The cat might die if I don't spend $700

[Anonymous]

I don't have any pets because I don't want to be responsible for an animal and the expenses that go along with it.

My sister has schizophrenia (she is medicated and doing well) and learning disabilities. She is living on disability. She somehow acquired 3 young cats. One cat (about one year old) is coughing blood. She told me that the vet quoted $700 for the diagnostic tests. I really don't know how accurate this number is as she is sometimes not a reliable reporter.

I don't want to pay for the tests or any medical care for the cat. First, I did not budget money to pay an animal's medical bills, and also, after the tests are done, there will probably be more bills for the treatment.

I have three kids going to college in the next 5 years. I really don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a cat.

My sister is very angry because she says that I am condemning her sweet kitten to death.

What would you do?

By the way, I would pay the costs to euthanize the cat if it is going to suffer (I have no idea what that costs, though).

[Anonymous]

No, I'd find a low cost clinic.

[Anonymous]

I would not pay it. The cat might die even if you pay the $700.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I would let the cat go in this situation. I’m sorry for your sister’s loss.

[Anonymous]

And for your unfortunate predicament.

[Anonymous]

Are you her legal guardian? Is it her money you oversee? What's going on financially here with your sister?

[Anonymous]

Sigh. Those situations are so hard, OP. You are under no obligation whatsoever!

Since I'm soft-hearted, I would take the cat from her, and either pay for the diagnosis and surrender the cat and or give it to a shelter, or put the cat to sleep, depending. Either way, she won't see the cat again, because she's not a responsible cat owner. This way I do my duty to the cat, but I do not enable my sister with money for her cat lady persona. If she can't care for her cats, they go away. She might keep getting more cats, of course, but then she'll do that regardless of whether this one goes away.

[Anonymous]

Having an adult child with mental illness I’d make my decision based on how I expected it to affect his mental health. If not doing it would destabilize him I’d do it. It costs me way more in time and money to deal with crises. If it wouldn’t matter one way or another I wouldn’t do it.

If I did it, I’d be clear about my future contributions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. Those situations are so hard, OP. You are under no obligation whatsoever!

Since I'm soft-hearted, I would take the cat from her, and either pay for the diagnosis and surrender the cat and or give it to a shelter, or put the cat to sleep, depending. Either way, she won't see the cat again, because she's not a responsible cat owner. This way I do my duty to the cat, but I do not enable my sister with money for her cat lady persona. If she can't care for her cats, they go away. She might keep getting more cats, of course, but then she'll do that regardless of whether this one goes away.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having an adult child with mental illness I’d make my decision based on how I expected it to affect his mental health. If not doing it would destabilize him I’d do it. It costs me way more in time and money to deal with crises. If it wouldn’t matter one way or another I wouldn’t do it.

If I did it, I’d be clear about my future contributions.

This is the OP. I really appreciate your perspective. I do think it may destabilize her. I am also the only family she has. Our parents are gone and there are no other siblings. My issue is that I don't think this is a $700 problem. Something is wrong with the cat, which will cost more money to fix, and there are two other cats in the pipeline. I can't take money from my kids and my retirement to spend on the cats.

I am also concerned that if the vet puts the cat on a treatment plan, she may not have the capacity to comply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you her legal guardian? Is it her money you oversee? What's going on financially here with your sister?

She is under the care of a case worker (she lives in Canada, if that is relevant). I do not have power of attorney over her affairs. She receives disability payments from the province.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not pay it. The cat might die even if you pay the $700.

Well yes, OP has stated that the $700 is for tests. So I'm sure that there will be more costs involved.

But I really don't like the part where the sister has claimed that OP will be she will be "condemning her sweet kitten to death". I don't like being guilted or pressured into things, so this would make me even more unlikely to help.

[Anonymous]

Is there an animal shelter where she lives in Canada? They would have medical treatment if the cat can be saved, and would be able to evaluate if euthanasia is more appropriate. The tradeoff is that your sister would have to surrender the cat, but I think if she truly loves the cat she could be ok with that as a way to save it. It would also put your sister on the animal shelter's radar and maybe prevent her from getting other cats from the shelter, though there are many other ways someone who wants a pet can get one.

[Anonymous]

Tell your sister she can’t afford to be a pet owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any pets because I don't want to be responsible for an animal and the expenses that go along with it.

My sister has schizophrenia (she is medicated and doing well) and learning disabilities. She is living on disability. She somehow acquired 3 young cats. One cat (about one year old) is coughing blood. She told me that the vet quoted $700 for the diagnostic tests. I really don't know how accurate this number is as she is sometimes not a reliable reporter.

I don't want to pay for the tests or any medical care for the cat. First, I did not budget money to pay an animal's medical bills, and also, after the tests are done, there will probably be more bills for the treatment.

I have three kids going to college in the next 5 years. I really don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a cat.

My sister is very angry because she says that I am condemning her sweet kitten to death.

What would you do?

By the way, I would pay the costs to euthanize the cat if it is going to suffer (I have no idea what that costs, though).

Not your monkey not your circus.