Cat Insurance

[DownUnderBound]

After five years paying for three cats (totals over 200peryear) & only ever paying under the excess (90 each) for checkups/minor ailments etc ...have just cancelled their individual insurance policies! Having literally paid hundreds for nothing so far. Am I setting myself up for a huge fail? Does everyone have pet insurance? Thanks

[cozietoesie]

I don't but that's due to 'circumstances'. If I acquired a young cat, I reckon I would as long as it was a lifelong policy.

[cozietoesie]

I'm a believer in insurance though. It helps me sleep at night.

[ATailofTwoKitties]

How old are they?

We are three years into kidney and thyroid problems with our uninsured older cat and spending hundreds per year on meds and testing (and the vet won't prescribe without regular testing).

Damned animal still looks quite perky but my bank balance doesn't.

[ATailofTwoKitties]

Just as an idea (and a lifetime insurance policy would have covered this barring the excess):
Thyroid medication is about £1.50 per day, so about £500 a year
Blood testing, every 3 months, seems to come in randomly at anything from £65 to £150, plus urine testing is £45; call that another £400 a year
Prescription renal diet is about £1 a day...

[ATailofTwoKitties]

The younger cat is insured (and has claimed twice before she's a year old, being accident-prone and a bit thick).

[BertPuttocks]

I insured my cat from when he was a kitten. After 4yrs of no illnesses or injuries I very nearly cancelled it, especially as he refused to venture any further than the back garden.

6 months later he became very ill. After two hospital stays and an operation, the bill came to far more than all the previous insurance premiums combined. He then had a further episode a few months later and another £1k+ bill.

I am extremely glad that I didn't get around to cancelling it.

[DownUnderBound]

They are all between 5-6 & after reading replies am now considering taking out new insurance! It just seemed shocking how much it added up to yearly when I sat and worked out all my finances! But as I could not afford a sudden huge bill, may be a sensible idea to re insure the rascals!😁

[ATailofTwoKitties]

Actually, paying a single huge bill when the cat first became ill (could have had a thyroid op for about £600-800) would have been cheaper in the long term than the lifelong meds.

Maybe see if you can get a start-up discount with a new company!

[Cassimin]

We got 28 days free insurance when we microchipped. Day 20 cat broke it's leg. Insurance paid thousands in vets fees. Was advised by vet to take out lifelong policy. Just aswell I did, broke it's leg again in a different place within a few months of recovery. Have had my money's worth already.
My dog had heart condition and vets bills were very expensive and insurance would only pay upto £2000 per condition. Bought meds online with prescription from vet. Worked out much cheaper.
Would always have pet insurance now.

[cozietoesie]

It always feels like a lot but then people sometimes forget/don't work out how much they pay in various charges for the humans in the household. That's a big amount but it's perhaps more hidden/a matter of habit.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I thought about cancelling Harry's insurance but I'm so glad I didn't as his current treatment (broken jaw) is currently at £2000 and rising. We've had to pay 20% of the treatment costs but it's much better than having to find the full amount!

[cozietoesie]

It's a thing you may do forever without apparent return but you know it's there if needed. (Assuming you have the right policy.) I've never claimed on our house or contents insurance but I'd no more think of not paying for either than I would of growing wings and flying.

[catbasilio]

I do not insure (yet) my cat is 8 months old indoor cat. Just to understand, if the cat becomes ill and I cannot pay vet bills, what are the options?

[StopLaughingDrRoss]

You don't really have any There is the chance your vet may accept installments or arrange a payment plan but that is pretty rare in my experience.

I would do it without a single hesitation. If your cat is young, your premiums will be low to start and I would say you are unlikely to regret it.

You insure your home, your car, your mobile - why wouldn't you insure your beloved pet? But this may be because without insurance, I may not still have had my boy as he was very very ill within weeks of him coming to me. He has since developed a heart murmur and been in countless fights so have already claimed more than my premiums will be even if he lives to a ripe old age. You just never know...

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Catbasilo if your pet becomes ill and you can't pay your bills your option maybe:

1. Pay by instalments if you vet will offer this ( most corporates will not do this)
2. Take out a loan or pay on credit card
3. Sign your pet over to a charity who will sort the bill and then rehome your pet
4. The least tasteful option, but it is there have your pet euthanased.

[Wolfiefan]

With our old cats we didn't. We were both working full time and were child free! We figured we could find several thousand if we had to. They were also slightly older rescues so not prone to stupid kittenish behaviours.
We now have two 8 month old kitties. I don't work and we have two kids. They are insured.

[Wolfiefan]

Plus there's this!

[catbasilio]

Thanks. The cheapest I can find is £16 per month for my indoor ragdoll. It seems pretty expensive to me.

[cozietoesie]

Maybe they've taken the HCM and PKD potential into account - pedigree cats can sometimes run more expensive. Other posters may be able to comment better on comparable rates though.

[StopLaughingDrRoss]

That does seem a lot but I've only had mogs so I presume it is the pedigree that is pushing this up ie certain breeds may be prone to certain issues, you may have paid a lot for him/her and most insurers will pay the cost of purchase should they go missing or be killed in an accident...

Have you tried comparison sites as most will cover pet now and may give you some more options?

[MidnightVelvetthe5th]

catbasilo I insure my ragdoll with Petplan, have gone for the middle tier & its around £11 per month. We took the insurance out when we rescued her so she was 5, no idea if a kitten costs more.

Just to check, you have ticked yes on the indoor cat box yes?

I've had to claim once on the insurance & that's when she got ringworm, it cost (including excess) about £300, no problems with Petplan at all.

[Seawig]

Our rescues are about 5 and we got them when they were 1 and 2.

Pet plan paid out £4K for Huntercats orthopaedic surgery after he tangled with a car a couple of years after we got him. Well worth the monthly insurance while young and once they are both old I will reconsider as I lean strongly towards quality of life measures over quantity so would be wary of some longer term treatments, ie for cancer, and would prefer to PTS than over treat if it would cause them significant distress.

If we hadn't had pet plan Huntercat would have had to be PTS as his injuries were severe and he needed 4 months cage rest as well to recover. I wouldn't put an old cat through that.