I've raised many cats and have never had any kind of pet insurance. Over the past few years, there were many health problems resulting in a lot of veterinary expense. I got 30 days free ShelterCare insurance with Shylo, my latest adoptee, so I decided to upgrade the plan. It will cost around $40/month to insure all 3 cats, and Shylo has a pre-existing heart murmur, and will not be covered for any heart related problem. Well-care visits and medication are not covered, so the insurance is extra cost over & above regular care. Pet Wellness plans seem to run around $15/mo per cat and cover spay/neuter, routine care and shots, but not accidents, injuries, flea treatments or medicines. So at $45/mo for 3 cats plus flea treatments, this also looks like a costly option. I use a low cost Pet Wellness clinic for shots & well care, and recently switched to their affiliated full service office for illness & injuries. The full service vet office I had used for years has gotten so expensive that I had to look elsewhere. I will continue to pay as I go.

Dianne, not to insult you re your age, but most vets will offer a 10% discount for senior citizens and also be sure and ask about multiple pet discounts. My vet offers that provision. Of course I lost two of my dogs due to age matters and so I lost the multiple discount about the time I got old enough to claim sr. citizen status.

Thanks Koka. I will ask about the multiple discount. We used to get their county licenses in mom's name because they were free for seniors. Now I have to pay. (for a few more years anyway, but I'm not that far)

I carried VPI pet insurance on my dog for most all her life. It did not cover her annual shots and checkups. I really didn't get much benefit from it until she got near the end of her life when I encountered some pretty substantial vet bills for her care.

quote:

Originally posted by Florida Righty:
I carried VPI pet insurance on my dog for most all her life. It did not cover her annual shots and checkups. I really didn't get much benefit from it until she got near the end of her life when I encountered some pretty substantial vet bills for her care.

Charlie,

Did you lose your Cheyenne? I hope not.

I know how deeply that can hurt.

Peachy

quote:

Did you lose your Cheyenne?

Three weeks before Christmas. My holiday would have been very dismal if I hadn't flown to New York to visit my family.

I'm so sorry.

Peachy

Charlie, I'm so sorry to hear about your beautiful little dog. (I remember her photo) I lost my Sandy dog just 3 weeks before Ray died - yes, I understand the agony in losing pets who are actually your "family". We might differ in our politics, but on this topic we are as one. I do hope you are considering adopting another dog from an animal shelter near you, if you already haven't. There are so many mid-aged dogs that are without a home or someone to love and there is one waiting for you right now.

I have decided against getting another dog. I live by myself, have no family close by and it would be very difficult to find someone to care for a dog if I had a medical emergency. It's also difficult with a dog during hurricans season as very few shelters allow pets. I have purchased a small aquarium and have 5 zebra fish swimming around in it. It's interesting to watch them as they interact.

 
Charlie...

I'm late coming to this topic... but I too am sorry that Cheyanne is no longer with you. What a terrible loss. How long had you had her... or she you?

You may want to consider offering yourself as an in-home (yours, not theirs) pet watcher for folks who're going on vacation, or others (such as the elderly) who might need someone to watch their baby in case of their own medical emergency. Not only would it increase your social circle (a tough thing to do after a certain age, I'm sure we all know), but this would allow you access to a pet without having to have full-time responsibility for one. Sorta like a grandchild... you get to play with 'em and have a good time and someone else pays for the braces and increased car insurance.

And a lil' extra cash can't hurt, either.

Think about it.

*CJ

Cheyenne and I were together for 16 years.

CJ has offered an excellent suggstion for you. Pet Sitting - I do quite a bit of it up here, as everyone has dogs and they want the best one on one care they can get for them. Another suggestion would be to be a foster parent for dogs awaiting adoption. That is if you can bear the thought of parting with them when they are adopted. We "fostered" my little dog Lou-Lou after the Katrina debacle. It was a six week contract and if she wasn't claimed in that period of time we had the option of adopting her. Which of course we did. She was six when we got her and soon will be 12. Through the loss of Ray and our two older dogs, Lou has become my best friend and boon companion. Also consider that if you got a small dog (under 15 lbs.) then they could evacuate on a plane with you. There are ways around this problem, and I truly hope you find them.