At the appointment it was urged that Jelly may have an ultrasound scan of his abdomen at a cost of round £300. I requested what this could be checking for, and the reply was: “Oh you know, just lumps and bumps and things”.
Right then, I believed to myself, that is only a “nice” approach of him saying most cancers.
On listening to we didn’t have insurance coverage, the vet mentioned the scan wasn’t really important at this stage and urged ready to see what the bloods confirmed earlier than reserving one. I agreed and took poor Jelly home, the place he retreated again to his darkish nook.
The considered little Jelly doubtlessly having a life-limiting illness was so upsetting, however that evening my husband and I sat on our mattress and agreed that we didn’t essentially imagine in oncological remedies for animals.
Although chemotherapy and surgical procedure can lengthen sick cats’ lives by a number of months, we felt it would inflict additional ache and struggling on our beloved Jelly, who deeply hates going to the vet.
Despite what some could assume, our considering on this isn’t financially motivated. No a part of me regrets not insuring Jelly, quotes for which vary from £11 to £78 a month.
As a Consumer Champion I’ve seen how pet insurers so usually wriggle out of paying and depend on enormous lists of exclusions to cut back payouts. Had we insured Jelly below a mid-range coverage costing, say £30 a month over the previous 5 years, we’d have spent £1,800 on pet insurance coverage by now, which makes the £240 we simply forked out appear like small fry.
And the excellent news is that since his go to to the vet, Jelly’s blood exams got here again regular and he has perked up. He’s stopped vomiting, chirrups desperately for treats and pounces on our laps for cuddles.
Perhaps he merely ate one thing dangerous, or possibly there may be nonetheless an underlying difficulty. Whatever the case, I do know this: I really like my cats to loss of life and I’m ready to pay no matter it takes to maintain them snug, no matter state they’re in.
What I gained’t do is lengthen their lives no matter high quality, to maintain them alive for my very own sense of consolation – and at nice expense.
I realized the exhausting approach, after my childhood cat died aged 16, that regardless of how exhausting we strive, we will by no means cling onto pets eternally. Their naturally brief lifespans mark lovely, however finite chapters in our human lives.
Accepting this, and treating them as humanely as we will at each stage of their lives – and deaths – is the best act of affection we will present them. This can not often be accomplished with out monetary means as, in fact, vet payments have gotten more and more (and in some circumstances devastatingly) costly.
But in the event you really feel equally, then placing money right into a separate financial savings account, the place it could actually acquire curiosity, could also be extra smart than shopping for an all bells and whistles pet insurance coverage coverage you won’t benefit from.
