In my last post we talked about what a bargain health insurance for your cat can be. In some cases you can get comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses for less than ten dollars a month and you can add preventive care for another five dollars or so. The cost varies by location, age and breed so go get a quote for your very own feline.
The sad truth is that many more dogs than cats have insurance. Why would that be the case? I talked this over with Dr. Bill a while back and we came up with these three basic reasons.
1. Many Cats are indoor cats and are not exposed to other cats and their owners think they will never get sick.
2. Cats are more stoic when they do get sick and hide their disease symptoms better than dogs.
3. Cats are harder to take to the vet. They don't cotton to car rides like dogs.
Let's look at these one at a time.
You know I'm a big advocate of indoor cats. I've written about it on many occasions. Indoor cats are healthier and tend to live longer than those that are allowed to roam. They get in fewer cat fights, have fewer encounters with cars and are not exposed to diseases carried by strays. They eat fewer song birds, too.
There at least three flaws in this logic. First of all, not all feline maladies are infectious diseases.
FLUTD,
diabetes, cancer,
chronic renal failure and dental problems are among the most common conditions that affect all cats regardless of their indoor/ outdoor status.
The other problem is that you might have to board your cat from time to time and that entails exposure to other cats. Granted most reputable "pet hotels" require up to date vaccinations but not all cats are vaccinated for all potential diseases.
Your cat could make an escape, too, and bolt out an open door at any time, making the whole argument moot.
Yes, cats are more stoic about diseases. Many sick cats will hide when they are not feeling well and owners may not notice that they have been sick. Dogs are more likely to vomit on the kitchen floor. Cat's have their dignity, after all. But, stoic or not, eventually a cat with kidney disease or diabetes or an infected fight wound will convince an owner that a trip to the vet is warranted.
"Some cats don't like to go to the vet's office." That's true for some cats. Dogs are another story. I'm reminded of the old far side comic with the doofus dog, head hanging out the car window, proclaims joyously to his dog buddy that he is, "Going to the vet to get tutored."
Not so the wise cat.
Seriously there are
many ways to get your cat accustomed to riding in the car. We've talked about these on the blog. A good cat carrier is indespensible for these trips and even a few minutes of yowling is certainly worth it if you need to see the doctor.
There are so many reasons to consider health insurance for your cat. These are just a few. When you consider how little it can cost it really makes good sense to check it out.