Picking up the vet bill for someone else's cat?
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
September 7, 2007 10:20am CST
DH has a cat -Billy - that lives at his moms house. When he moved out 6 years ago, he tried to take Billy with him and she said no because Billy was use to the area and she didn't want to move him. Last year they had to sell their house because they couldn't afford the payments anymore. When they did this, Billy became an indoor only cat. For the last 6 months, Billy has been acting out. She claims that they don't have the money for the vet (yet my FIL worked a side job for extra money for a trip to NY) and she hates their vet because of how they under treat the animals and how much they cost. We have been telling her for 2 years to bring their animals to our vet because they are at least half the price and take really good care of animals.
DH volunteers to spend his Saturday driving out to his Mom's, bringing the cat to our Vet, and bringing the cat home. Our vet found issues with the cat (some which should have been diagnosed years ago) and had to run tests. At the end of the day DH spent 4 hours of a Saturday (an hour and a half was actually at the vet, rest was drive time) and $210 on his(?) cat.
We did this because, well the cat had to be taken to the Vet and she was not doing it. We do have animals of our own to take care of (2 cats, 2 lovebirds) so we know pet upkeep can be costly. Should we ask her to pay us back, or just let this be a good deed?
2 people like this
6 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
7 Sep 07
We had the $210 to spare until I remembered DH had 2 tickets that I had to pay off, so now money is a wee bit tight. Honestly, for me it is not about how much we spent (the cat should still get a echo caridogram - $200 (he is 12 so we might not do this)and needs monthly medication - $35 for a hyper active thyroid, which she said she would get for him), but the fact that she did not bring him to the vet! I feel by making her pay a part of the bill, puts some of the responsiblity back on her.
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
9 Sep 07
It was very nice what you did. Why don't you let it be a good deed. Thank you for taking care of animals.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
7 Sep 07
If you can afford this vet bill for this 1 time I would say take care of it and then have a talk with her and let her know that you will cover to expenses but she will have to take care of the follow up expenses in the future.
@pendragon (3349)
• United States
7 Sep 07
I wouldnt ask for it, I'd be well happy that the cat was helped. If you ask for it and they won't give it to you, they might take it out on the cat, or money could tear apart the relationship you have with them.Plus, if it wasnt exactly their idea thry may bring that up as well.
@kjhasselstrom (304)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I think it depends on how comfortable you are with taking to her. Your DH may not want to ask her to pay for any of it, so you can politely bring it up in conversation, especially since money is tight. If she offers to pay back, great, however, if not, take it as a good deed done and good karma will come your way :-)
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
8 Sep 07
That's a hard one. What about asking her to pay half of it back? That way all of you would feel like you contributed evenly towards the bill because after all it is his cat but his mother wouldn't let him take it so it's partly hers too since she feeds and provides shelter for it. It's the only way to be fair.
