Who do you insure your cat with?

[msrisotto]

I dunno how old this review from Which? is, and I think i've narrowed it down to John Lewis (cheaper, lower excess, higher vet limits) and Pet Plan (the only one the vet recommends and takes direct payments from), but wondering if anyone had any experiences or recommendations they wouldn't mind sharing to help me make this decision please?

Or maybe you don't insure them?

I don't, I'm afraid. Seniorboy had no existing policy to continue when he came to me and in the circumstances of rehoming him and his age, I didn't think I'd find a reasonable new one. (And to be honest, no-one thought he'd last more than a couple of weeks - which happens to have stretched!) I've had to just pay for him therefore - but I've been lucky. He neeeded a big dental at 16 but I think most (if not all) policies don't cover ordinary dental issues.

For the last two years I've also had to pay for his arthritis meds but overall, I think the cost is comparable with what I would otherwise be paying for insurance plus the excesses. I have to emphasise, though, that we've been very lucky. If I had a new and younger cat, I would get insurance: eg there have just been too many instances (even on these boards) of people in real financial trouble with suddenly poorly cats.

Can't give you any recommendations though - other than 'get a whole of life policy, read the small print and do the sums'. But I'd say the latter for any insurance.

Animal Friends. They seem like a nice company and donate to animal charities. Have never had to claim though so can't comment on that

I don't. Mine had pre-existing health issues when I got him, the premiums were extortionate and basically only covered his legs and arse!

He has a savings account I put the premiums into. I've had him 14 years now and he has a few grand saved. Up to now I've not had to dip into it as it's basically been age related routine stuff, nothing horrifically expensive I couldn't afford (touch wood).

I'll likely keep the account if we get another pet and continue paying into it rather than insure...

I don't! Have had very few vet bills over the years and they have amounted to much less than the insurance would have been. But if if money is tight then insurance is probably a good idea to effectively spread the cost.

I use Tesco & have had no issues when claiming. The standard excess is £50 so quite low.

My 2 year old moggy is approx. £10 p/m to insure & my 2 older boys (age 6) are about £15p/m each. I have claimed for all of them, in excess of the premiums paid.

I have a 6m kitty who is not insured... Keep on thinking it's something we need to do, just haven't got round to doing it

Pet plan for ours. Paid out 4k when Humtercat tried to eat a car so well worth it.

Animal Friends although I've never claimed. I did use Argos but when they put the premiums up to nearly £30 a month (despite me never having claimed) I decided enough was enough.

Harry has been to the vet for an upset tummy and sprained leg but Animal Friends said they would cover if I had to claim providing the vet confirmed the new claim wasn't caused by the old problems.

Unlike Petplan who said they would class him as having gastric problems...

Pet Plan, not had to use it yet but we chose it for the whole life cover.

Pet plan, they paid out when female cat was run over.

I use Pet Plan for my younger cat. My other cat is too old to insure.

I pay about £11 a month for my year old cat.

With 3 young female cats I pay £20pm for their top cover

We use Petplan for both our cats (2yo). Really good when our male cat had to have an emergency call-out on a Sunday and treatment for a blocked bladder. Seemed really quick and efficient.

I use Petplan for our two cats. BigCat had an accident about 8 years ago and had lots of ever more complicated skin grafts. Our fantastic vet saved his legs which no-one was sure was possible. It cost just over £8,000. Petplan paid it, and the premiums did not go up the following year. This year, the premiums went up and the cover went down because BigCat hit 10yo. He then had kidney failure and has just had ground-breaking surgery through the AHF which we think is topping £4,000 (haven't seen a bill yet). Petplan are paying out so far, and will continue to pay for his drugs and follow-ups, and we know they will not refuse to insure him on renewal.
SmallCat is allergic to everything. This means she has regular, emergency treatment for sticking her head where it shouldn't be and getting stung, bitten etc, or eating something liable to kill her. These treatments are usually below the excess so we end up paying for them because it's not worth claiming.
I would say it is definitely worth having Petplan because you just don't know when the cats might break, or how much it could cost.

Just realised my post is lacking an insurer name - mine are insured with Argos (& I got cashback from Quidco when I first took it out)

As I said it's £20pm for 2 2-yr-olds & 1 10-month-old, all neutered & chipped - platinum cover, up to £7000pa. \link{http://www.argospetinsurance.co.uk/cat-insurance/\these are the details}

They don't cover routine dental care - I think most don't, but I think I remember from another thread that there are some.

Petplan have paid up through all my cat's treatments over last few years - she has hypercalcaemia requiring medication, tests and some hospital stays. Have saved a small fortune!

I use More Than.

I have had to make a number of claims since we got our girl in January. The claims have been easy to process, I just need to fill out the form and drop it into the vets. There was an excess on the first claim, but that is the only excess to pay over the year. Our first claim was for £200 but the excess was £75. After that we have had lots of claims of £60 or so and have been able to claim for them in full.
She is rather accident prone and we have had lots of visits so far!

I pay £8 or so a month. This might go up after all the claims I have made.