My cat has cancer, I can't afford treatment. What are my options?

I am sorry your kitty is so ill. I think rather than thinking about euthanasia, it is important to verify the diagnosis before taking such a drastic measure. The next step would be to do a bone marrow biopsy and to send the tissue harvested to a pathology laboratory. This will tell whether your cat indeed suffers from cancer of the bone marrow or another not so severe disease. If your vet cannot do the bone marrow biopsy, have him refer your kitty to either a veterinary oncologist or internist. Both of these specialists will also be able to inform you about less costly treatments and palliative care if needed. I think this would make more sense than putting down your cat on just the suspicion of a bone marrow cancer. Neka is very beautiful and certainly looks well taken care of. So I hope the diagnosis is not so dramatic after all.

I'm so sorry - there isn't really anything I can recommend to help with a tumor at home. I'm surprised Karma has a tumor when she is so young - it certainly can happen but it's not very common. You may want to try seeing a vet if she hasn't been to one - an abscess or other benign growths could look similar. You could look into Care Credit (www.carecredit.com) or the link below for different ways to help with payment: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/yourvet/financial-assistance-veterinary-care-costs

First off, I'm very sorry that Mama Kitty has mammary tumors! Unfortunately, 90% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant. I think your best option in this case is to enjoy the time you have left with her. Spoil her, give her lots of love and attention, feed her favorite foods (but not ones that are toxic!). Spend as much time with her as you can. Monitor her in regards to her quality of life, and if that starts to decline (i.e. she stops eating, stops drinking, loses more weight, becomes very lethargic, appears to be pain), then it's time to discuss with your vet humane euthanasia. It's a hard thing to do, but it will allow her to go peacefully and without any further pain. You can keep in touch with your vet to discuss her quality of life which will help you make an informed and objective decision. I work for a home euthanasia service and help owners with these decisions all the time, so if you'd like to talk with me further, you can request a consult with me. Just click the consult online button under my answer. Otherwise, again I'm sorry and I hope this helps somewhat.

I'm very sorry to hear about your kitty. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about something like this at home. If taking her to the vet is not an option, then please contact your local animal control officer and see if they can help you have her cared for, or humanely euthanized.

Poor Bella! I'm so sorry to hear about her diagnosis. Unfortunately, it's true that mediastinal lymphoma with fluid in the chest generally has a very poor prognosis in cats. You could certainly request referral to a veterinary oncologist for a consultation about this - the oncologist could give you a much better idea of whether there are any treatment options at all that might help her. If you aren't able to pursue referral to a specialist, then I'm afraid it's very unlikely that there is much at all that can be done by your family veterinarian - this is quite a serious problem that generally does not respond well to treatment. There may be some things that could help to keep Bella comfortable for a short time, such as draining the fluid to help her breathing and starting her on a steroid such as prednisone, but it's unlikely that these things will help for long. Again, I'm very sorry for the bad news you've received - cancer is a terrible disease, in pets just as in people. :(

That is something that really needs to be seen by a vet. Keep it clean and dry as possible. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses. Call a local animal shelter or college of veterinary medicine in your area and ask if they have a low- or no-cost veterinary care program. GiveForward and Youcaring.com are crowd funding websites that help you raise money to help take care of your pets Harley’s Hope Foundation is an organization that ensures low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise. Many breed rescues and groups have specials funds available for owners who need financial assistance, such as the Special Needs Dobermans, Labrador Lifeline, and Pitbull Rescue Central. Banfield Pet Hospital has its own programs for owners that can’t afford their pet’s care. Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) works with seniors, people with disabilities, people who have lost their job, good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten who may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion. The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes. God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help. IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information. Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. Some groups help with specific disease, such as Canine Cancer Awareness, The Magic Bullet Fund, Helping Harley Fund, and Muffin Diabetes Fund. The Pet Fund and Redrover.org are great sources for help to care for your pet. The Humane Society website has many links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses.

I'm so very sorry Ittybitty has been diagnosed with cancer! Your question is a hard one to answer, as I can't see her in person. It really depends on how much time surgery and chemo will buy her. If there is a chance this could add years to her life, then I would say to go for it; however, if it will only buy her a couple of months, that's a lot to put her through for a relatively short period of time. In that case, I'd say enjoy the time you have left with her. Chemo is hard on the body, and it does leave the animal feeling quite unwell. The other concern is your vet not being sure she will tolerate surgery. I would weigh those factors into consideration to make your decision. I'd be happy to consult with you further about this if you'd like, just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Good luck!