Going back to the post that inspired this comment, I think part of the problem is the ‘big sum, all at once’ issue. If you told someone that your pet had a disease that required food costing an extra $25 dollars each month, hardly anyone would bat an eye, while spending $3000 in one fell swoop for, say, an operation, tends to draw quite a reaction. This occurs even though the total amount for the former situation will equal $3000 after ten years (if my math is right) and can ultimately cost more. Just one of the many quirks of human nature.

As for the suggested retorts to someone questioning your priorities (particularly in favoring your pet over a nameless foreign human), while they are good in theory, I’d hold on using them in real discussions. At best, you can expect to get more flack from anyone who doesn’t understand your connection to your pet (which is pretty much anyone who would raise this objection to begin with), and at worst, you can find yourself arguing all your spending priorities with someone who not only doesn’t watch TV, but works a part time job for more money to donate to his pet causes in order to ‘give more back’. Finding yourself being questioned about whether you’ve cut back on your television viewing in order to work more to, in turn, cover your pet’s expenses is not really the sort of conversation that anyone wants to have with a (soon-to-be former) friend.
Roger´s last blog ..Some of My Pet Peeves

having a pet is about bringing joy in your life. if you’d rather adopt an orphan that’s your choice, but you shouldn’t expect everyone else to have the same level of commitment.
Living Off Dividends & Passive Income´s last blog ..How To Invest Like China

Pet insurance, like auto insurance and health insurance and every other type of insurance, is a way to smooth out your expected expenditures by pooling your risk.

The normal argument is that “$100 per month for 10 years won’t effect you nearly as much as a $1,000 bill all at once.” Now, if you put $100 per month into an expected pet spending account or something, that is different.

Do realize, though, that the main reason I posted this comment was for his rationalization of pet spending, not so much his advocacy of pet insurance (even though I do understand where he is coming from).

You could always get a hypoallergenic cat right?! I have no idea what they cost, I just know they exist :)

“A Hedge Against Loneliness” — I like that… I’ll have to bring that up with someone next time they bring up pet spending!

Thanks for your thoughts!