Concerned pawrent takes her sick cat to the vet, only to be charged over $600 for x-rays she explicitly said she didn't want: 'I told the nurse twice that I didn’t want x-rays and she just said that the nurse “didn’t get that message".'

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Apr 18, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

One of the worst feelings as a pawrent is when your cat child is sick. If it were a hooman child, you could at least talk to them and ask them what was wrong, but with a cat, you have to go to the vet and hope for the best. Most vets are great (even if they do charge us $400 to tell us our cat has gas), but some are just not worth your time or money. You never know who out there is just trying to take your money, and just because someone went to medical school doesn't mean that they are automatically a trustworthy purrson.

The concerned pawrent in this post took her sick cat to the vet to get checked up, but specifically stated (twice) that she did not want to do x-rays. However, at the end of the exams, the doctor came in and told her the results of the x-rays, then charged them over $600 for them. Crazy! Scroll down to see what else happened below.

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  • 01

    Vet took x-rays and charged me for them after I said I didn’t want them

    'A $600 miscommunication is unbelievable to me.'
    via Syda Productions

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hi, I was hoping to get some advice. I took my cat to the vet because she had diarrhea and had been vomiting. She also peed on my bed and I had been meaning to take her to the vet to see what to do about her inappropriate urination anyway, so I took her in to make sure she was ok.
    via u/twirlerina
  • 03
    I told the vet that I wanted to look into the causes of things. The nurse brings in a list of the things they want to do. I notice there's x- rays on there, and I told the nurse that I wanted to forgo the x-rays today, and said again that I didn't want to do the x-rays to make sure I was being clear.
    via u/twirlerina
  • 04
    When the doctor comes out after they've run some tests, she started talking about what she saw on the x-ray. Since I told the nurse twice that I didn't want them, I figured I must have misunderstood the doctor or the explanation the nurse gave me.
    via u/twirlerina
  • 05
    Nope, when I get charged, that extra $600 is on there. When I tell the receptionist, she checks with the vet and then comes back to say that the doctor already explained the charges to me and my total is $1500. I'm a doormat so I just paid. I reiterated to the
    via u/twirlerina
  • 06
    vet that I told the nurse twice that I didn't want x-rays and she just said that the nurse "didn't get that message because she said you wanted to go ahead with everything." But I told her twice?!
    via u/twirlerina

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  • 07
    No one apologized to me whatsoever. I know I should have said something when the doctor told me about what she saw on the x-rays, but I had been up all night with my sick cat and I trusted the clinic. I understand miscommunications happen, but a $600 miscommunication is unbelievable to me.
    via u/twirlerina
  • 08
    What should I do? Can anyone give me any advice?
    via u/twirlerina
  • 09
    My cat is ok, by the way. Just had something that disagreed with her stomach and the inappropriate urination is behavioral.
    via u/twirlerina
  • 10
    bbumblebug Ask to speak with the office manager and explain what happened. This is why a lot of vet clinics require a physical treatment plan to be signed by the owner before going ahead with services. This was a miscommunication that
    via u/bbumblebug
  • 11
    shouldn't have happened, and you should not have to foot the bill for a service that you explicitly declined. It may complicate things that you have already paid, but they should be able to offer a refund. $600 is a lot of money to just let slide. Definitely bring it up to someone in charge
    via u/bbumblebug
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10494502656
    via Alexandru Tomuta

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Unless you're Daddy Warbucks, $600 is not really something anyone we know can afford to let slide. That's a lot of money! If they hadn't explicitly stated that they didn't want them (multiple times) we could understand how it might have been a miscommunication. But if what they're saying is true, the nurse just deliberately disobeyed them.

  • 13
    What_th3_FOX 1d ago I'm a registered veterinary technician and a hospital manager and it really upsets. me that this happened to you. I have every client sign a treatment with things they
    via u/What_th3_FOX
  • 14
    approved and declined to protect us a hospital and protect the client. 100% call the manager and get your money refunded. This is predatory practicing.
    via u/What_th3_FOX
  • 15
    Mago515 1d ago You respectfully decline and allow them to amend the bill. If they can't at the time of billing, then they will take the time they need and mail it to you when it's ready. If you pay you lose.
    via u/Mago515
  • 16
    peachyhans These are the vets that give all the good ones a bad rep. I unfortunately know more people who avoid the vet because they think they're going to be robbed blind, than people who get their pets. regularly checked. THIS is why.
    via u/peachyhans
  • 17
    Please please PLEASE talk to the office manager. If they aren't any help, don't sign anything! Dispute it with your bank. You didn't consent to that service, therefore you aren't liable for the costs. The nurse should get her ears checked.
    via u/peachyhans
  • 18
    Key-Map1883 • 1d ago Vet hospitals can be busy - the nurse probably didn't share that you declined and vet maybe took their word for it? People also may not know how to respond to conflict. Good recommendation to speak to clinic manager. I will
    via u/Key-Map1883
  • 19
    add that if the manager can't or doesn't help, if the clinic is owned by a corporation, reach out to the corporation next. If you can't tell if privately owned or corporate owned, ask the manager, and ask if they can provide a contact for you. Or look online.
    via u/Key-Map1883
  • 20
    Cheezburger Image 10494502912
    via vientocuatrostock

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Before we all start throwing around the S word (sue), we think it's better to at least try and solve the situation peacefully. Who knows, maybe it will all work out without any problems at all?

  • 21
    likeawolf • 1d ago There's really no excuse for them not listening to you if you were genuinely that clear. In my office we go over treatment plans in the room. before doing anything and never made a mistake like this.
    via u/likeawolf
  • 22
    I have never left a room without saying "the total will be X, are you ok with this?" after individually saying every price so people can say "no, don't want that today." This was careless behavior either due to the assistant being overwhelmed or mixing up clients or whatever. At the end
    via u/likeawolf
  • 23
    of the day it was on them, though. You absolutely should have spoken to the practice manager while still there. I do think you still should, but this has unfortunately left room for them to claim you forgot or for them to actually forget the convo with you.
    via u/likeawolf
  • 24
    m3llyb3113 1d ago I think it's fair to call and see if they will work with you, since there was no written/signed agreement-however-based on your cats symptoms that you
    via u/m3llyb3113
  • 25
    went in for-x-rays were absolutely necessary and it is quite frustrating to have owners dictate how they feel the veterinarian should go about diagnosing and helping their pet.
    via u/m3llyb3113
  • 26
    krispeekream · 1d ago In the future get an estimate printed before any work is done-sign one for the vet to keep and one for you to hang on to. Eliminates all miscommunications on both sides.
    via u/krispeekream

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x ray nurse worried veterinarian message cat owners pawrents vet sick Cats money animals
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