Treatment for poorly cat

You can ask your vet for a prescription and buy medication online from somewhere like Viovet.
You may be able to find a local cat sitter for your holidays. Not sure about the cost.
We have dogs and they come with us if we go away.

I use Pet Drugs online but have never asked my vet for a prescription and not sure if they’d be prepared to give me one. I recently had to pay out a few hundreds on antibiotics ( couldn’t believe how much they cost). Could have claimed on insurance but wasn’t sure how much it would push my insurance up.

You can use a cat sitter with experience of giving medicines, www.housesittersuk.co.uk/ or www.trustedhousesitters.com/house-and-pet-sitting-assignments/ just check references and talk to them before confirming.

I'm giving my daughter's cat medicine as part of my duties while they are away. I mix the morning dose on his breakfast, then serve up the next two meals in a compartment box which flips open at intervals.

I got prescriptions from the vets for Finn, my previous dog for his Librela. I then sent them to Viovets, it worked out much cheaper. As far as know vets cannot refuse to issue the prescriptions.
I now do the same for any prescriptions needed for Toby.
I haven't left Toby yet to go on a break but he does have a dog sitter on a Monday. She gives him his medication enclosed in a peice of chicken. It probably is more difficult with cats though.
However Finn needed his Librela given as an injection and l managed that OK and he was a right grump.
I think if you can find a lovely dog/ cat sitter who loves your pet they will try and assist you as mine does.

Vets are used to issuing prescriptions, but will make a charge. Mine charges £18. This should still work out cheaper. Viovet and Petdrugsonline are good.

I just don't go away any more, caring for my 2 elderly ailing cats would be too much to ask anyone to cope with, what with medication, supplements and the one with IBS using the litter tray many times a day, and sometimes overshooting! I dread the thought of what would happen if I was hospitalised for any reason. I have printed out a sheet with instructions just in case, which lives in a prominent part of the kitchen.

I hope you manage to make suitable arrangements.

Vet are required to issue prescription if requested but charge. I wish I had requested for my dogs librela as it worked out half price. There are certainly folk who will call in to look after peoples cats. I have a few friends who do this alongside their dog walking business and will do medication. Make enquiries on local facebook groups or the local petshop or go into vets to ask. Good hunting

I use Pet Drugs Online

You can use a normal pharmacy for vets script's if they can get it from their wholesalers. Might be worth asking it may be cheaper.

We always bought our cat’s medication for hypothyroidism online and our vet didn’t charge for the prescription.

Your vet is legally required to issue a prescription if the medication has been deemed necessary. Charges for prescriptions can be from £15 - £40. Ours charged £20 for the prescription and insisted it's sent to the supplier not just sent as photos online. The supplier needs to see the actual written prescription.
We used viovet, ordered online, posted prescription recorded delivery and saved over £100 on a year's supply of Advocate flea and worm treatment for 2 dogs. This was actual saving after prescription charge and postage.
Viovet was fast delivery too as we received it in a few days.

Just to say that companies like Viovet can buy from lots of wholesalers so they are much cheaper
On the other hand vets can only buy medicines from a few approved wholesalers so it's more expensive. Something to remember when you see how much vets charge for medicines. So not all a huge profit.

I don't know whether you'd consider homeopathy - remedies are much cheaper and are tasteless and odourless

I have paid £1000's over the last 20 odd years for pet insurance and have always sworn by it especially for our last but one cat who reached her £7500 lifetime cover in the final week of her life. However I have now had to cancel it for our old boy (17) as the premiums have now doubled in the last year to £143 a month which we simply can't afford any more. I have put him on Petplan at £19 a month which covers his flea/worm treatment and 2 annual checkups but as he is on lifetime meds now the vets will give me a 6 month prescription for about £18 and I will buy his medicine from Petdrugsonline which I have used for a few years. The bottle is about 2/3 of the cost compared to the vets. I'm slightly worried he may become very ill and we will have to cover the costs but still think it will be cheaper in the long run.

We've not been on holiday for years partly due to the cats and not wanting to put them in a cattery but I do know reputable pet sitters are often a good way to avoid this and will give the meds with clear instructions.

We have a brilliant cattery near us where the owners are happy to take my elderly cat who needs meds and a special diet. They're probably better at adminstering tablets than I am! I think they charge £15 a day and have even taken my cat to the vet when he was unwell.

We have a lady who comes in twice a day to feed our cats. She is a vetinary nurse and happy to give medication

A few years ago our then dog was ill. The vet recommended Pet Drugs On Line AND gave us a prescription

Re point C. Our local, wonderful cattery did not survive the restrictions imposed by Covid when people could not easily go away on holiday. However, one of the former owners of this small business now does cat sitting.It costs us £10 per day per cat ( we have four) which includes her travel costs but not the cat food or cat litter needed.However, this woman is worth every penny. She is a known quantity, gives all the cats time and attention in their own home - and skilfully administers three lots of prescribed medication to our oldest feline friend twice a day.
There is the added advantage that the sitter keeps an eye on the house too during our absence.

I also pay my vet for a prescription, £26 twice a year.

I buy his meds online and also the supplement my old cat was recommended after a blocked urethra. It's a real saving buying it all online.

Luckily my sister lives nearby and can pop in when i'm away for a day or so. I did get a cat sitter when i was away for 6 weeks and it was in winter so didn't want my older sister up and down the road twice a day in bad weather.

The sitter came recommended, had a very professional approach with her terms etc and visited us both at home . As mine was a long trip away she agreed a fixed price rather than her usual visit rate but it was the best thing i did for the cat.

He stayed at home, and she dealt with the vet when he developed a breathing issue. She brought him treats to persuade him to allow some grooming and spent time playing with him. All in all a cat sitter would be what i would recommend if you ned to go away.

Thank you to all for your thoughts and advice. Very helpful. I will do some research on catteries and cat sitters as holidays and days out, (or not), are our biggest issue.

Used to be a Cattery owner in Spain meaning many of our clients could visit family in the UK, Belgium, The Netherlands etc. particularly over the Christmas holidays. We were full at Christmas but took a special kitten, Tracy, indoors, with us as a family, meaning no patio doors open etc. Her owners were delighted with the photos we sent them and we were delighted to look after her. Why are people so distrusting of catteries?
I am now 73 and have chosen not to own a cat until my travelling days are over. Makes sense. Much as I adore them.

Wee dog is always scratching with allergies. Visit to the vet plus prescribed human based puiritan a whopping £70.