Cat Insurance in the UK

Cat insurance in the UK is a growing trend. Its popularity has risen in relationship to the financial burdens of the treatment costs of a cat’s life-threatening illness and accidents. Its popularity reflects the number of cats that reside in British homes. These cats are an essential and loving part of many households. Treatment can be a matter of the animal's quality of life. Cat owners must choose between a financial burden and their pet’s well-being. Operations and many treatments are as expensive as they are unexpected. Owners cannot bear to see their pets in pain and place themselves in a financial bind by seeking expensive veterinary treatment.

The question is whether pet insurance for cats is worth the money. This is a decision that must be made by each owner. Cat insurance includes reimbursements, deductibles and exclusions just like human insurance. Coverage rises with premium costs. Different companies may offer different coverage combinations.

What Does Cat Insurance Cover?

The best cat insurance provides reimbursement for treatment in cases of accident,
illness or disease. Generally this coverage is not given to kittens under the age of 6 weeks and is often restricted to accident only to kittens under two months. Genetic or hereditary illnesses related to breed may be excluded as well. When looking for coverage, ask how your cat’s breed might cause some treatments to be excluded.
Minimum insurance coverage should include Vet fees in case of accident, illness or disease. This insurance will cover vet visits, antibiotics and surgeries in case of disease. Repeated treatments for a medical condition can be covered as can be some medical tests and boarding fees, if necessary. Alternative medicines are usually covered only if they are approved by the insurance company in advance.

In the case of an accident, this insurance will help pay for vet visits, treatment of broken bones and internal injuries, and pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics and pain medications. Most insurance companies cap these fees according to a fee scale related to coverage rates. Cat insurance in the UK is important if your cat gets hit by a car or attacked by a dog or wild animal.

The cat insurance quote might include boarding fees related to the disease or illness. With daily boarding fees of 10 pounds or more, this can add up quickly. Insurance coverage might include lost cat rewards and advertising. This can save money in the event that your cat is lost or stolen. It could cover the replacement value of a cat if it is not recovered. This replacement value is important if the cat is an expensive breed, but replacement insurance can also pay the upfront costs associated with a new cat adoption.

Prevention measures such as routine exams and vaccinations may be excluded. Other common exclusions include unapproved alternative medicines, pregnancy, delivery, castration and spaying. When comparing plans, this may be a deciding factor.

Some insurance coverage requires a rider for pharmaceutical coverage. This guarantees that even expensive medications get reimbursement. There is usually a deductible. It is possible that some routine procedures can be included in the deductible, but usually the deductible is simply your out-of-pocket costs related to the serious accident or illness.

Indemnity limits rise with level of coverage. One such service lists indemnity limits as 2,000, 4,000 and 7,000 pounds. Coverage starts at 20 pounds a month. This coverage would pay for itself with one catastrophic event.

Most vets agree that it is not a question of whether a cat will face an accident or disease threat to its health but when. Surgeries can run 500 pounds and up. Medications can run 50 pounds a month and add up quickly. If the quality of life is at stake, then a cat will be suffering without these measures. If the cat’s life is at stake, it’s a question of treatment or euthanasia, an unpleasant choice to face.

Cat owners tend to see their animals as part of the family. For some, they are the only family that lives with them. For others, cats are valuable to their mental health and their emotional well-being. For some, cats keep their children happy and would be sorely missed if the cats die before their time. Cats, especially indoor cats, can live twenty years if owners look after them. That’s twenty years of joy and love for their owners.
Many cat owners have two cats, leading to double vet bills. In this case, cheap cat insurance may make an even bigger difference, allowing the owners to maintain their own quality of life while choosing to treat a cat rather than agree to euthanasia.

The question is whether a pet owner can afford the bills that they may incur in cases of a pet’s accident or ongoing illness. If they have the money for insurance, then they can prepare for future problems. For many, cat insurance in the UK provides owners with peace of mind.