Alright, a few days back I posted about my cat’s severe gingivitis diagnosis and the suggestion to put him down. I managed to get a quick visit today with another veterinarian a friend suggested. This doctor diagnosed him with stomatitis instead, but said euthanasia was way too extreme. A lot of you mentioned full mouth extractions, and that’s exactly what she advised. Currently, we’ve started pain relief, but because of potential harsh side effects, she recommended a three-month limit. That gives me a three-month window to raise the funds. My small savings are already gone from the initial pain meds. I’ve set up a GoFundMe, though I feel awkward about sharing it (and I’m unsure of the sub’s rules). This post isn’t for fundraising; I just wanted to provide an update and say thanks, as your advice really encouraged me to seek a second opinion and dig deeper.
It’s great news that you found a different vet and got some pain relief for your kitty. 
Have you checked if Care Credit is an option for the costs? (Just a heads up, fundraising isn’t permitted here per rule #5 in the sidebar.)
I’m also really happy you went for a second opinion! I agree about looking into Care Credit. There are also a few subreddits dedicated to cat charities. It’s definitely better to handle this sooner rather than later. Dental pain is absolutely miserable.
A few years back, I had to pay for most of my cat’s teeth to be pulled, which cost about $3,000. Regarding pain relief—if your cat enjoys catnip, it’s actually known to assist with pain. I utilized catnip and feline CBD while waiting for Henrik’s surgery. I rely on CareCredit these days, but years ago, I applied for a credit card offering 0% APR on balance transfers. I charged the vet bill to a rewards card for travel points, then moved that balance to a Citibank card to get 24 months of no interest.
In my area, clinics offer a 20% discount during February for dental health month. It might be worth checking if any local vets do something similar. Try to schedule for then if possible (it’s coming up faster than we think). Also, if you get mod approval, you can share fundraisers on r/rescuecats or the GoFundMe subreddit. Share it on social media and ask friends to do the same. You might not get the full amount—I rarely do for my rescues—but every bit helps a lot.
Look into Lactoferrin, 1 TDC, omega-3s, and doxycycline. You can find info online; these are frequently used for senior cats and those with FIV.
Try making an account on X. I recently noticed people contributing to help another ill cat on that platform.
Post your GoFundMe link in the Rescue Cats and Stray Cats subreddits. They assisted me with the costs for my rescue’s dental extractions. (We found a clinic in downtown Miami, FL that only charged $400.) You’ll have to contact the moderators for approval first, but the community is very supportive.