People have all manner of weird and wonderful animals as pets these days. From the less-than-cuddly tarantula to the downright dangerous python, exotic animals seem to be more popular than ever.
But no matter how often exotic animal owners extol the virtues of their scaly friends, the traditional cat and dog still reign supreme in the pet world.
Cats and dogs are still the most popular pets in Britain, with an estimated seven million of each living with animal lovers nationwide.
Whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, there’s no denying that both animals can bring joy and frustration in equal measure.
Dog lovers would argue that man’s best friend is a faithful companion that will show its master endless love and attention. But cat lovers might offer the counter argument that a dog requires a lot of attention in return, as well as regular walking and looking after.
Some cats will also give their owners affection, and require a lot less of your time. But dog owners might say that cats are much less attached to their owners, and are far more independent creatures.
But dogs and cats alike are loved by their owners, with many people splashing out on pet products and services to make their furry friend’s life a little better.
As we are such a nation of animal lovers, many insurers now offer various pet insurance policies. As with any type of insurance product, there are several variations on pet insurance – with different needs and situations catered for.
Lots of people are cutting back on excessive spending in the face of continuing economic turmoil, so many people may see pet insurance as an unnecessary expense. But it can prove to be a useful policy, with some insurers offering tailor-made policies to suit your specific pet.
While cats seem to have a life of their own outside the house, their owners often see them as another member of family. It is for this reason that some cat owners choose to take out cat insurance, to cover themselves financially from the situations that can arise as a result of pet ownership.
Types of cat insurance
As with any insurance policy, there are a number of different types of cat insurance. Each one has different benefits and offers different levels of cover.
Of course, the more cover a policy offers, the more the premiums will cost. So if you are thinking of taking out cat insurance, it is a good idea to think about what you want from the policy.
In general, the type of cat insurance policy that offers the cheapest premiums is basic insurance. This applies to most types of pet insurance for that matter, with the low premiums reflecting the low amount of cover.
It is worth checking the details of each individual policy carefully, as different insurance providers will offer different levels of cover. But in general, most basic cat insurance policies will put both financial limits and time limits on the cover that they offer.
This is usually around a year, meaning that the insurer will payout for up to twelve months after treatment on a condition has started.
The financial constraints of basic pet insurance policy is usually around £1,000 – meaning that if further treatment is required after this limit has been reached, you might have to pay for it yourself.
It is worth noting that the time and financial limits of a basic pet insurance policy are per condition. So if your pet is diagnosed with a new condition, the policy will pay out again.
For those seeking a little more cover than what a basic policy includes, many insurers offer a mid-level pet insurance policy. This type of policy is similar to basic cover, but with some differences and improvements.
Like basic pet insurance, a mid-level policy places a financial limit on veterinary treatment for each illness or condition. The main difference is that the payout for vet bills is likely to be higher, and many mid-level policies will offer a longer time limit, or no limit at all.
Again, as with standard cover, the payout is per condition – meaning that if our pet contracts a second illness, the cover for treatment is renewed.
Finally, there is superior cover. The premiums for this type of policy are generally the most expensive, as the cover offers more protection than other policy levels.
Most higher-levels policies are likely to still have a limit on the amount of cover per condition, but it is generally higher than other levels of cover. As well as this, many superior levels of cover will not have a time limit on how long the treatment can last.
Everyone will have different budgets for their pet insurance. So before you invest, it might be a good idea to think about how much cover you want, and how much you can realistically afford.
Additional cover
While vet bills are likely to be the main expense for most cat owners, there are events and situations that cat insurance will cover.
As any pet owner will tell you, unexpected expenses can crop up at any moment. For this reason, some pet insurance policies include cover for things like theft or straying, and quarantine.
As with any insurance product, it is important to carefully read the terms of insurance policy before investing, to ensure that you are covered for what you need.
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