Cat Health

Without pet insurance, and depending on the type of injury, treatment costs $2000.00 or more

Symptoms
- Swelling 

- Vocalisation- crying and meowing

- Not walking or putting any weight on a limb

- Loss of appetite

- Not grooming themselves

Notes

- Happens mostly to young cats with developing bones, old cats with brittle bones, malnourished cats with weak bones, and obese cats with added stress on bones

- Cats most often break their bones when they misjudge a leap or fall from a height

- Cats are often more severely injured when they fall from lower versus higher heights

Kidney disease

-$990.00 /yr

Symptoms

Lethargy and/or sleeping more than usual

Increased thirst

Frequent urination

Decreased appetite

Unexplained and often rapid weight loss

High blood pressure

Notes

Mainly a problem in older cats

Veterinarians estimate that 50% of cats over 12 years old will develop kidney failure

In order to slow the progression of kidney disease, it requires multiple checkups and ongoing vet costs

-A complete dental cleaning under anesthesia, including dental x-rays may range between $500.00 and $1200.00

- Extractions will increase the total cost by several hundred dollars depending on the number of teeth extracted as well as specific teeth

Symptoms

- Bad breath

- Gingivitis

- Bleeding gums

- Red or swollen gums

- Pawing at the face

- Drooling

- Loose or missing teeth

- Loss of appetite

- Difficulty

Notes

- 85% of cats aged three years and older have some sort of dental  disease

- Requires ongoing preventative care

- Diagnosis requires physical exam (awake and sedated), dental x-rays

FLUTD (Feline Urinary Tract Disease) | FIC (Feline Idiopathic Cystitis)

-Without pet insurance the average cost to treat is $500.00

Symptoms

- Straining to urinate

- Urinating small amounts

- Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate

- Crying out while urinating

- Excessive licking of the genital area

- Urinating outside the litter box

- Blood in the urine

- Inflammation of the bladder and urethra

- Bladder stones

- Urethral blockage

Notes

- Cats of any age, breed and gender can be affected by FLUTD, but is more common in middle-aged cats, and neutered cats

- Affects 3% of cats each year

- Diagnosis requires physical exam, X-rays, blood work, urinalysis

- Caused by: emotional stress, environmental stress, multi-cat households, and abrupt changes in daily routine

Diarrhea | Vomiting (Gastroenteritis)

-The treatment for managing gastroenteritis varies widely and depends on the underlying cause

-$400.00 for mild cases while severe cases requiring hospitalization, and/or surgery may cost $3000.00 or more

Symptoms

- Heaving

- Abdominal pain

- Lethargy

- Weakness

- Dehydration

- Fever

Notes

- Eating something poisonous (cleaning agents), plants/grass, or something inedible (like string)

- Change in diet

- Hairballs

- Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic) 

- Diabetes,

- Hyperthyroidism

- Liver, or kidney disease

- Cancers

- Medication is needed for the majority

Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)- nose, throat, and sinus

-Can often be treated at home with or without medication

-If taken to the vet, without pet insurance, average cost to treat is $357.00

Symptoms

- Discharge from the eyes and nose

- Squinting and rubbing eyes

- Runny nose

- Cough

- Lethargy

- Fever

- Poor appetite

- Ulcers

- Stress

Notes

- Cat flu can come from humane societies, shelters, adoption centers, sharing cat bowls, litter boxes, and cat toys

- Goes away in 1 to 3 weeks

Ear infections

-Without pet insurance the average cost to treat is $100.00 to $300.00

Symptoms

- Scratching

- Rubbing 

- Head shaking

- Head tilt

- Walking in circles 

- Redness and swelling 

- Loss of balance

- Odor

Notes

- Ear mites

- Ear injuries

- Wax buildup

- Grass for example lodged in the ear