As a cat owner, keeping your kitty healthy and happy is always a top priority. Pet insurance can be a great way to manage unexpected vet bills and give you peace of mind—and more cat owners are catching on! In fact, the number of people with insurance for their cat more than doubled between 2019 and 2023.

With so many options available, you don’t have to settle for a policy that doesn’t check all your boxes—and we all know how much cats love boxes! In this article, we’ll go over key things to consider when choosing pet insurance, so you can find the best fit for you and your cat.

1. Understand Your Cat’s Needs

Cats, like humans, have unique health profiles. Factors such as age, breed, and medical history can influence the type of coverage you need. Check out some of the considerations below. 

• Kittens: Younger cats and kittens may require more coverage for vaccinations and routine care as well as illnesses and accidents.
• Senior cats: Older cats are more prone to chronic conditions, so you might need insurance that covers long-term treatments.
• Breed-specific concerns: Some cat breeds are predisposed to certain medical conditions. Be sure to research your breed and see if there are any potential conditions you may need to get covered.  For example, Maine Coon, Sphynx, Persian, and British Shorthair cats have a higher risk for developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition in which the heart muscle thickens.

Evaluating your cat’s potential and existing health concerns can help you choose a policy that aligns with their needs. These details will also be factored in on the insurance company’s side when providing you with quotes. 

2. Evaluate Coverage Options

Pet insurance policy specifics can vary quite a bit, but in general, they typically fall into three categories:

• Accident-only: Covers injuries like fractures or poisonings. It’s often the most affordable option but doesn’t cover illnesses.
• Accident and illness: Provides more comprehensive coverage, including illnesses like urinary tract infections or diabetes.
• Wellness plans: These plans cover routine care, such as vaccinations, dental cleaning, and annual check-ups, often as an add-on to other policies. Other add-ons can include mental health and behavioral support coverage and vet visit fee coverage.

Thoroughly review what’s included in each plan to determine which best suits your cat’s lifestyle.

3. Consider Policy Exclusions

Unfortunately, no insurance policy covers everything. Common exclusions include:

• Pre-existing conditions
  • Since pre-existing conditions are often excluded from coverage, it’s recommended to get pet insurance when your cat is a kitten or as soon as you adopt them. Additionally, switching providers later may be more costly if your cat develops a condition, as it would be considered pre-existing under a new provider’s policy.

• Routine care (unless covered by a wellness add-on plan)
  • Examples of routine care include vaccinations, dental cleanings (unless required for a medical condition), nail trimming and other grooming procedures.

• Prescription pet food
  • Most are considered a maintenance cost rather than a treatment, however some may cover the cost temporarily as a part of a treatment plan for a diagnosed condition.

• Elective procedures and alternative therapies (unless specified in an add-on plan)

When reviewing policy options, be sure to read the fine print to avoid surprises when filing a claim.

4. Compare Costs

Monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and reimbursement rates vary between providers and your cat. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Premiums: These depend on factors like your cat’s age, breed, and location.
• Deductibles: Choose between annual and per-incident deductibles. Lower deductibles may result in higher premiums.
• Reimbursement rates: It is typical for policies to reimburse 70%-90% of covered costs after the deductible.

5. Check the Insurance Provider’s Reputation

Look for a company with a strong reputation for:

• Customer service: Read reviews and ask friends and family about their experiences to gain insight into the customer service you can expect from different companies.
• Claim processing: Because most pet insurance companies use a reimbursement model, you will initially pay out of pocket upfront. Be sure to check how quickly claims are processed and reimbursed so you can get money back in your pocket as soon as possible.
  
• Stability: With pet insurance growing in popularity, there may be companies trying to jump on the bandwagon to take advantage of the trend, but they may not be the most solid choice. Choose a provider with a proven track record to ensure they aren’t all talk and can actually walk the walk.

6. Evaluate Waiting Periods

Most pet insurance plans have a waiting period before coverage begins, typically ranging from a few days for accidents to several weeks for illnesses. Be aware of these timelines to avoid coverage gaps. Some providers now waive the waiting period, either as a policy benefit or under specific conditions, so be sure to ask about your options.

7. Ask About Multi-Pet Discounts

If you have more than one pet, some insurers offer discounts for covering multiple animals under the same policy. This can help you save money while ensuring all your pets are protected.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have some ideas on what to look for, it can be helpful to use online tools to compare pet insurance offerings. Nerdwallet and PawlicyAdviser are popular resources for comparing policies and prices. However, due to the many variables involved when it comes to pet insurance pricing, it’s often best to go directly to the source to get an accurate and customized quote. 

As a part of your pet insurance search, check out businesses where you have existing policies or memberships because they may offer deals. For example, Costco members can receive a discount with Figo pet insurance, and large insurance companies like USAA and Armed Forces Insurance offer pet insurance. Cat Care Society is not affiliated with any of these websites or insurance companies, but we wanted to provide some starting points for your pet insurance search.

Purchasing pet insurance for your cat is an investment in their health. By considering your cat’s specific needs, evaluating policy options, and comparing providers, you can find coverage that’s both affordable and reliable. The best insurance plan is one that allows you to focus on giving your cat the love and care they deserve—without worrying about unexpected veterinary costs.

About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.

Spaying and neutering are critical procedures in the fight against pet overpopulation, but they also do so much more than that. For cat owners and advocates in Colorado, understanding the importance of these surgeries is essential not only for the well-being of individual cats but also for the health of the community. February is National Spay and Neuter Awareness Month, which makes now the purrfect time to reflect on the significance of these procedures and take action to support them. In this post, we’ll explain why spaying and neutering matters, highlight pertinent Colorado-specific data, laws, and resources, and explore the role these procedures play in ensuring a safe and healthy future for all cats.

The Overpopulation Crisis

The biggest benefit of spaying and neutering is helping to control the pet population. Population control has countless advantages, from reducing the number of homeless animals to improving overall community well-being.

Each year, millions of cats across the United States end up in shelters. Despite significant declines over the last few decades, an estimated 3.3 million cats entered shelters in 2023, according to Shelter Animals Count. Colorado contributes to this number with animal shelters statewide reporting significantly higher intake numbers since 2021, making overcrowding a continued and consistent concern. Considering that millions of pets were not spayed or neutered during the pandemic, it is increasingly important for pets to receive these surgeries and support the decrease in shelter populations.

Fortunately, spaying and neutering are simple, effective tools to prevent unwanted litters. Beyond population control, these procedures also offer additional health and behavioral benefits!

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Spaying (most commonly removing the ovaries and uterus of female cats) and neutering (removing the testicles of male cats) offer numerous benefits:

1. Health Advantages: Spayed female cats do not develop uterine infections and less likely mammary tumors, while neutered males are at reduced risk for testicular cancer and prostate issues. 
2. Behavioral Improvements: Neutered males are less likely to spray urine to mark territory, engage in aggressive behaviors and to roam if they get outside, Spayed females won’t experience heat cycles, which can lead to excessive vocalization and anxiety.
3. Community Impact: Fewer stray and feral cats mean decreased spread of diseases like toxoplasmosis, parasites, and rabies. If a cat goes outdoors and has a smaller territory due to reduced roaming, it can lead to reduced hunting of native wildlife which produces a healthier balance in urban ecosystems. Please note that Cat Care Society (CCS) encourages all cat owners to keep their cat indoors for many research-based health and safety reasons.
4. Population Control: Preventing unwanted litters reduces the number of cats entering shelters, allowing resources to be directed toward those cats already in need.

Colorado Laws and Programs Supporting Spay/Neuter Initiatives

Colorado has made significant strides in promoting spaying and neutering through state and local legislative action. The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA), overseen by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, regulates shelters, rescues, and pet care facilities. PACFA mandates that all pet shelters and rescues spay or neuter each cat before releasing them to a new owner. 

Cities also have local laws in place for spaying and neutering. For example, Denver requires cat owners to spay or neuter their cats by six months of age. Alternatively, owners can obtain an annual permit for unaltered cats while also complying with all licensing requirements. Breeding cats requires a separate license. Always check your local laws for specific requirements.

Addressing Feral Cat Populations

In Colorado, feral cat colonies pose unique challenges. These cats, often unsocialized and unadoptable, contribute significantly to overpopulation. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs are a humane and effective solution. Through TNR, feral cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their original location. This approach stabilizes colony sizes and reduces the number of kittens born in the wild. Cat Care Society rents traps to help support TNR efforts. These initiatives not only control populations but also improve the quality of life for feral cats by reducing health issues and reducing conflicts with humans.

Cat Care Society’s Spaying and Neutering Policy

Cat Care Society has long championed spaying and neutering as a critical part of its mission, performing over 400 spay/neuter surgeries in 2024. Every cat adopted through CCS is spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter (unless there is a documented medical reason preventing the procedure from being performed safely), ensuring that adopters take home a pet that will not contribute to overpopulation and have the best chance of living a healthy and happy life. 

Overcoming Myths and Misconceptions

Despite widespread advocacy, myths about spaying and neutering persist. We address some common misconceptions below:

1. Myth: “My cat will become lazy or overweight after being spayed/neutered.”
   Fact: Proper diet and exercise are the keys to maintaining a healthy weight, not reproductive status.
2. Myth: “My cat should have one litter before being spayed.”
   Fact: There is no medical evidence to suggest that having a litter before being spayed is beneficial to the cat. In fact, spaying cats eliminates the possibility of developing uterine or ovarian cancer and reduces the risk of mammary cancer.
3. Myth: “It’s unnatural and/or painful to alter my cat.”
   Fact: Domestic cats rely on humans for their well-being. Spaying and neutering prevent suffering caused by overpopulation and its consequences, making it a responsible and ethical choice for cat owners. Spay and neuter procedures are performed under general anesthesia so the procedure is not felt by the cat. There may be mild discomfort after the surgery, which can be lessened with pain medication, and most cats return to normal activity within 24-72 hours. 

Taking Action: How You Can Help

If you’re a cat owner or advocate in Colorado, there are several ways to contribute to the spay and neuter movement:

1. Spay or Neuter Your Cat: If your cat hasn’t been altered, schedule a surgery as soon as possible. Check out our Resources section of veterinary services, including low-cost clinics.
2. Support TNR Programs: Get involved by volunteering with or donating to organizations that run TNR programs in your community. Explore our Resources section of groups offering services and resources for feral or unowned community cats and check out our blog post on other ways you can support local feral cats.
3. Promote Awareness: Share the importance of spaying and neutering with kindness and compassion with others. Help dispel misconceptions and inspire others to practice responsible pet ownership.
4. Adopt, Don’t Shop: By adopting from shelters, you’re giving a home to a cat that has likely already been spayed or neutered, supporting the broader community and mission of population control. If you’re ready to open up your home to a new cat, check out our adoptable cats.

Shaping Colorado’s Future: A Compassionate Commitment to Cats

Spaying and neutering play a crucial role in shaping the future of animal welfare. In Colorado, a state known for its vibrant and dedicated pet-loving community, these procedures are essential to giving every cat the chance for a safe and healthy life. 

By prioritizing spaying and neutering, we can reduce shelter intake numbers, minimize euthanasia rates, and improve the overall quality of life for cats across the state. Donating makes a tangible difference—for example, a $25 donation covers the cost of one neuter surgery here at Cat Care Society. Together, we can make Colorado a model of compassion and care for our cat community.

About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.

Introduction

In Colorado, caring for animals isn’t just a calling—it’s a fundamental responsibility governed by the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA). Established in 1994, this program protects the health, safety, and welfare of animals in pet care facilities while also protecting consumers who utilize pet-related services.

Whether someone runs an animal shelter (like we do at Cat Care Society!), a pet grooming business, a breeding operation, or a rescue, PACFA requires a license to legally care for animals. This state law sets comprehensive standards to ensure that animals in licensed facilities receive proper care. Through regular updates and inspections, PACFA prioritizes animal welfare, positioning Colorado as a leader in this field. In this article, we’ll explore the broad and comprehensive scope of PACFA, clarify what it doesn’t cover, and explain why it matters for pets and pet owners across Colorado.

PACFA’s Scope

PACFA is Colorado’s state law that regulates companion animal care facilities, ensuring animals receive proper treatment and live in environments where their physical and emotional needs are met. Some animals covered under PACFA include cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

One of the strongest aspects of PACFA is its comprehensiveness and level of detail. Below are just some of the areas it covers. Note that requirements are individualized based on animal type.

• Animal housing and enclosures
  • Size, based on animal, size, and length of stay
  • Material 
  • Cleanliness
  • Sanitation practices
• Food and water 
  • Storage
  • Serving containers
  • Access
  • Sanitation practices
• Facility standards
  • Safe building materials
  • Water quality
  • Lighting
  • Air quality
  • Temperature
  • Secure enclosures 
  • Sanitation
  • Overall maintenance 
• Outdoor access and environment
• When animals must be separated from others based on behavior, type of facility, age of the animal, quantity, and type of the animal
• Animal supervision
• Veterinary care and disease control 
• Transportation of animals
• Adoption/sale based on age and weight
• Pregnant and nursing animal care and environment standards
• Foster care requirements
• Contingency planning for natural disasters and other emergencies
• Proactive behavior and enrichment plans
• Recordkeeping related to each individual animal in care

PACFA Compliance and Oversight

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is responsible for enforcing PACFA regulations. This oversight ensures that any organization involved in pet care operates with transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to the animals in their charge. To earn and maintain a PACFA license, facilities like shelters, rescues, pet stores, and groomers must pass rigorous inspections, meet specific criteria on an ongoing basis, and complete annual reporting.

PACFA’s licensing program isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about safeguarding animal welfare. By maintaining a PACFA license, facilities commit to meeting essential standards for animal housing, health, and safety, all under the enforcement of the CDA. And as these standards are regularly updated, shelters and rescues must stay current, adapting to new regulations that reflect the evolving practices in animal care. Additionally, current PACFA licensees must complete a qualifying continued education every two years to stay up-to-date with PACFA’s standards.

What are the differences between an animal shelter, a rescue, and a sanctuary?

While the terms shelter, rescue, and sanctuary are often used interchangeably, the Colorado Department of Agriculture provides distinct legal definitions for each. The Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (8 CCR 1201-11) specify the classifications for various types of animal facilities. At Cat Care Society (CCS), we operate as a private non-profit animal shelter and do not receive any government funding.

1. Animal Rescue – any firm, person, or corporation that accepts pet animals for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes for these animals and does not maintain a central facility for keeping animals.
2. Animal Shelter Facility: any firm, person, or corporation, whether public or private, that houses pet animals for impoundment purposes; or a centralized, private facility that accepts or houses pet animals and whose facilities are self-contained and used exclusively for the purpose of caring for and housing pet animals according to these rules.
3. Animal Sanctuary Facility: a subclassification of “animal shelter,” is any private facility that harbors pet animals, that is not used for impoundment purposes, and that is not used exclusively for the purpose of caring for or housing pet animals.

What PACFA Doesn’t Cover

PACFA isn’t animal control or animal protection. Municipal animal control units enforce municipal and state ordinances typically related to private citizen pet ownership, such as dog licensing, leash laws, lost and found, and cruelty/neglect. However, PACFA staff may partner with a local animal control unit if animal cruelty and neglect is discovered. 

Additionally, PACFA is required by the state to report animal cruelty and neglect to local law enforcement or the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP). BAP conducts outreach and education to prevent neglect and mistreatment of domestic and companion animals in Colorado and follow-up on complaints to help enforce pertinent laws. 

PACFA doesn’t oversee licensure of veterinarians or vet techs. The State Board of Veterinary Medicine within Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Medicine regulates and licenses/registers veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the State of Colorado. 

Cat Care Society: Raising the Bar

Since 1981 Cat Care Society has been committed to a very simple mission: provide cats with the best possible care until they find their forever homes. We fully comply with PACFA’s standards, and our commitment to evolving with the research behind these regulations reflects our ongoing dedication to providing the best possible care for the cats we serve. But we don’t stop there. We believe every cat deserves a safe, loving environment, regardless of age or medical condition.

From individualized care plans to behavioral enrichment programs and our exceptional volunteer and foster teams, we strive to exceed PACFA’s requirements to make sure each cat is living its best life. That includes having a free-roaming environment for our cats and going above and beyond in evaluating older and special-needs cats to determine the best course of treatment and care.

Why PACFA Matters

PACFA isn’t just about enforcing rules—it’s about creating a culture of responsibility and compassion across the entire pet care field. By ensuring that everyone in the business of caring for animals meets high standards, PACFA guarantees that every cherished pet gets the attention, safety, and love they deserve.

And at Cat Care Society, we’re all about love—our love for cats and our dedication to upholding the  values that PACFA instills. Together, with PACFA’s guidance, we’ll continue to make Colorado a better, safer place for animals, one purr at a time.

Use PACFA and CCS Resources to Make Informed Choices

We want all animals to be treated with respect and care which is why we encourage you to reference the PACFA Active Facilities List when selecting a pet care service. The CDA also provides detailed information on their website including data, FAQs, and of course, the full PACFA legislation. Here at CCS, we’re committed to transparency, so on our About Us page, you can find details about how we care for our cats, our latest impact report, our strategic plan, and much more! We also offer an extensive list of recommended pet service providers on our Resources page.

About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and serves on the Board of Directors. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.