My two cats are strictly indoor. They never go outside, dont interact with other animals, and have been healthy for 5 years. Everyone keeps telling me to get pet insurance but it feels like a waste for cats that basically live in a safe bubble. Am I being naive or is insurance really unnecessary for indoor cats?
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I thought exactly the same thing until my indoor cat developed hyperthyroidism at age 8. Nothing to do with being indoors or outdoors - just a common cat illness. Treatment has cost over $3,000 in the past year and shell need medication for life. Indoor cats still get cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, dental issues... all the expensive stuff.
thats a good point. I guess I was only thinking about injuries not illnesses
Work at a vet clinic. Indoor cats avoid a lot of trauma and infectious disease but they still come in for expensive things all the time - urinary blockages (male cats especially), dental extractions, foreign body surgery (they still eat things they shouldnt), and chronic conditions. The big vet bills arent really about indoor vs outdoor.
Cat insurance is actually pretty affordable - usually $15-30/month. Even if you go years without a claim, youre protected against the $5k-10k emergency that could happen anytime. Its peace of mind math more than expected value math. Can you afford a $6000 vet bill tomorrow if one of your cats needs emergency surgery?
honestly no. that would be credit card territory. maybe I should rethink this