Should My Indoor Cat Have Pet Insurance?

There’s no doubt outdoor cats have a higher potential for illness or injury. If your cat is “surviving on the streets” and only comes home for meals, he may be exposed to fleas or ticks, could get into scrapes with other cats or even dogs or could be otherwise injured. An outdoor cat has a different set of risks of illness or injury than an indoor cat, but there are still many reasons your indoor cat should have insurance.

Cat health insurance policies give cat parents peace-of-mind and help keep their cats healthier longer. A cat health insurance policy also doesn’t leave you faced with a decision of being able to provide your cat the highest level of care as compared to the highest level of care you can afford. No cat owner wants to put his or her cat at risk because of a fear of the cost.

Don’t believe that just because your cat never goes out-of-doors that there is no risk of her requiring emergency medical attention from your veterinarian or suffering from a life-threatening illness or injury. Indoor cats may be as prone to health issues as outdoor cats, but in varying degrees and from different ailments.

Here are reasons to consider investing in a cat health insurance policy for your indoor cat:

1. Cats are masters of disguise. It’s instinctual behavior for a cat – or any animal – to mask injury or illness; it harkens back to survival of the fittest. Your indoor cat may love and trust you, but he may still hide his pain from you. You may notice he’s acting differently, or that he’s not eating as much as he used to, or that he’s not drinking as much. If your cat is exhibiting litter box avoidance issues this, too, could be a sign of an illness your cat is attempting to hide.
2. Even indoor cats get injured. If your cat is jumping from the top of the refrigerator to the floor or from the top of the bookcase to your bed, he runs the risk of injury – especially as he ages.
3. Indoor cats can suffer common health ailments including: diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, heart disease and ongoing stomach upsets.

Cats are smaller than dogs but that doesn’t mean the cost of their healthcare is substantially less expensive. Depending on what your indoor cat is suffering from, and whether it’s going to be an ongoing health issue, the costs can escalate quickly.

Did you know: Cat parents who have invested in a cat health care policy will be able to afford more veterinary care for their cats than those who don’t have a policy? It’s estimated that pet parents with pet insurance policies can afford up to five times more care than those who don’t.

There have been great strides in veterinary medicine and this means there are myriad more options for medical care and treatment, but those advances in treatment come with a higher price tag; when you have a cat health insurance policy you will be better able to afford treatments for your cat.

Bottom line: When you invest in a cat health care insurance policy, you are better able to budget for veterinary care for your cat. You will be budgeting for the monthly premium and many policies will explain, up front, what your out-of-pocket costs will be if your cat suffers an illness or injury.

Our senior pets are at a higher risk of an injury or illness increases, just as ours does as we age. Keep in mind, that no matter what your cat’s age when you adopt him or her, you can still buy a cat health insurance policy!

Robbi Hess is a full-time pet blogger and multi-published author. She shares her life with a diva Poodle, a goofy Goldendoodle, two Devon Rex, a senior ginger kitty and three reptiles!