How to look after and insure your rescue cat
Bringing home a rescue cat takes a lot of work, and you’ll need to remember to sort out all the practical stuff too – like pet insurance. Here’s our guide to what you need to think about.
Bringing home a rescue cat takes a lot of work, and you’ll need to remember to sort out all the practical stuff too – like pet insurance. Here’s our guide to what you need to think about.
What is a rescue cat?
A rescue cat is one that's been given another chance of a loving home. The pet may have been abandoned, neglected or abused by their former owner. Alternatively, the owner may have fallen ill and could no longer take care of the cat. There are many organisations that work to rescue and re-home cats.
What is rescue cat insurance?
Rescue cat insurance can help to cover veterinary costs should your rescue cat need medical assistance. A pet insurance policy may also cover dental treatment, compensation if your pet passes away and third party liability insurance, depending on the level of cover you choose.
Welcoming your rescue cat
When you bring your cat home, make sure that you set aside a dedicated ‘welcome room’ so they get used to their new surroundings.
This room should include:
- an area for food and water
- a litter tray – as far away from the food and water as possible
- somewhere to hide
- somewhere high – like a shelf where your cat can see its new kingdom
- a scratch post – unless you’re happy with your furniture being clawed
- a few toys – or something familiar from the shelter they’ve come from. Cats rely on familiar scents to help them feel secure
Finally, you should resist the urge to constantly pet or stroke your cat. Some won’t like being handled so much and you could cause more stress for your new arrival.
Remember that your rescue cat will have a past – so don’t be upset if they aren’t as friendly as you’d like them to be at first.
Insuring your rescue cat
On arrival at the animal shelter, your cat will have been given a thorough medical and an estimated date of birth, which will all be passed on to you, to notify your provider.
You’ll need to tell your insurance provider about any medical conditions your cat has. If you don’t and they come to light later on, you could find your policy invalidated or face a claim not being paid. Any pre-existing conditions probably won’t be covered by pet insurance.
Although pet insurance isn’t a legal requirement, with vet bills rising by around 12% a year it could be a very costly mistake if you choose not to have insurance.
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