Is Pet Insurance Necessary for a Himalayan Cat?

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Perhaps you’ve heard of pet insurance, and perhaps you haven’t. It’s a concept not all pet owners are aware of. Some people have it, some people don’t, and others had no clue that this type of insurance even existed. Don’t feel guilty or uneducated if you didn’t know anything about pet insurance prior to clicking on this article; you are not alone. It’s a new concept for many. Pet insurance is designed so that those who have pets can have a bit of help, a little break, with the cost of caring for an animal. Visits to the vet are notoriously expensive. Even an appointment that might not seem like it would cost much can exceed several hundred dollars, and that’s before the vet really delves into any potential health problems. If you can’t afford to pay – or don’t want to pay – hundreds or thousands of dollars each time you head to the vet for problems with your cat, pet insurance is a good idea.

If the cat you own happens to be a Himalayan cat, you might question whether or not pet insurance is a good idea or a waste of money. Does the Himalayan have health problems that exceed that of the average house cat? Are they prone to specific diseases? Do they spend more time at the vet than other breeds? What’s the average annual cost of owning one of this beautiful breed? Before you make any decisions on way or the other, let us help you decide whether or not to obtain pet insurance for your Himalayan.

Himalayan Information

It was the early 1930s when Harvard scientists bred a Persian with a Siamese cat and the Himalayan was born – literally. It actually took four generations of breeding attempts for this breed to be born, but that’s how the Himalayan came to be. Not all cat associations consider the Himalayan a breed, however. The CFA, Cat Fanciers Association, considers the Himalayan a type of Persian of the shorthair variety. However, this is a cat that has a few health issues that are specific only to this breed that must be noted and understand so that you can make an informed decision regarding pet insurance for your Himalayan.

Breathing and Sinus Issues

Since it is a part of the Persian family, Nationwide Insurance Company – who has a pet insurance division – wants all Himalayan owners to know that this breed is subject to the same breathing and sinus issues suffered by Persians. Nationwide attributes these health issues to the shape of the face and the nose of this breed. A foreshortened face and shortened sinus cavities can make it difficult for this breed to breathe, much like the Persian, which can lead to more complicated, more expensive health issues and more frequent visits to the vet.

This is a breed that is especially sensitive to heat and can become overheated and unable to breathe correctly. This can lead to other health issues such as organ failure and death. When a cat cannot breathe correctly, when breathing becomes too difficult and the body is not receiving the oxygen it needs to survive, it can cause a lot of damage to an animal, and that’s why you need to keep this type of cat indoors and away from extreme heat at all times. It’s another reason you might consider pet insurance. If your cat does suffer from breathing issues that are quite common in this breed – especially if you live somewhere very hot – you could experience several instances in which emergency vet services are required.

Nationwide Insurance states that this breed should have bi-annual appointments with the vet to check for health issues, and that means you’ll be paying vet fees at least twice a year and that does not even consider any emergency visits.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

What this means is that this breed is prone to developing cysts on the kidneys. As the cat grows bigger and older, these cysts are more likely to grow larger. Over time the size of the cysts and the way that they are situated on the kidneys can lead to kidney failure. Terminal kidney failure is a very serious prognosis, and it’s something you should consider when thinking about pet insurance for your Himalayan. This type of issue can be managed with a special diet and the monitoring your vet can do, but the cost can add up. Since the vet is not likely to see this type of issue on an ultrasound until the cat is 12 months of age, you won’t know right away if it’s something you must be worried about. And it’s something you will likely need checked out periodically.

 Is Pet Insurance Worth the Price?

Since all pet insurance policies come with a different price tag based on the animal you have and the personal preferences you make, we can’t answer this question for you. What we can do, however, is help you make an informed decision. If your cat were to suffer from any of these health issues, your vet bills would become enormous. And while these are just a few of the health issues that the Himalayan is more prone to than other animals, it’s not to say your own cat won’t be diagnosed with any kind of disease at some point. For example, cancer or other issues can affect any cat. That’s not to say your cat is going to be diagnosed with cancer or suffer from any of the health issues mentioned here. However, he or she might. And that’s what you have to consider. Would you rather pay a small fee each month for pet insurance so that you have financial help paying for vet visits if something major were to happen, or are you willing to take a financial hit if your cat were to become sick or ill or diagnosed with a health issue that could costs thousands to treat now or over the rest of the life of the cat in question?

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