With cat owners set to spend over $10 billion in veterinary care and medications for their pets this year, pet insurance for your cats is certainly worthy of your consideration. Is it for everyone? That's a very personal question.
How do you know if pet insurance coverage is right for you as a cat owner? Here are a few considerations that can help you make the decision as well as some information on the top two companies that offer pet insurance for our feline friends.
What did you spend on your cat? While most cat aficionados don't look at the monetary value of their companion, sometimes you must consider the purchase of your cat as an investment. Maybe not a financial investment in the common thought of the word, but one in your contentment and companionship. If your cat were to suffer a life-threatening accident or serious illness, and the cost of treatment was set to be exorbitant, how much would you or could you afford to spend on life-saving measures for your pet? At that point, you will be asking yourself what your cat is worth to you. This is not a judgment statement; everyone has different values about how they view their pet and what is prudent and appropriate to spend on its care and well-being.
Is your cat in contact with other cats? Unfortunately, many states do not require routine vaccinations for cats. This creates the opportunity for some very preventable feline diseases to spread quickly. Especially if your cat lives outdoors or is boarded, you want to have proper vaccines. This is a great preventative step you can take that really helps with cat health.
That means a yearly trip to the vet and vaccines and sometimes, lab work. Typical annual costs for a well cat vary from $100-$300. This is only for vaccines and a yearly exam. Considering that your feline may live up to 15 years and veterinary care does not decrease over time, you could incur $5000 or more in routine preventive care over your cat's lifetime. As the animal ages, its healthcare needs will only increase. If you factor in some sort of accident or illness (and which cat won't ever have that), you can see how the costs can easily sky-rocket.
One great company that offers pet insurance for cats, is PetFirst Healthcare. Cat insurance from Petfirst Healthcare can help make sure that your cat’s healthcare does not use up your wallet’s proverbial nine lives. Unforeseen illnesses or accidents can happen at any time. Their cat insurance plans help you focus on what’s best for your cat rather than the cost. Their pet insurance policy is available to all cats that are between 8 weeks and 9 years no matter what breed. They also offer a great cat insurance plan for older cats (over 10 years) for those of you looking for pet insurance for senior cats. The other great thing about this plan is that as long as your pet has coverage before their tenth birthday, their Pet First pet insurance policy is renewable for life.
Pricing for a PetFirst Pet Insurance plan is very competitive. For as little as $16.95 per month (less than $1 per day) you pet can be covered against the worst.
comprehensive plan includes accident, illness, and routine care coverage
| plan option | monthly | yearly |
| preferred plus | $41.95 | $491.40 |
| preferred | $29.95 | $347.40 |
| basic | $24.95 | $248.40 |
| senior | $66.95 | $791.40 |
| accident only | $16.95 | $191.40 |
Coverage limits are very generous too. The Preferred Plus plan has a $15,000 annual benefit, a $3,500 per incident limit, and $220 in routine care coverage. The Preferred Plan has a $12,000 annual benefit, a $2,500 per incident limit, and $220 in routine care. The Basic Plan offers a $7,500 annual benefit, a $1,500 per incident limit, and $100 in routine care coverage.
As a special offer for our readers, PetFirst Insurance is also offering $20 off your first month of a new pet insurance policy. This means that you pet could be covered for as little as $9.95! Note that this is a limited offer and only extended to the readers of this blog.
QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs give you peace-of-mind. Not only do they offer the most comprehensive, flexible pet care coverage - in many cases they pay a higher percentage of your claim than some competitors.
QuickCare will insure your cats as early as 8 weeks of age. And, as a nice perk, all their plans will cover your kitty for all of its nine lives; no need to move to a special senior plan. They do however, have a senior plan if you need a pet insurance plan tailored specially for your older cat.
