"I'm sorry I did it this way": two cats left in a street neighbourhood cupboard in the Netherlands because their owner couldn't pay for treatment. What to do if you can't afford the vet

What happened

On 30 October 2026 the Dutch animal welfare centre in Amersfoort told an unusual and sad story. In the small town of Leusden, in the province of Utrecht, two cats were found in what's known as a "neighbourhood cupboard". These cupboards stand on the streets of many Dutch towns: neighbours leave food, toiletries and other items in them for anyone who needs them.

This time the cupboard held not food but two cats and a note from their former owner, saying that they had no money for medical expenses and could see no other way out. "I hope they can stay together. I'm sorry I did it this way," the note says.

Who these cats are

According to the note, the cats are called Mikasa and Ashoka. They're sisters from the same litter, born in April 2023. The owner wrote that the cats weren't microchipped or neutered, and believed that a rescue centre wouldn't take them for this reason. "Out of need, I can see no other solution," they wrote.

The cats were lucky: they weren't in the cupboard long, they were quickly found and handed over to the animal welfare centre in Amersfoort.

What the rescue centre says

The animal welfare charity was understanding towards the owner, but also pointed out what such decisions lead to:

We can imagine that people sometimes find themselves in a desperate situation and no longer know how to care for their animals. That's sad, for both the person and the animal.

animal welfare centre, Amersfoort

The centre stressed that if an animal is simply left behind, care, housing and any treatment costs fall on the rescue. Above all, the owner was mistaken: a microchip wasn't a condition for the cats to get a place at the Amersfoort centre. "Always call, to avoid misunderstandings," the centre says.

The charity also thanked the owner for leaving a note with information about the cats and for putting them where they would quickly be found.

Why these things happen

Vet costs in Europe have risen significantly in recent years: medicines, equipment and staff all cost more. For owners on a low income, unexpected treatment — surgery, tests or a chronic illness — can be impossible to afford. The Dutch animal welfare charity has warned several times that more and more people can't cope with the cost of their pets.

Cats are especially vulnerable: they're often taken on as "cheap" pets, without planning for the costs of neutering, vaccinations and old age.

Rescue centres in different countries say the same thing: people give up animals not only because of illness, but also because of moving house, losing a job, divorce or the owner's own illness. Many of these situations could be resolved without giving up a pet if the person asked for help in time — from friends, a vet, a rescue centre or social services.

Why you can't simply leave an animal

Even if an owner leaves a cat where it will be found, it's dangerous. An animal in a closed cupboard can panic, overheat or get cold, hurt itself or escape. Without information about vaccinations and illnesses, it's harder for a rescue centre to help. And in many countries, including the Netherlands and the UK, abandoning an animal is against the law.

What to do if you can't afford the vet

The animal welfare charity urges anyone with financial difficulties, or other reasons why they can no longer care for a pet, to ask for help. "Sometimes just talking about your situation helps, and we can look for a suitable solution together," the centre says.

What you can do in any country:

1. Tell your vet honestly how much you can pay. It's often possible to choose a simpler treatment or split the payment.
2. Look into charity clinics and funds that help with treatment costs — they exist in many countries, including the UK.
3. Call a rescue centre or animal welfare charity before making a decision: they can tell you where to turn.
4. If you've decided to give up your pet, do it officially — to a rescue or a new family, with documents and health details. This gives your pet a better chance of quickly finding a home.

How to prepare for costs in advance

The best time to think about the cost of treatment is before your pet falls ill:

• pet insurance covers part of the cost of treatment — it's worth comparing terms;
• a small monthly "pet fund" helps you get through an unexpected bill;
• prevention — vaccinations, parasite treatments and dental care — is cheaper than treating advanced illness;
• neutering reduces the risk of a number of diseases and unwanted litters.

Insurance for your cat: what to look for

Pet insurance is becoming more common across Europe and can save you from an unaffordable bill. But policies differ a great deal. Before taking one out, check:

• exactly what's covered — just accidents, or illness, surgery and chronic conditions too;
• the annual limit, and whether there's a limit per condition;
• the excess — the amount you pay yourself on each claim;
• exclusions — conditions that existed before the policy began often aren't covered;
• age — many insurers don't accept older animals or charge more for them.

It's best to take out insurance while your cat is young and healthy.

How to rehome an animal properly

If you realise you can no longer care for your cat, there are considerate ways of doing it:

1. Call a rescue centre and ask whether they have space and what's needed for the handover.
2. Gather information — age, vaccinations, illnesses, habits and character.
3. Hand over the documents and passport, if you have them.
4. Try to find a new family among people you know — this will be easier on your cat.
5. Don't let your cat out onto the street or leave it in a stairwell or cupboard: a pet cat often doesn't survive outdoors.

What a cat really costs

Many people underestimate how much it costs to keep a cat over its lifetime, and cats often live for 15 years or more. Besides food and litter, costs include vaccinations, parasite treatments, neutering, a microchip and, in later years, tests and treatment for chronic conditions such as kidney or thyroid disease. Thinking about these costs early can prevent many crises.

Why microchips and neutering matter

Mikasa and Ashoka have neither a microchip nor been neutered. A microchip is a way of quickly finding the owner if a cat gets lost. Neutering helps prevent uncontrolled breeding and reduces the risk of mammary tumours and diseases of the womb in female cats. Many rescue centres and councils run schemes that make microchipping and neutering cheaper. If you're short of money, ask about them.

If you find an abandoned animal

The cats in Leusden were found quickly, which saved them. If you discover an abandoned cat or dog:

1. Carefully check whether it needs urgent help — wounds, laboured breathing or severe thinness.
2. Don't leave the animal in the cold — move it to a warm, quiet place if it's safe to do so.
3. Call the local rescue centre, animal welfare charity or animal ambulance.
4. Have it checked for a microchip — any vet practice will scan it free of charge.
5. Keep any note or a photo of the place you found it — this can help find the owner.

What's next for the cats

Mikasa and Ashoka remain at the rescue centre in Amersfoort. Vets will examine them and treat them if necessary, and a new home will then be sought. The centre doesn't say what the cats were suffering from or what treatment they needed, but the fact that they're sisters who have lived together all their lives may be taken into account when looking for a family.

What this means for owners in Europe

The story from Leusden is an individual case, but it reflects a problem that vets and rescue centres talk about in many countries: treatment is getting more expensive, and some owners end up desperate. The main thing to remember is that there's almost always a way out, but you need to look for it early, together with a vet or rescue centre, and not on your own.

When to see a vet

If your cat is ill and you don't have the money for treatment, call your vet anyway: many practices can assess how urgent it is, offer a cheaper option or tell you where to get help. Don't delay if your cat is struggling to breathe, hasn't eaten for more than a day, is vomiting, has blood in the urine or can't pass urine — these are emergencies. A urinary blockage in male cats is especially dangerous: without help it can lead to severe poisoning of the body within a day.