Proper Feline Care

Did you know that just 20 years ago, the average life expectancy of a cat was four to six years. Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, indoor cats now live an average of 14 years or more. Searching for online pet insurance quotes can help you afford the proper care your cat needs to enjoy a long and healthy life. On this page, we'll give you some additional guidelines on feline care to help your beloved cat live as long as possible.

Choose a Good Veterinarian

A good vet should be knowledgeable, experienced, trustworthy, and able to get along well with both animals and their owners. The best way to find a competent veterinarian is to ask other pet owners for their recommendations. As a cat owner, you might want to consider going to a vet that specializes exclusively in feline care. Specialist vets tend to have more knowledge about feline-specific issues, not to mention the dog-free waiting room will be a lot less nerve-wracking on your cat.

Keep Your Cat Indoors

The outdoors is a perilous place for a cat. Finding affordable online pet insurance quotes and then allowing your cat to live outdoors is illogical because you will end up with a pile of medical bills as a result. Cats that live solely outdoors live an average of three to five years, compared to 14-16 years for indoor cats. Outdoor cats have a high risk of being injured, getting hit by a car, getting lost, or picking up any number of diseases. Your cat will be safer and healthier if kept indoors at all times.

Microchip & Alter Your Cat

Though the policies for which you receive online pet insurance quotes will probably not cover this procedure, microchipping your cat is very important and relatively inexpensive. Microchips cost about $35-$50 on average and will allow your cat to be returned to you if he or she is ever lost. The microchip is inserted under the cat's skin and can be scanned electronically to reveal the owner's contact information. Additionally, you should also have your cat spayed or neutered in order to extend its life. Altering your pet will reduce the risk of cancer and, for female cats, eliminate the health risks that come with giving birth. Standard plus or "superior" pet insurance policies usually cover a spay/neuter procedure.