For ThrowBack Thursday I’d like to look back on something I wrote almost 10 years ago, $301 for a $90 Cat ?
Unfortunately, the center of the story, my cat Jinx, has passed away a few years ago, and also unfortunately, the economics of the situation described has changed as well, but this one paragraph from the original post sums the previous article nicely:
This year, Jinx gets so sick he goes to the vet, who rehydrates him (intravenously!), and suggests he stays overnight, but luckily Mrs. Cheapy C8j convinces them that Jinxy should go home instead. The final cost of fixing this $90 cat (no complaints about that price, it went to the Humane Society)? $301.00 and at the end of it we saved $200.00 by him not staying overnight. Whoo Hoo!
The problem with the story is that you can’t buy a cat from the humane society (in Ottawa) for $90 anymore the cat in the basket pictured was $230 (because she was a kitten), so that part of the story is off by 250% (or so).
The cost of rehydrating a cat, I am confident, might be a great deal more expensive as well, as the whole Veterinary world is much more pricey. How can I make that kind of broad statement? The Pet Insurance business also seems to be growing.
According to IBISworld’s report, in 2012 the Pet Insurance Biz in the US had revenues of $651 Million and an annual growth of 6.0% from 2007-2012, which is very impressive.
My point is that if the industry that underwrites the insurance for the Veterinary world is growing that fast, my assumption is the Vet Biz is increasing at a similar (if not maybe even higher) rate, and all of this to say that the cost of owning a pet is becoming a more and more expensive luxury for families.
Is it cheaper to have a hamster or a fish?
