Roughly 84.9 million — or 67% — of U.S. families reported owning a pet in 2019. Collectively, pet owners spent an estimated $18.98 billion on vet care alone last year, as both pet ownership numbers and expenses continue to rise. Consumer spending on pet medical care has also increased every year since the APPA first officially started collecting data in 2001, as have the sales of pet insurance policies. In 2018, the total number of insured pets reached 2.43 million — a 17.1% increase from the previous year, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

Top medical concerns for pets

In an analysis of its 2019 claims, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance determined the top accidents and illnesses plaguing dogs and cats in the U.S., examining common symptoms, treatments, case studies, and how much it may cost pet parents for the best available care. In the slideshow above, discover the top 10 illnesses and accidents plaguing cats in 2019, along with its average expense to insureds for treating those afflictions, according to Healthy Paws.  See also:

• Top 10 dog accidents and illnesses
• Top 10 most common obesity-related cat & dog pet insurance claims
• 5 cities with the lowest dog insurance premiums