CW: Weird poop issues with my cat

For the past few weeks, my cat has been having weird poops. They're soft and malleable (I know this from using the scoop, I'm not some kinda weirdo lmao), and some of them are flat. Idk if they're coming out that way, or if they get flattened down when she buries them and then steps on top of the litter later. This started happening after I switched her food over to a vet-prescribed food to help with her constipation, but I'm not positive that it's related. Also, I recently started thinking that her gut feels bigger and firmer, but I can't tell if that's my paranoia or if it's legit. So I need to take her to the vet!

As a lot of you may know, vet procedures can be extremely expensive. She had constipation issues last year, and needed an x-ray, enema, and a laxative. It cost me over $400 for all of that. If she has an obstruction and needs surgery or an endoscope, that could cost me a few thousand dollars, and I'm super worried about that. I'm hoping it's just an issue with her food.

So I just signed up for some pet insurance through Progressive (whom my car insurance is through), but they have a clause about not covering treatment for any symptoms that occurred before the policy starts. There's got to be a way I can make this work, and need some input.

There's a 14 day waiting period, and after that, coverage starts. A few days after the waiting period ends, could I call a vet and tell them that this problem just started, and make that work?

Edit: I'm hoping I can cover any inconsistencies with the vet, like the timing of when I switched her food and when the symptoms started. I'm not great at lying, so I need help from more experienced connivers.

  • little_red [comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    #1. Sign up for Pawp. The service is $20/month and you get 24/7 access to vets. Additionally, every calendar year you have access to a one time emergency coverage of $3k USD (there may be a waiting period associated, not 100% sure). Depending on the vet/facility you go to, Pawp will be able to disburse this to the practice directly, meaning none of that irritating "you pay up front and we reimburse you later" bs. This is not an ideal solution as it doesn't cover any kind of preventative or less-serious interventional care, but if something goes wrong sooner than your insurance kicks in, this is a safety net you can have.

    Side note: If you have a subscribe and save membership with Chewy, you also at least get access to a similar 24/7 chat line with vets, so if you want to talk to one sooner rather than later to ease your mind or to verify your suspicions, then that may be a way to go.

    #2. Per Progressive's own site: To check for pre-existing conditions (which aren't usually covered), some insurers require a checkup and waiting period before your coverage begins. The waiting period may be a few weeks for illness coverage; for accident coverage, it's usually a few days. Note that Progressive's Pet Insurance by Pets Best does not require a checkup, but it does require waiting periods: three days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage

    So you may end up in the clear, especially if you're going to a new vet who doesn't have her old records.

    I am a very anxious pet parent, and Pawp has come in handy more times than I would care to admit. Full disclosure I have only utilized the vet chat function to date, but I primarily signed up for it for the emergency fund. I have read over the emergency fund usage policy quite recently though (Puppy ate some fabric on Friday...still waiting for it to pass....) and it is really quite straightforward to use if necessary.