Outdoor cat has swollen, painful paw. How to get affordable vet care?
Thank you for contacting PetCoach with your question about Gustavo. Without seeing him in person, I can’t say exactly what is wrong with his paw, but it may be he injured it, has a broken bone in it, or a foreign body. The fact that he screams whenever you touch it tells me he is in a lot of pain, and unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxi to cats, and are fatal if given. You don’t have a choice but to take him into a vet. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962
https://www.redrover.org
https://www.carecredit.com
http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets
http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/
http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/
Check out these resources to see if one can help you. Best of luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025