The Breathing Thing Is Real
Nobody told me Persians snore. I mean, really snore. Like, louder than my husband.
I thought it was cute at first. Until that night when Princess woke me up making these weird gasping sounds.
When Cute Becomes Concerning
The vet explained that Princess's flat face was causing breathing problems. Something about her airways being too narrow.
I felt terrible. Like I should have known better. The vet said it's super common in Persians, but that didn't make me feel less guilty.
She needed surgery to help her breathe better. $3,200. For basically reconstructing her nose.
The surgery helped, but now I watch her constantly when it's hot outside. Flat-faced cats overheat way easier than regular cats.
The Eye Gunk Situation
I clean Princess's eyes twice a day. Every day. For two years now.
Those big Persian eyes look adorable, but they're basically tear factories. The tears stain her white fur, and if I don't keep up with cleaning, she gets infections.
I've gotten pretty good at it. Princess tolerates the routine now, but she used to hate it. Can't blame her.
We've had three eye infections that needed prescription drops. Each time cost about $150 for the vet visit plus medication. Not huge amounts, but it adds up.
The Kidney Disease Scare
This one caught me completely off guard. Princess's bloodwork came back abnormal during a routine checkup.
Polycystic kidney disease. I'd never heard of it before the vet started explaining.
Apparently it's genetic in Persians. Cysts grow in their kidneys over time. There's no cure.
The ultrasound to confirm it cost $400. Now Princess needs blood work every six months to monitor her kidney function. Each test is about $200.
She's stable now, but knowing this is hanging over us makes every vet visit stressful.
What I Wish I'd Known About Persian Insurance
After all this, I have strong opinions about what Persian cat insurance should cover.
Get Coverage Before You Need It
I made the mistake of waiting until after Princess's first breathing episode to get insurance. Suddenly everything related to her flat face was a 'pre-existing condition.'
If you're getting a Persian kitten, sign up for insurance immediately. Don't wait like I did.
Some companies are sneaky about excluding hereditary conditions. Read the fine print. If they won't cover breathing problems or kidney disease in Persians, what's the point?
Eye Care Adds Up
I didn't think about routine eye care when shopping for policies. Now I wish I had.
Look for wellness coverage that includes eye cleaning and minor infections. It's not sexy, but those small bills add up over time.
Princess also needs her face cleaned professionally during grooming appointments. Some policies cover that under preventive care.
Specialist Visits Are Expensive
Princess has seen a veterinary ophthalmologist twice. Both times cost over $300 just for the consultation.
Make sure your policy covers specialist referrals without a bunch of hoops to jump through. When your cat's eyes are infected, you don't want to wait for insurance approval.