Insurance for cat = bafflement

Author
Discussion

TheJimi

Original Poster:

25,565 posts

249 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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Currently looking to get insurance for the cat we adopted.

For our purposes, it seems that a time-limited policy would be the most fitting, but the trouble is, I have no idea what is a reasonable amount of cover per year. I mean, is cover for up to £3k in a year sufficient? I've no idea!

For reference, she's a 7 year old silver Bengal, with no health issues.

K77 CTR

1,616 posts

188 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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My cat is insured upto £12k purely because i encountered hitting the limit on my other cat and it was a horrible position to be in. I couldn't afford to pay anymore on top of what I'd already paid and faced having to put him down when we were at the last hurdle.

Make sure it's a for life policy and check the small print about what happens when your cat hits 8 or 9 years old.

bexVN

14,682 posts

217 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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I would not do time limited (if you mean they will only pay out for a year) too many people get caught out by those esp as older pets are more likely to have life long issues rather than one off problems.

bexVN

14,682 posts

217 months

Monday 6th April 2015
quotequote all
I wouldn't go under 4k, 6-7.5k should be ok, occ higher amounts are needed but this amount should be ok.

TheJimi

Original Poster:

25,565 posts

249 months

Monday 6th April 2015
quotequote all
Right, that answers a lot!

Bex, occ?

bexVN

14,682 posts

217 months

Monday 6th April 2015
quotequote all
TheJimi said:
Right, that answers a lot!

Bex, occ?
I'm sorry, I mean occasionally. We write it as short hand at work, I forget sometimes!

shep1001

4,602 posts

195 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Life policy, 7.5k a year for Moglet & Millie, they will be 2 at next renewal and it costs me £18/yr with £75 xs for them both. It went up almost double at year 1. When I enquired they said it was Moglet as he was a boy cat and more risk..... They weren't convinced when I told them the furthest he went was up and down the garden to check it was still there!

I paid for Pogull my old cat for 14 years and only managed a couple of dentals to keep the policy in balance with the premiums I paid against the policy outlay. When he got cancer and we went through the diagnosis/treatment etc the insurance were on the hook for 4.5K pretty quick. Sadly I had to have him put to sleep. You never know when and for how long you might need it so buy the best you can afford.

jmsgld

1,038 posts

182 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Any insurance is better than no insurance, that being said where the insurance really comes into it's own is with ongoing illness, I would suggest that although whole life policies are more expensive they are actually far better value than the time limited. With a dog this is even more important.

Pedigree animals are basically inbred, and as such tend to be predisposed to various problems and so more likely to claim on the insurance, which is therefore more expensive. Bengals suffer with eyes, heart, tend to be more stressy with associated issues + all the other cat problems, their life expectancy would be a little shorter than a moggy.

The fact that you are even considering insurance shows that you are an above average owner, work out how much you want to pay / can afford and take it from there. As the cat gets older it will be more likely to need the insurance and so the premiums will rise, some will also rise as you make claims, some will not.


JamieBeeston

9,294 posts

271 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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A PHer has written a guide to pet insurance - might be worth a read?

www.petmoneysaver.co.uk/blog/pet-insurance-buying-...

jkh112

22,799 posts

164 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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shep1001 said:
Life policy, 7.5k a year for Moglet & Millie, they will be 2 at next renewal and it costs me £18/yr with £75 xs for them both.
Who is this with? It seems a lot cheaper than the quotes I have had.

bexVN

14,682 posts

217 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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jkh112 said:
shep1001 said:
Life policy, 7.5k a year for Moglet & Millie, they will be 2 at next renewal and it costs me £18/yr with £75 xs for them both.
Who is this with? It seems a lot cheaper than the quotes I have had.
I am sure this.must be £18/ month but still a good cost.

shep1001

4,602 posts

195 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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jkh112 said:
Who is this with? It seems a lot cheaper than the quotes I have had.
Need to check when I get back from hollibobs but I think it was a Tesco policy. I guess its only cheap until (a) you start to claim (b) the kittens get older. So long as the policy is in place and I keep paying the premiiums the cover is continuous