Bakerman

It seems that I am getting a cat later this week - this will be my first pet at age 30 !

What does everybody recommend about cat insurance ?
Worth getting, if so who with.

Thanks

imlach

I just got my first proper pet 3 weeks ago too (similar age).

Girlfriend has had them before, but I hadn't.

Right little pest it is too - it is cute though.......black kitten with white bits (feet and chest). Stanley - awww...picked him up from the local rehoming place as he had been found dumped in the river on his own - he's only 12 weeks old now.

Not gone for cat insurance yet, but vet said avoid Tesco etc as they don't cover everything that some others do......best to ask your vet when you're next there as to who he recommends.

ronny555

try the RSPCA.

about £8.75 a month for 2 cats or £4.75 for one.

I have already claimed (due to a ferret-don't ask) - paid out straight away.

jasonwrxowner

Make sure it's fully comp.

rik1471

If it gets injured or terminally ill, simply visit the local rehoming center and buy a new one. The old one can be discarded anywhere, such as a tip / canal. Shouldn't cost more than £20-30.

rik1471

B A R G I N

p.s. (i'm not serious)

Mice-Elf

Depends....may be worth setting up a Savings Account or something, rather than insurance...

Have had my cats for 6 years now (4 of them) and haven't had any issues with them (frantically touching wood now...). That's 6 years of payments at even 8.75 a month = £2730 I would've spent that I didn't need to..

Are you living near a busy road?

Gordo

we have two and do home first aid on a regular basis. little sods soon learn not to have infected paws and the like when it involves hot salty water and the indignity of being wrapped in a towel.

we've had them four years and so far (aside from annual injections) they have cost £60 at the vets which was to sort an infected bite under anesthetic (I have promised not to bite him again).

never looked into insurance for them but it feels expensive.

Gordo

Mice-Elf

LOL @ Gordo...my cats love being wrapped in a towel - when they come in sopping from the rain, they get bundled instantly and then it's purr-city. In fact they will follow me around miaouing until they ARE bundled...

merkin

neighbours cat put a lovely big scratch on bonnet of my pride and joy, the little ****** has taken a liking to sitting on the bonnet.


[Edited by merkin - 8/27/2002 5:46:04 PM]

KimA

We've got 2 cats (aged 8 and 11) who are insured with PetPlan (now works out at £15 per month for both - premium has gone up because they are now 8 yrs and over). Check out what excess you will have to pay if you want to make a claim (think our 11yr old's excess is now £75, the other's is about £35), and what's/what's not covered. It's always tempting each year to cancel the policies, but would then be stuck if one of them had a serious/expensive problem/accident - at least we've got the peace of mind that it would be covered, so we wouldn't have to worry about finding (potentially) thousands of pounds in one go, or a monthly lump sum if an ongoing problem (vets fees can be extortion). Wouldn't consider having them put down unnecessarily.



[Edited by KimA - 8/27/2002 6:06:07 PM]

puppypower

www.asdas.co.uk I have the dog insured with them and they were the cheapest by far, no probs getting any claims either.



PP

Sheepsplitter

Insurance for cats is just like insurance for cars:-

a) Is the cat standard or modified? (i.e de-catted)
b) Do you need 3rd party or fully comp?
c) Have you had any claims on cat insurance in the last 5 years?
d) Any impending convictions for misbehaving with your cat/*****?
e) You say you haven't owned a pet before, so really you will be owning the cat on a provisional basis, which is bound to bump up your premimum!
f) Have you considered restricting the users of the cat, and limiting the number of tins of cat food consumed in a year, this can reduce your policy.
g) Consider joining the IAM (Institute of Advanced Moggys) for a special insurance discount.
h) Will your cat be for business use or just social, domesticated and pleasure?
i) Have you ever been refused cat insurance before?
j) You can combine your cat insurance with 'Dog Cover' to obtain additional discounts.
k) What colour is the cat, does it have go faster stripes? If so it might be a Lion and they are covered under a seperate policy.
l) Is the cat a UK model or an import?

scoob_babe

www.healthy-pets.co.uk
luckily haven't needed them yet!

puppypower

Hey sheepspliiter where do you normally meet, if you do? I used to live in WestEnd nr lightwater, now in Farnborough

PP

Sheepsplitter

Hi puppypower, I don't usually go to meets, as I'm generally a bit busy working.
I live in West End currently, small world.
Which part of West End did you live in?


[Edited by Sheepsplitter - 8/27/2002 6:53:14 PM]

druddle

Bakerman

I would really advise Petplan. Cheaper insurers usually mean that they wont cover things. I have 3 cats all indured under Petplan. Even my vet advised Petplan as they are the best to deal with for them.

Check for things like exclusions for recurring injuries, etc.

If you want to go for Petplan, let me know and I will refer you and then i get 20 quid and you get a month free !!!

Dave

puppypower

I used to live in Oakridge, behind "The Inn"

Yeah same here re the meets, just seen a load of Scoobs around and never hear of anything going on.

PP

seven xl

Why has he got a balaclava on just to shoot a cat?

Gaz Jones

dunno, found it on the net, thought it was appropriate, i dont hate cats, im not a cat lover thats all...

gaz

Alan

Petplan - the only one with "insurance for life"

My cat was diabetic, and they continued to pay out each month for 2 or 3 years.

Every single bill was picked up without any query. That included: regular blood sugar testing and insulin, the bill in the final weeks when he went into a diabetic coma was well over £2,000 and then there was the creamtion. All I had to do was pay the excess at the beginning of the year, and the premium never changed.

I now have two cats on Petplan. I can't say a bad word about them.

Enjoy your pet,

Alan

Nigel H

Not worth it IMHO.

Had cats for 20+ years and most I've ever forked out was about 100 quid. Same experience with me Mum and Mum in law

There may be more of a case if the cats are pedigree, since they seem to go wrong more often

Nic

I worked as a Vet Nurse for 6yrs and although it went with the territory, get it insured, your bound to become very attached to the 'ickle b'gger and you never want to have to make that decision because you can't afford the operation/treatment. I'd say that PetPlan was the best, I had my dog with them and before he was 18months he had cost us nearly £2500 in vets bills, which we got back. Just be careful with the loopholes, there is one company that will payout if your animal causes damage to a strangers property if your not present, but in the small print says you are not allowed to ever leave the animal unattended

NotoriousREV

We found that every insurance scheme we looked at had an excess that was higher than most treatments.

One of her cats broke her pelvis and spent a week at the vets, total cost £85. If your vets are charging £2000 for stuff, you want to find a cheaper vet.

Rab

When getting a quote, ask them how much it would be for third party, fire and theft. The long silence before being put through to a supervisor had me in stiches.

fast bloke

Brother in law is a vet - most he has charged for a 1 off cat treatment was £2300.00 for complete rehab of a cat with 4 broken legs and a shattered pelvis. Everyone else would have opted for £18.00 for PTS and disposal. Petplan is by far the best insurer for price/cover/value for money.