We dig into the facts on pet insurance for cats, the benefits of having it for your cat plus who we’d recommend for cuddle-worthy pet insurance (seriously, they’re pawsome).
Here’s the great thing when it comes to pet insurance – not only does it help save you from surprise costs associated with emergency pet healthcare (have you ever experienced the shock and horror of unexpected vet bills), but it also helps your pet to receive the expert care they need, when they need it most.
The reasons for pet insurance:
Pet insurance takes away the stress of having to dip into your credit card or take out a loan to afford vet bills. It not only gives you the peace of mind you need, but it can also encourage you to better look after your pet’s health in terms of wellness care and routine healthcare benefits.
The question of whether or not pet insurance makes financial sense should, in actual fact, never have to be asked. Because as any pet parent with an active pet insurance policy knows, pet healthcare cover can not only be affordable, but it will save you from the anxiety (both emotionally and financially) of having to look after a sick pet. It’s as simple as that.
What happens when you don’t have pet insurance?
The cost of not having pet insurance can be terrifying. And we are not just saying all of this to try and instil fear in you. Not at all. We are just speaking from experience. The feedback we get from pet owners when it comes to not only expensive claims which their insurance pays out, but vet visits and day-to-day care too, is that they are eternally grateful that they made the decision to purchase a pet healthcare policy as it helped cushion what could have been an incredibly expensive blow.
And what’s more, when you know you are covered for vet visits and wellness care, you’re more likely to book Bruno or Whiskers in for their annual check-up or get their vaccinations in check knowing your expenses are covered.
But enough about why pet insurance is essential, let’s dig into what pet insurance for your cat looks like with our recommended insurer: Oneplan Pet Insurance.
Pet insurance for cats – is it worth it?
The truth is, you never know when things might go wrong. But you can plan for when they do. What we are trying to say here is that your gorgeously healthy cat Whiskers might be in her prime right now, but what happens when she gets in a fight with the neighbourhood stray? What happens when she gets sick? Or she develops a cancerous lump?
Obviously, we hope that these things never happen. But what’s more, we never want to see you forced into opting for euthanasia as a result of not being able to afford the vet bills to treat your precious fur baby.
Not to be grim, but these situations happen to pet parents every single day. And although cats are less of an insurance risk compared to their canine counterparts, they still run the risk of illnesses and accidents. Which is why it makes sense to get pet insurance for cats as soon as possible.
What if my cat is too old?
Now, a common question we are asked is “what if my cat is too old for pet insurance”. And that’s a valid question. The thing is, older pets are more likely to fall ill or hurt themselves, the same way that older humans are. This is why insuring the health of an older pet is seen as a riskier thing to do, and why most pet insurance plans have an age limit that applies. The age limit for cats with Oneplan is eleven years – Cats must be older than 8 weeks and younger than 11 years to be insured. The great thing about insuring your pet before this cut off age is that they are then covered for life. Which means your fur baby and Oneplan get to grow old together.
Of course, if your cat is older than 11 years of age, you can choose their Pet Accident Plan for only R80 a month. This plan does not have any age limits that apply.
We already mentioned that cats are seen as low risk compared to dogs. Which is why Oneplan has designed the pricing of their pet insurance for cats to reflect this… Here’s a summary of their plans’ pricing:
- Their Pet Primary Plan: From R160pm for a cat and R180pm for a dog.
- Their Pet Classic Plan: From R280pm for a cat and R300pm for a dog.
- Their Pet Super Plan: From R430pm for a cat and R450pm for a dog.
**Please note that these prices are reflective of the day this article was written. For updated prices click here.
So, if you’re still wondering why we recommend Oneplan’s pet insurance for cats, here’s why.
- They front you with cash BEFORE you see the vet
- They give you the freedom to go to ANY vet of your choice (no vet networks).
- They have a range of pet healthcare plans for you to choose from.
- They include vet visits and routine care in most of their plans
- Their add-on products like their Excess Buster, Pet Med Booster and their Diagnostic Booster allow you to boost up your plan for more cover and more benefits.
If you’ve got any more questions, their pet insurance family are ready and waiting to hear them.
Yours in Not-So-Average Pet Advice,
The Petinsurance.co.za Team
#NotYourAveragePetAdvice