Stray cats tend to be a source of disagreement among human community members. While some people despise them and do all that they can to keep them away, others feel sorry for them and want to know how they can help them. If you are wondering whether you can take a stray cat to the vet for free, you are obviously someone who wants to help, and you deserve to be commended for your efforts.
However, you should not expect a veterinarian to provide you with a bunch of free services as a thank you. Veterinarians like to help animals, but they must make a living to keep their doors open and their families thriving. A veterinarian can scan a cat for a microchip, so if there is an owner it can be found, but that’s generally the extent of available free services. Here’s what you need to know about the costs of taking a stray cat to a vet this year.
The Importance of Taking a Stray Cat to the Vet
Stray cats don’t know where their next meal will come from. They don’t have a dedicated safe place to sleep where they will be protected from the outdoor elements and possible predators. They tend to get into fights with other cats that might be infected with a contagious disease.
So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that whether you notice obvious wounds or illnesses or not, any stray cat you see probably needs veterinary care. Without it, a stray cat that is hurt or ill may not last long on the streets. Unfortunately, veterinary care for stray cats is not free.
If you can’t afford to take a stray cat to the vet if they look sick or hurt, you should take the animal to a local humane society or no-kill shelter where they can get the help that they need. If you can handle the veterinarian costs, the following information can help you properly budget.
How Much Does a Trip to the Veterinarian Cost?
The cost of a veterinary visit for a stray cat can vary widely because there is no telling what healthcare services the cat may need. The average cost of a check-up can range from $35 to $80. Keep in mind that this is just for a basic check-up and does not include any other services.
The veterinarian whom you are working with will likely want to run tests to determine whether the stray cat has any underlying health issues that are not apparent. X-rays may even be necessary. The bottom line is that a trip to the vet with a stray cat is probably not going to be cheap. Here is a breakdown of services and an estimate of costs that you may face when taking a stray cat to the veterinarian:
The cost of a trip to the veterinarian with a stray cat can be extensive if the kitty has multiple problems to address. At the very least, a check-up will give you a clear idea of what kinds of treatments the cat will need so you can determine whether you can handle the financial responsibility of making the cat healthy again.
Fortunately, there are many financial support options available that can help offset your financial responsibilities. Some resources are focused specifically on veterinary care. If you find that you cannot afford the veterinarian care of the stray cat that you are trying to save, don’t feel guilty. Instead, find a humane society or rescue center in your area that is willing to take the cat in and provide it with the care that they need.
Additional Costs to Anticipate
You never know what additional costs might be quoted when getting veterinarian care for a stray cat. If the cat is injured, surgery might be necessary, which could cost you anywhere from $300 to $2,250. If a stray cat must have a tooth extracted due to disease, it could cost anywhere from $300 to $1,300.
The only way to know what costs will come into play is to have the cat checked out by the veterinarian. They will determine what kinds of tests are necessary and eventually, what kinds of treatments, if any, will be needed. The veterinarian may accept a payment plan, so you won’t have to come up with the cost of all needed vet services upfront.
When Should I Take a Stray Cat to the Vet?
You should take a stray cat to a veterinarian anytime that you are concerned about one and you can safely get them in a carrier for transport. Never chase a stray cat or try to corner or “capture” one, as this can cause unnecessary stress that can lead to even more health problems or even death.
If you do take a cat to a vet, the veterinarian can find out if the cat has a microchip. If so, they can help you locate the owners. If no microchip is found, you can decide whether to pay for a check-up and find out what kind of care the cat needs or to take the cat to a shelter that can better assist them.
If you do choose to cover the cost of a check-up, be prepared to be faced with a larger bill for further necessary services. Chances are that the stray cat has some type of disease, illness, or injury. You can always reach out to local no-kill shelters and humane societies for help with treatment if it turns out that you can’t afford the medical care after paying for the initial check-up.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Stray Cat Veterinarian Care?
You must sign up a pet for health insurance coverage in order to reap the benefits of the insurance. Therefore, if you find a stray cat in need of veterinarian care, you can’t just tap into an insurance policy and have the vet services paid for. However, if you decide to keep a stray cat that you find, you can sign them up for health insurance and then start using said insurance as soon as your policy is activated.
So, you might pay for vet services at first, but if you sign up for insurance right away, you could get financial help within just a couple of weeks. Any surgeries or other such treatments could be put off until the insurance kicks in if the veterinarian whom you are working with doesn’t find such treatments to be critical at the moment.
What to Do for Stray Cats Before a Veterinarian Visit
If you cannot get a stray cat to come to you and get into a carrier for transport to a veterinarian, you can take steps to create trust before trying again to get them to go with you for medical care. Start by offering them food. Consider putting out a bowl of commercial wet food or cooked chicken or beef for the cat to enjoy while you hang out near them.
Once they get used to coming near you to eat, they may be willing to come to you for a pet and eventually into the carrier for transport to a veterinarian. Unless it is a life-and-death emergency, you will have to keep the cat safe and comfortable until you can get an appointment with a veterinarian.
Choose a safe room in your home to keep the cat in (even a large, walk-in closet or bathroom that isn’t being used will work). The space should be quiet and free of foot traffic. The more people who visit the area, the more stressed out, frightened, and threatened the cat will feel.
Provide the kitty with a comfortable bed, food and water, and a toy or two to play with. Try to interact with the cat once or twice a day to get them used to human companionship. Hopefully, the cat will trust you by the time that you need to go to the vet. You may decide to keep the cat as a pet when all is said and done! If nothing else, you can provide useful health and personality information to interested adopters if you can’t keep the cat yourself.
If you already have pet cats, you should be aware that by bringing in stray cats or even just handling them, you can put them at risk of contracting an infectious disease. Strict quarantine measures need to be taken and it might be wiser to refer the stray to a shelter where they have the space, resources, and equipment to do a proper quarantine.
Conclusion
Sadly, it isn’t cheap to take care of a stray cat. Even if nothing seems wrong with the cat, they could have various problems. Therefore, it is important to take a stray cat to the vet no matter the condition they seem to be in. Hopefully, you’ll fall in love and keep the cat yourself or have success rehoming it to a loving family.
Featured Image Credit: Zhuravlev Andrey, Shutterstock
