Cat Worship!
As we reach the height of the kittening season, pet insurance provider Pinnacle Pet Healthcare Limited has taken a look at the history of the cat – the most popular pet in the UK.
Over recent years the popularity of cats has grown significantly. As people’s lifestyles change with less free time to look after dogs’ demanding exercise patterns, the cat is becoming the preferable choice of pet for many. Their independent streak has led to the cat population growing to 7.5 million while the dog population declined to 6.1 million in 2002*. The amount we spend on our pet’s health, welfare and pampering has also increased year on year to a staggering annual expenditure of £3,493 million in 2001-2002*.
Going back to ancient Egyptian times…
Although we cannot accurately pinpoint when cats became domesticated some of the earliest records of feline co-habitation with humans comes from ancient Egypt.
But, cats were far from just a domesticated pet – they enjoyed high regard, a reverence associated with a number of gods and goddesses and even became worshipped themselves!
Entire animal graveyards have been discovered along the banks of the Nile where cats have been found elaborately wrapped and enshrined in tombs. While cats were not alone in being honoured in this way they seemed to have a special place in the hearts of the people.
Has much changed?
We don’t think so! We often hear from our policyholders the lengths that they will go to protect and care for their beloved feline friends.
Take Mrs Harrison and her one-year-old silver tabby Oscar. Oscar has been through a huge ordeal over the last couple of months. Initially diagnosed with an inner ear infection that showed no improvement after routine treatment, further investigative tests were carried out. Oscar was referred to a specialist practice in central London where he was diagnosed with compression of his spinal cord.
Mrs Harrison commented, “Oscar has been very brave throughout his treatment. Although he is still a little wobbly on his feet following his spinal operation, he is making impressive steps on the road to recovery. Oscar’s vets have been so pleased with the way he pulled through, they have nominated him for ‘pet survivor of the year’ – organised by the PDSA!” Oscar is still undergoing treatment. Mrs Harrison has to give him daily physiotherapy, which he is not very impressed with and he is doing everything he can to avoid it – but Mrs Harrison is very tenacious!
The bill to date for Oscar’s treatment has totalled £3580!
The cost of caring…
As Oscar demonstrates, the cost of caring is not always cheap. That’s why more and more cat owners are choosing to protect their pets with a reliable pet insurance policy.
Pinnacle Pet Healthcare policies provide true lifetime protection for the cost of veterinary care for conditions that need on-going treatment such as acute kidney disease as well as cover for one-off traumas such as road traffic accidents.
*data source Mintel Pet Insurance, Finance Intelligence, December 2003
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