Your cat is your baby, and you would do anything to ensure it gets the best medical care for its health and wellness. But, without cat pet insurance, that aid can cost you an arm and a leg. Let’s dive into the considerations before selecting pet insurance for your fur baby and why it is beneficial in the long run.
Types of Cat Pet Insurance
Cat pet insurance is available in various packages and types – each is designed to cater to different aspects of your feline companion's health and happiness. Understanding the options can help you make an informed decision:
Accident Insurance
Medical aid and recovery can prove costly if your fur baby gets into an accident. With this cat pet insurance, you can ensure it gets prompt, life-saving treatment for, say, broken bones from a car collision. Accident cat insurance is an affordable and convenient option for emergency care rather than for long-term health concerns.
Illness and Accident Insurance
Cat owners prefer this option since it offers disease and accident insurance for their feline companions. The comprehensive coverage covers common illnesses along with hospital stays and surgeries.
Preventive Care Insurance
If you are searching for options that can cover regular vet treatments, go for preventive care and pet insurance. This type of cat pet insurance covers regular vet visits and preventive measures such as vaccinations, dental treatments, etc. It can prevent serious illnesses, which can be costly to treat.
Routine Insurance
This type of cat care insurance may seem like the former, but it is a bit different. It covers common vet expenses ranging from tick prevention to spaying or neutering surgeries. Most insurance companies offer it as a subset of preventive care insurance.
Life Insurance
This cat insurance provides lifetime coverage for recurring or serious illnesses throughout your pet's life. It is ideal for you if your fur baby suffers from prolonged or pre-existing health conditions such as feline diabetes or arthritis.
Condition-Specific Coverage
Condition-specific coverage is ideal for cat owners who are careful with their budget. It sets a maximum payout for each injury or health concern and ends when it is reached. However, this can do more harm than good if your cat contracts a serious disease or has a chronic condition that requires lifelong care.
Max Payout Insurance Coverage
This insurance policy places a set limit on the total insurance payout over your feline companion's lifespan. It is preferable to condition-specific coverage since it gives you more control over the funds needed for your pet's recovery and wellness. However, make sure that you set an appropriate limit as per your pet’s health and potential accidents.
Proportionate Insurance
Percentage-based or proportionate insurance offers a certain portion of covered expenses for your cat's vet care. This means you are responsible for covering some of the costs. However, remember that those costs can increase significantly if your pet has a chronic condition or serious injuries requiring expensive treatments.
Insurance for Exotic Breeds
Not all cat breeds share the same health concerns. Exotic cat breeds include Maine Coons, British Shorthair, Siamese, Bengal, Abyssinian, and others that have particular health concerns stray and normal breeds don't have. The coverage can offer targeted medical care and funds to ensure your cat gets potentially life-saving treatment.
Deductible Cat Insurance
By 'deductible,' we mean a specific amount you must cover before the coverage can be applied to your cat's treatment.
Determine Your Cat's Needs Before Applying for Insurance
Cat insurance can go a long way in ensuring your fur baby gets the treatment it needs and deserves as and when needed. But before considering any of the insurance above options, consider your cat's needs first. Here are some tips that can help you make an informed decision:
1. Medical History
This includes chronic conditions, illnesses, and genetic conditions your cat is susceptible to. Some breeds are prone to polycystic kidney disease, deafness, elbow dysplasia, and other conditions that require specific and targeted treatments. For instance, prioritizing respiratory treatments for coverage is a good idea if you have a Persian with chronic asthma.
2. Your Cat’s Age
How old your cat is plays a significant role in insurance requirements. For example, kittens that are at least five to six months old should be spayed/neutered and vaccinated against common feline diseases such as feline calicivirus and rabies. Cats that are older than 10 years of age may require arthritic and dental care as their bones grow weaker. Choose a plan that suits your cat as per its age to make the most of it.
3. Evaluate Your Cat’s Lifestyle
Each cat has a different lifestyle and disposition. For example, if your cat spends hours outside, it has different health requirements than an indoor cat protected against the elements or accidents. If you have the former, you should seriously consider coverage for broken bones, lacerations, and diseases it can catch from outside, such as fungal infections.
4. Determine Specific Risks
As mentioned before, not all breeds are made the same. Besides common cat conditions, these also have specific ailments that can be genetic. For instance, Maine Coons can suffer from spinal muscular atrophy or heart disease. Determine exactly what kind of diseases your breed can get and get cat insurance coverage accordingly.
5. Evaluate Your Budget
Cat insurance can be unnecessarily costly if you don't determine your pet's needs and prepare a budget. Consider limits, copayments, deductions, and other components of each plan you consider and determine if you can cover them. The key is to strike a balance that gives you the coverage you need for a sustainable and efficient plan.
6. Prepare for Long-Term Care
Dental cleanings and vaccinations are routine procedures every cat owner should opt for, but these are offered as add-ons in certain cat insurance plans. Get a plan that covers these routine procedures so you can nip potentially fatal issues before it is too late.
7. Research Insurance Plans
Don't go for the first insurance plan that catches your eye. Read the terms and conditions thoroughly of each one before narrowing your choice. Consider each option's claims processing duration, deductions, and wait periods. A transparent pet insurance provider can ensure you have all the info you need to make an informed decision.
8. Determine Future Requirements
Your cat's needs should be met, but don't forget its future health requirements. With time, your fur baby will develop health issues such as diabetes and arthritis. Search for policies that allow policyholders to upgrade coverage accordingly.
A healthy cat that is vaccinated, dewormed, and taken for regular vet checks can live for more than 15 years, the maximum lifespan of a feline. By determining factors such as its age, breed, budget, etc, you can get the best coverage that can pay for itself over time.
Choose PawDarling Cat Insurance for a Healthy and Happy Feline
Cat pet insurance packages are a dime a dozen, but the best ones provide comprehensive care and coverage, such as those offered by PawDarling. Whether you wish to ensure you have the funds to cover injuries, accidents, or routine vet care, contact us. We can develop a tailored plan that can accommodate your feline's needs perfectly.
