t, either!)