Hello. I’m Dr. Jane Matheys, from the Cat Doctor Veterinary Hospital and Hotel in Boise, Idaho. I’m here today to answer a question that was posted on the Facebook page of Pets Best Insurance. Rema asks, “Why does my cat eat grass and anything that he thinks is grass when he’s outside? He won’t eat cat grass though.” I get this question a lot and honestly nobody, including us veterinarians, has a clear answer as to why cats like to eat grass. (more…)
Pets Best Insurance Blog
Blog posts Categorized under ‘Cat insurance’
Common Cat Behavior Stumps Vets
Why Doesn’t Pet Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
Question: Why doesn’t pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions? My pet has chronic kidney disease which is very expensive, but none of the pet insurers will cover this condition.
Answer, by Dr. Jack Stephens, DVM, founder of pet insurance in the U.S. and President of Pets Best Insurance
Insurance is purchased to protect oneself against future unknown events that result in loss. In the case of car insurance, the loss could be in the form of a damaged vehicle. In the case of homeowners insurance, the loss could be in the form of a flooded basement. And in the case of pet insurance, the loss comes in the form of a pet needing veterinary care.
About the Insurance Pool (more…)
Overweight Cat? 5 Tips for Cat Weight Loss
A 2011 study by Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that over 50% of cats were either obese or overweight. It’s time to make a resolution for your tubby tabby.
Side Effects of Cat Obesity
Obesity has been associated with increased risk for serious medical conditions in cats. Studies have shown that obese cats are five times more likely as cats of normal weight to develop lameness requiring veterinary care. Excess weight puts stress on joints, muscles and ligaments, and can predispose cats to soft tissue injuries and osteoarthritis. Obese cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes mellitus, are two times more likely to suffer non-allergic skin conditions such as dry, flaky skin and chin acne, and are at risk for a potentially life-threatening liver disease called hepatic lipidosis. All of which also have a side effect to your wallet. Pet insurance can help cover medical issues with cats but to alleviate potential financial and emotional stress on yourself, it’s best to help your cat shed the pounds.
Factors that Affect Obesity (more…)
3 Odd Items Cats Eat and How to Help – Pets Best Insurance
Does your cat eat the Christmas tinsel and ribbon? Does your cat eat plastic? Two of our Pets Best Insurance Facebook friends have these problems and based on the large amounts of claims we at Pets Best Insurance get for odd items cats ingest, we’re betting many of you do too.
Brian asked, “How can I get my cat to stop eating ribbon and tinsel without having to give up two of the best parts of the Christmas tree?”
Dr. Matheys, DVM, discusses this behavior:
Forfeit the ribbon and tinsel for the health and safety of your cat. Cats can’t seem to resist playing with the shiny, flowing strands hanging from the tree. But if they ingest them, it can cause a life-threatening blockage in the intestinal tract, and surgery is usually required to remove the offending material. (more…)
Crazy Cat Travel Stories and Quick Tips
When I found my cat Luisa on the streets of Mexico more than a decade ago, I knew I was making a lifelong commitment, regardless of where my adventures took me. Little did I know we’d see two countries, three states and nine different homes together, with her daughter kitten Monica in tow as well.
This all happened long before I knew about cat insurance, but it sure would have been helpful at the time! Here’s what I remember most about our adventures.
Funniest Moment
A delayed flight landed us in Texas in the middle of the night. I couldn’t get into my new apartment, so my brother and I took a taxi to the nearest hotel. It was lovely, pricey, and not pet-friendly. The hot weather left us just one option.
We rolled a baggage rack to the car, put the cats (in their carriers) in the middle and surrounded them with suitcases. Fingers crossed, we pushed that cart and ran like mad through the lobby to the elevator. Luisa didn’t make a sound till the elevator doors closed, then – “meow?”
Now, I certainly don’t condone breaking hotel rules, but in this case, we really had no other options. And a recent Facebook poll on the Pets Best Insurance page revealed I’m not alone. The vast majority of respondents said they had either sneaked pets into non pet-friendly hotels, or would if it was necessary.
Second Funniest Moment
It was a lazy Sunday morning and we had checked out of our motel in a tiny town. IHOP was our only breakfast option, but it was already too hot to leave the cats in the car. I sweet-talked the hostess into letting us bring them inside, as long as they stayed in their carriers in the lobby. We grabbed a booth nearby and had quite a few good laughs watching families wander in, then jump a little when they noticed the cats’ glowing eyes. “Are those cats?! Whose cats are those?”
When a Girl’s Gotta Go…
We were in a pinch without a litter box, so I found an extra garbage bag in a public restroom, cut it open to cover the largest area possible, then sprinkled a little litter over the bag. It worked like a charm! The cats knew where to go and the floor stayed clean.
On an airport layover on a different trip, I put a leash on my cat and let her out of her carrier to walk around. She immediately jumped into a giant potted plant, pawed the fake dirt, squatted and peed. All I could offer was an apologetic shrug to the passing patrons starting at us.
Scariest Moment
On a road trip from Austin to Los Angeles, the alternator in my car started to go out, taking the air conditioning with it. In the desert. In June. In 114-degree weather. Unfortunately, the tow truck that rescued us didn’t have air conditioning either.
On our way to the next town, my cats rolled over on their sides, closed their eyes and began panting heavily. I was in tears, sure they were going to die, and begged the driver to pull over at the very first business with air conditioning. Thankfully we made it, and one new alternator and dip in the pool later (for me), we were on the road again.
Quick Tips for Traveling with Cats
1. Book your flights early – many airlines only allow two pets per flight
2. Set travel crates out for a few days before the trip, so cats can get used to them
3. Offer the same food and provide the same cat litter as always
4. Pet a flea preventive on your cats – mine got fleas from pet-friendly hotels
5. Get cat insurance that can be used anywhere in the world and reimburses based on your actual vet bill, like Pets Best Insurance plans do.
Have you traveled with cats? Share your most memorable moments in the comments below!