Pet Insurance advice

[Voldemort]

I'm getting a couple of young female cats (7 months).

I'd like to get them insured and would like some recommendations please. Is it beneficial to pick a company and stay with it as the cats age or, like car insurance, do you shop around at renewal time?

I've had a look at some comparison sites and the price looks like being around £50-£100. Should I buy solely on price or are some companies worth the extra?

Thanks.

[Prof Prolapse]

We have Tesco cover for our dog and cat.

I believe I'm right in saying for any newly diagnosed affliction you have a £7,500 claim limited within an unlimited window (presumably for as long as you have an active policy), with only a £60 excess per claim form. All claims are settled within 20 days and I've never encountered a significant wait time to speak to their staff. Their exclusions are very limited, in fact I don't recall any, and they also cover treatments like hydrotherapy.

We're in the process of claiming about £7,000 for our dog. We've previously had about a £1,000 on the dog and £500 on the cat. The receptionist who completes the claim forms at the specialist said they were well regarded by others as well.

I can't recommend them highly enough really. They aren't the cheapest, but it really is a false economy to go down that road. Seriously, read it properly and pay the extra. I was looking at a £14,000 bill + vat, and not all policies would have covered the operations.

Edited by Prof Prolapse on Thursday 22 September 10:02

[Ki3r]

We had two of hours insured with Tesco, claim wise very good, bill for nearly £900 for one of them without any problems. Only left as we got another cat and the price they quoted was stupidly expensive. Went with Saga in the end, three cats cost the same as two with Tesco. We haven't had to claim with them though.

We only left Tesco as the price wasn't worth it when Saga were pretty much the same level of cover and a third of the price.

[Mobile Chicane]

My view is that the best 'insurance' is to spend the money you'd otherwise pay out in premiums on the best food there is. Cheap cat food is storing up a whole host of problems in terms of diabetes and thyroid issues.

[Prof Prolapse]

Mobile Chicane said:

My view is that the best 'insurance' is to spend the money you'd otherwise pay out in premiums on the best food there is. Cheap cat food is storing up a whole host of problems in terms of diabetes and thyroid issues.

Any evidence to support this obsurd claim?

[Hilts]

Mobile Chicane said:

My view is that the best 'insurance' is to spend the money you'd otherwise pay out in premiums on the best food there is. Cheap cat food is storing up a whole host of problems in terms of diabetes and thyroid issues.

Which is not going to help much when your cat gets run over.

[shep1001]

We use Tesco for both our cats. Went for the top level of cover with no limit and fixed xs. Girl cats are cheaper than boys, at 3 years old Moglet is twice the price of Millie on the premium breakdown £18 for them both from Oct). Should be the other way round, all he does is go out in the garden, wander up and down for a bit take a few big 'air sniffs' and come back inside. Millie is the one thats always having a ruck with the other cats!

[Evanivitch]

Prof Prolapse said:

Mobile Chicane said:

My view is that the best 'insurance' is to spend the money you'd otherwise pay out in premiums on the best food there is. Cheap cat food is storing up a whole host of problems in terms of diabetes and thyroid issues.

Any evidence to support this obsurd claim?

There's some logic in that you wouldn't feed a human Tesco Value pasta, peas and mince everyday and expect them to be entirely healthy.

But there's plenty of things that can affect an animal besides their diet. And they can often be the more expensive issue.