Hi All

My 4 weeks free Pet Plan Insurance is about to expire for my 2 boys (16 and 14 weeks) and I'm in a quandry about whether to take out insurance at all.

I've had cats for years and have been very lucky health wise with all of them. Never had any major problems, just the odd course of antibiotics here and there, so I'm very wet behind the ears when it comes to health problems with cats.

Naturally I am aware that they can have any number of health problems just like us humans but I'm trying to weigh up the pros and the cons. Since I've been on this site I've become so much more aware of everything to do with cats and I feel I may have been a little complacent about insurance before as I hadn't ever needed it (although I still insured my cats but probably not on a decent enough policy) .

Firstly, and I'll apologise in advance for any stupid questions, are cats just as prone to becoming ill when they are young compared to when they get older? I'm not too concerned about insuring against accidents, theft, straying etc as mine are all indoor cats so that cuts a big chunk of risk out. It's really just illness that concerns me. Just wondering whether to insure now or later when the'yre a bit older?

Because I've only ever had to have antibiotics for my cats previously I've no comprehension of what any other kind of treatment would cost. Hundreds? Thousands? Clueless! Help!

If I didn't insure them I would have the money to pay for any treatment needed, even if ongoing (I think, unless you tell me it could be thousands!) so please don't think that they would suffer if anything happened, they wouldn't. I know I've been lucky in the past and I have always insured my cats before but I've never claimed once. Just wondering if it's time to take a different stance?

If I did take out insurance it would be a life policy. Pet Plan phoned me today and I took out life policies for them both but only at the moment because they offered me the first month free so I can cancel after that if I decide not to insure or go with someone else. Gives me another month to decide!

I'd really appreciate any help, especially with the question re possibility of illness in young cats (which I imagine is asking for the winning lottery numbers but hey!) and how costly things can get at the vets.

Thanks all!

Debbie

I have had cats all my life and have not had insurance.
I think that you have to think about the pros and cons.
Are you letting them out so they are free to roam?
Do you live near any main roads?

What we have done because we have 3 cats is to open a bank account for them. Or if you haven't got an Isa yourselves then you could open one up for them.
Instead of paying every month insurance just pop the money in the bank.
That way if one of them needs the money for medical treatment it is there for them.
We also save £2 coins and when they reach a £100 it goes into their Bank or we put it towards their cattery fees if we go away.

I think some insurances don't pay out so much when they are older and also you have to pay the first £50 or so of the Bill anyway.

Hope this helps

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That's what I was thinking. I have savings accounts for other things so could just put some more into that. But because I hve no idea how expensive it could get I don't know if that would be enough.

No they don't go out so that's not a worry.

I know some policies have an age limit on them so if I do decide to take insurance out it would be one without an age limit.

Still unsure!

Hi

Like you my previous cats/dog i have never had insurance. But........... My RIP cat little Mo became ill under the vet for 5 days to treat the immediate problems hospital stay but no operation and finally unfortunatley PTs total cost including private cremation( £76) was

£1227

Had what she of had (cancer) been cureable I would of paid the world for it.

Unfortunatley it had spread all over so wasnt an option. I dont have spare money so the cost was paid for out of this years holiday fund. (should be there now) Any more would of been put on a credit card.

My 2 new kittens were insured the minute they walked through the door £6.50 per month each and I have piece of mind that heaven forbid should one of them be ill money is 1 thing I wont have to worry about!!

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Thats so sad

I see that she was about 10 years old? That's another question, if I do insure, do I do it now or when they're a bit older and more prone to be poorly?

Like Jill said though about saving, even though you paid out a BIG amount, that's probably what the insurance would have cost over the years anyway so maybe swings and roundabouts.

I'm normally really switched on with things like this and I actually work in insurance! I think my brain must just turn to mush where my babies are concerned

I know what your saying and I tried to reason with myself with the costing of over the years. But... and it is a big but had they of needed to operate or had she of needed ongoing treatment it would of well exceeded it over a short time.

If you think excess of £70 for insurance a consult fee is £30 alone. Then you could have xrays blood test other tests meds.

I hope i never have to use the insurance i would love to throw this £77 a year down the drain

Its less than a good night out. My boiler insurance is more and I dont love that very much (unless it stops working in winter)

I have gone with Argos premium lifetime cover, they were very competive

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The vet bill when I lost Black Tom to age related CRF was £800, he wasn't insured but I had the money spare. The bill when I lost Beckett, also to CRF due to suspected poisoning was again £800, but he was insured. The downside was with the insurers in question, Tesco, I had to find the money to pay the vet before submitting a claim, luckily I again had it spare.

I've stayed with Tesco as they were one of the few who would take on #2 cat, Fudge, at her then age, but even tho' my lot are insured I've been putting a certain amount of money to one side each month with enough now to cover *most* expensive emergencies/treatments.

My advice would be to find a insurer who will deal directly with a vet and pay as any treatment progresses. Failing that, as Jill said, save a bit each month soley for this, it's surprising how fast the pot builds up.

Ian

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RIP Black Tom and Beckett, not just cats, they were my cats and the best ever.

Just be aware that most insurers won't allow you to take out a policy for a cat that is over 8 years old. If you've been insuring it on a life policy from a younger age then it's fine to continue with it once they are eight (though, as I've just found out with Petplan, the monthly premiums go up) but you can't actually start one for an older cat. Also older cats are more likely to have a pre-existing condition which insurers will always exclude from any new policy.

I'm feeling a bit ambivalent about the whole insurance thing at the moment - I have both of mine on comprehensive life plans with Petplan and always felt that (as it's just about the most expensive one out there) that my two were pretty well covered. Recently I've read some rubbish reviews though as well as a thread on here where they wouldn't pay out. Unfortunately you only find out how good they are when you actually have to get some hard cash out of them

Hi, you ask the question I asked myself when I came to the UK 4 years ago. At the time I wanted to insure my two cats as the vet bills can be very painful for the owner. But after checking many insurance covers I have decided not to buy any cover. Instead I started a saving account and pay in monthly.
Normally, a policy doesn't cover the most probable health problems like teeth treatment and you need the annual vaccination. It costs and my cats don't tolerate jabs well. Apart from this, many of my friends that own dogs or cats
have had bad experience with insurance company. It's fine as long you pay but problems start if you want your money back.

Try to find a reasonable vet. My suspicion is that the vets here start first expensive diagnostic tests instead of thorough examination.
When my cats had a skin problem my vet asked me first if I have a pet insurance. She said if I had she would suggest blood tests etc. but she wants to suggest cheap tablets and if it helps I can be sure it's hay fever.


In regard to your question about susceptibility to illness. From my experience younger cats get ill more frequently, especially in the first year. It's like with children. Their immune system is not mature enough. Later you can have a problem with age related illnesses.

Thanks for your advice guys, although I'm still debating what to do .

Pet Plan said yesterday they specifically DO cover dental treatment so that's something to think about but their premuims seem a lot higher than others I've found so may be paying through the nose for that.

Not one of my friends or family who have cats (or dogs for that matter) have insurance. I guess that's just the chance you take. Sods law will say that if I don't have it then something will happen and if I do have it, I'll never need it

I'll have another look at the premiums. Hubby thinks that just saving in case something happens is the way to go. I'm thinking maybe leave it for now but when they get a bit older, before they get to an age where it's too late to take out a policy, take insurance out then. Then again I have been known to change my mind every now and then