Another classic pet insurance title but in this case, it's true! Pet insurance is going to the dogs - literally.
Even though there are more cats than dogs in North America, only 10% of them are insured and that alarming statistic is the topic of NAPHIA's latest press release:
"Pet owners need to know that wellness visits aren't only about updating vaccines. Most importantly, a wellness visit with a healthy pet provides an important time to discuss any changes owners may or may not have noticed since the last visit. Assessing the cat's weight, its diet, and checking for any signs of diseases early can be life-saving and not only will be less costly to treat if caught early, but also is more likely to prevent pain and discomfort as the disease progresses." According to Dr. Jane Brunt, DVM, and Chair of CATalyst.
Here's another interesting statistic courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association in the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook: the percentage of cat-owning households that received no veterinary care in 2006 was 36.3 percent, compared to 17.3 percent of dog-owning households. So with an estimated 82 million cats in the United States, cats are twice as likely as dogs not to see a veterinarian and many feline diseases or illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated.
So, for those of you who have cats - take them to the vet at least once a year. If your cat is nice and healthy and all is good, you took a few minutes out of your day for your catly duty. Or, you find a health condition that you can treat more easily than if you'd left it until "signs" showed because you found it nice and early.
For those of you passionate about cats, The American Association of Feline Practitioners has a great website with educational (and interesting!) articles (including signs and symptoms you should know) and a feline practitioner locator. Check them out at www.catvets.com.
Picture: L: Rosie looking at you - yes, you! Next: Rocket honing her actuarial skills. R: proud momma Laura Bennett (moi!)
