I'd have gone bankrupt long ago if I had not had personal health insurance. And in 2011, when my Joey was hyperthyroid and needed radioactive iodine treatment, his Pet health insurance, paid enough for that treatment to cover his policy costs for the year. We all have different financial situations, and our cats all have different health needs. You may, in fact, decide against it, depending on your own situation, and your willingness to gamble.

After paying astronomical veterinary bills for care of my now-deceased cats Shannon and Bubba, I decided to amortize my veterinary costs by investing in pet health insurance for Jaspurr, Joey, and Billy. Jennifur is covered by another pet health insurance company so I can compare costs vs benefits. I have the peace of mind knowing that I won't need to go into debt should any of my cats have a severe, long-term illness in the future.
_{Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy}

More About Pet Health Insurance

Pet Health Insurance Company Interview: VPI
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Pet Heath Insurance - 16 Tips and Questions To Ask

I am not a veterinary professional. My knowledge of medical conditions of cats is limited to personal experience supplemented by lengthy research; the investment in veterinary textbooks, dictionaries, and manuals; and a distance learning veterinary assistant course I took several years ago. Having disclosed that information, it is particularly gratifying to receive occasional emails thanking me for helpful information in the topic of feline health. Feline hepatic lipidosis, aka fatty liver diseaseis often the subject of these emails.

Symptoms of fatty liver disease include inappetance, anorexia, rapid weight loss, and vomiting, symptoms that also may occur in other diseases including hyperthyroidism, liver cancer, CRF (chronic renal failure) or pancreatic disease. Because rapid weight loss is associated with fatty liver disease, this condition can also "piggyback" into the other diseases. Fortunately fatty liver disease, if diagnosed in time, can be completely reversed. My cat Shannon, who lived to 19 years, was in danger of fatty liver syndrome, on top of CRF and FIV. Thankfully, by working as a team with our veterinarian, we were able to divert this additional burden to his health by feeding him a liquid gruel of baby food meat (no onions), canned cat food, and low sodium chicken broth. I used a plastic basting syringe to feed him, very slowly.
_{Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy}

Associated Feline Diseases:

Feline Hyperthyroidism
CRF (chronic renal failure)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Syndrome)

The Exotic Shorthair could easily have been called "Shorthair Persian," as it is cousin to that breed.

People who love the look and sweet personality of the Persian, but who don't care to be a slave to daily brushing, will find the Exotic a perfect pet. Selectively bred to develop the short plush coat, the exotic in every other way resembles the Persian, including its quiet, affectionate disposition.
_{Photo Credit: Gizmo, © Photo Credit: © Melissa Niven}

About the Breed | Share Your Exotic Shorthair Story

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A little bit of Monday lightness. As I have pointed out before, cats are predators, and even domesticated cats will kill birds, given the opportunity, such as being allowed to run loose outside.

Image © Franny Syufy

Because our home is in a forest populated with brown bears, raccoons, mountain lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes and other wild critters, my cats must stay indoors, unless in a safe area, closely supervised. At the present time, the only location for that is our large deck, which is 20 to 30 feet above ground. Although we keep no other bird feeders there, we have a hummingbird feeder hanging there, and our cats love to watch the hummingbirds there on our twice-daily outside time.

A couple of days ago we were sitting there in the early evening, almost mesmerized by the sounds of crickets, overlaid with the soft click,click, and gentle whir of the hummers beaks and wings. Suddenly, a loud Read More...