DISTRAUGHT Marie Bestall paid the ultimate price for not having pet insurance when her cat was run over.
The mum-of-two found five-month-old Sydney lying in a neighbour's garden, unable to walk.
She rushed him to Vets Now, an out-of-hours service in Attercliffe, Sheffield, and was stunned to be quoted £90 for a consultation fee.
But it didn't end th
ere, to keep him in intensive care overnight would cost £280 and an ambulance to her usual vets in the morning would be another £50.
Further fees could have included X-rays, an operation and follow up care.
Single mum Marie felt she was staring into a financial black hole which left her with no choice but to have Sydney put down – at a total cost of £76.53, including cremation.
Marie, aged 34, of Wilcox Road, Fox Hill, Sheffield, said: "We're all still grieving, Reuhbens is three and he keeps asking when Sydney is coming back from the doctors.
"I'm disgusted at the cost, I can't see how it is justified.
"I never thought he would need insurance because he was so young, he was still a kitten."
A VETS Now spokeswoman insisted their prices were competitive.
She added: "Our pricing structures will always include an out-of-hours fee."
"Any charges that follow are comparable with the day time costs of an upper end vet."
Pet insurance is about £5-a-month for cats and £8-a-month for dogs.
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