I'm getting a kittah...I think

[seaboy4hire]

I might be getting a pretty kittah this weekend and am soooo happy. But I know I wont be happy about the vet bills. So I was thinking of pet insurance. Does anyone else have pet insurance? What is your experience? I couldn't imagine it would be too expensive to obtain.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[devonhunter]

Yes, actually it is expensive, because vets are expensive, and so the insurance companies end up treating your pet the way they would treat a person. Do some thorough research - many of the same rules still apply.

[+ purplekow]

I once had 7 dogs and had insurance for each that cost about 250 dollars a year. I think since then it has gone up to about $500 for spayed and neutered adult dogs. One tragic month, I spent, be prepared to cringe, $16000 on vet bills when three of my dogs went into the hospital one right after another. Two required surgery and the third diabetic control. Two of them did not make it home and the third one I refused to allow them to euthanize on the operating table and I took her home and had 4 more years with her in good health. Turns out the tumor which was inoperable was not cancer. Anyway, with that huge amount of money laid out, I got about $9000 back from the insurance company. So what the insurance did was allow me to offer care I would have had to think twice about giving. It allowed me to decide with a bit less of an eye toward cost. In that month, I would go to the animal hospital and they would let me visit at odd hours sometimes in the middle of the night. It was a 24 hour a day facility. I cannot tell you the number of people who came in with sick or injured pets who sat discussing the cost and agonized over the expense. Even if the insurance is a bit more than you would want to spend, ultimately your friend will be worth the cost.

[Kippy]

I would like to know more about this animal insurance. My Daschund Simon had back surgery two years ago when he had just turned five. It cost me $5,000.00 out of pocket! It was worth it because he is my best boy, but still quite a financial hit. Does anyone have an insurance company to recommend for pets? How do the rates work and what do they cover?

 

Peace,

 

Kipp

[+ purplekow]

Policies vary. Mine covered the surgeries but not a blood transfusion. Routine care was covered but not dental. Anesthesia for the dental was covered. After a bit, I just mailed in the bills and waited for the check. I used VPI. Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats from Pets Best

[+ deej]

I couldn't imagine it would be too expensive to obtain.

 

It can be.

 

Talk to your vet. Just like doctors, the vets know which insurance providers honor their customers' claims and which assholes deny everything.

 

Don't have a vet yet? Pick the vet before the cat! If you needed another reason to move your ass to Chicago: Cat Hospital of Chicago is a phenomenal place!

[Lookin]

Cat Hospital of Chicago is a phenomenal place!

 

I hear they have a very professional, no-nonsense nursing staff.

 

http://www.nexternal.com/swisher/images/Avanti_017772.jpg

[rvwnsd]

A neighbor has pet insurance on her dog and 2 cats and thinks it is worth it. I don't have it on my male kitty because he is too old to qualify (I didn't know about it 14 years ago when I got him), but I am looking into it for the girl (she's only 5). ASPCA has a link to a plan on their site and there is also VPI, which I believe my neighbor has. It isn't cheap, but it isn't ghastly expensive either.

 

One piece of advice...brush the kitty's teeth. If you start them out when they are young, they usually tolerate it. Teeth cleaning isn't cheap and extractions are very expensive. Bad teeth can lead to kitty not eating, and that has all sorts of consequences.

 

Another piece of advice...do what deej says and find a vet before you get the cat. Check out a few, look at their office, and see how you feel when you walk in. I'm fortunate to have an excellent vet a couple of blocks away and an equally excellent pet emergency and specialty hospital a few miles away.

[JoeyBryant]

Turns out the tumor which was inoperable was not cancer.

 

Wow, and I assume it wasnt a sebaceous cyst?

 

As far as cats, I always thought they could take care of themselves? Then again Im so damn allergic to them that I wouldnt have the chance to know.

 

Greg I wouldnt fret so much about the insurance/vet bills part right away. If the cat is young it should be somewhat healthy and frisky for the 1st few years, atleast thats how my Aki-labra-chow was. As long as shots are up to date.

 

I went thru about 3 'vet scares' with my dog during the 3 years in which I reared him from a pup. All 3 of them ended up being cured with over the counter prescriptions from PetsMart. A sebaceous cyst suddenly disappeared after a few months when I switched the collar to a harness. Saved $220 in vet bills.

 

The first round of shots arent that expensive, and depending where you getting it from it should already have had them. Just feed them well, groom them and keep them clean and inside and you should be fine. Just enjoy your pussy

[Michael Vincenzo]

Pet planning packet

 

I don't know much about pet health insurance, but I thought this might be helpful to all who own pets:

 

http://www.peta.org/jnew/planca.asp

 

Also helpful, is this information about companion animal food:

 

http://www.iamscruelty.com/notTested.asp

[Guest greatness]

hmm

 

Shop around you might be able to get a good insurance in your area for your kitty.. It's a lot of work but cats are so adorable... My cat now knows how to open doors... no privacy.... He comes into the bathroom when I pee and stays with me when I'm sick.. and brings me his toys for me to play with... He has his moment but he is so cute and smart...

 

I might be getting a pretty kittah this weekend and am soooo happy. But I know I wont be happy about the vet bills. So I was thinking of pet insurance. Does anyone else have pet insurance? What is your experience? I couldn't imagine it would be too expensive to obtain.

 

Hugs,

Greg