Cat insurance, pet plan...??

[MandyFl0ss]

I have two rescue moggies, one boy one girl, they are almost 7 months old now and I am looking for pet insurance or pet plan.... well, I'm confused and also a little shocked at the cost. Do you have any recommendations for me in terms of which policy would be best to go for? I guess what I am looking for is covering pet bills for unexpected issues such as illnesses and potential accidents? Many thanks all.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Harry is insured with Pet Plan and, while they aren't the cheapest, they were very good when we had to claim earlier this year. We've got a high excess because of his age but it still saved us a huge amount of money.

Whoever you go with make sure you get a lifetime policy so any ongoing illnesses are covered. I would also avoid any companies who are underwritten by RSA as they have a very short list of consultants who they will allow animals to be referred to (you can use others but there's an extra payment). Hopefully it won't ever happen though!

[FunSponge82]

As Pink said... get a lifetime policy and stick with them. The vet once told me never change pet insurance companies as the new company will not cover any previous ailments/illnesses.

Btw.. I am with animal friends. I took out a policy and 11 days after taking out the policy my cat was found in the garden and unable to bear any weight on his hind leg. It turned out he had fractured his hip in such a way that he had to have his hip joint pinned. £3000 later he was fixed.
I seriously thought that with the policy being so new they would somehow worm their way out of paying out. They didn't question a thing and I was paid out within 7 days of paying the orthopaedics bill

[Toddlerteaplease]

Tescos. Much cheaper than pet plan. Only claimed once but it was very straightforward and they paid up quickly. Also used the vet phone for advice which was great!

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

My only reservation about Tesco (other than vowing never to use any of their insurance products after their car insurance!) is that they are underwritten by RSA. I don't want to be dictacted to about where I can take his lordship if he needs to see a consultant (we came close this year), especially as there are none on the list in my area.

[InTheseFlipFlops]

I was with tesco when mine got run over and they weren't straight forward with the claim and weren't very good as it was a complicated claim as she went to an emergency vet and then a hospital. The limits were also restrictive - this was a while ago so they may have improved
I then swapped to more than and they were really really good, i had an almost equivalent life time illness cover as petplan. My only gripe was when they upped it hugely when my cat got old. But they were great with claims. So at that time i dropped the cover to a lesser cover (saved the difference in a savings account) with morethan on the basis that if anything major happened he was older and less able to cope so that would change my view as to what procedures i put him through.

New cat is with John Lewis, I've not claimed yet (touch wood!) but the cover looks as good as pet plan (i think the excess is less).

Look at life time cover and limits on the cover e.g lifetime cover with £1000 per condition is not what id personally look for (given my cats operation was over £3000). You want a decent amount and life time cover.

[FunSponge82]

Garden
He managed fine! He was part of the ministry of special walks and he was very cautious about jumping up and down from high places but he didn't let it stop him.
He was on cage rest for a number of week after the op and then try and curb his jumping for a week or two after that
Devastatingly we lost him in a RTA 3 weeks ago. Heartbreaking.
Hope your boy gets better soon! X

[FunSponge82]

No offence/upset caused at all don't worry
Keep us posted on your boy! They heal very well and adapt to any change in their abilities almost overnight. I'm sure he won't let anything change his current lifestyle

[FunSponge82]

Hi Garden
Just read through the other thread and really glad to read it looks like (delayed) bruising, nothing a little time and tlc won't cure!
I hope he is back to his troublesome self in no time. I shall keep checking new thread for updates