Nope, we're not pulling your leg (or your paw). When it comes to cat insurance, we are stone-cold serious. Just like hiding the houseplants, cat insurance is something you should do immediately when your cat is just a kitten. And while having cat insurance may sound like the excessive measure that will earn you the label of “crazy cat person,” it's actually a sensible, responsible service that benefits both you and your cat.
You've got insurance for your car, your home and your health for one very good reason: they're difficult, if not impossible, to replace. With this in mind, think about your furry bed warmer. There are those folks who view a cat as an animal that can be easily swapped for another or just forgotten entirely. People with this mindset are precisely the ones who just don't get cat insurance—literally or figuratively.
Needless to say, these folks are neither our target market nor our pet-sitters.
Fortunately, like us at Trupanion, there are people out there who treasure their pet's lives and who view them as important members of the family—almost like furry little children with terrible table manners. They get treats, prime real estate on the couch, maybe even a stocking full of toy mice and catnip during the holidays if they've been very, very good (okay, they get them even when they're bad). Sound familiar? Keep reading about why cat insurance is the best accessory for you and your kitten to have (way better than matching Halloween costumes, that's for sure).
Okay, cat insurance … keep talking.
It may go without saying, but cat insurance isn't like insuring a car, where if it is totaled, the insurance company pays for a new one. Whether your kitty is a rare breed or a sweet ball of fuzz that simply wandered onto your porch and into your life, we know that there's no way to replace your loveable feline child. There’s probably nothing you wouldn’t do to keep your cat healthy and happy. Cat insurance helps you keep your kitten in tip-top shape throughout its whole life—without piling on massive bills and heartache. And it also ensures that you won't be forced to make a gut-wrenching decision about the life of your cat.
The way it works is that as your pet insurance company, Trupanion pays for 90% of covered healthcare expenses for your kitten, up to $20,000 over its lifetime. You pay the remaining 10%, as well as your monthly premium, examination fees and routine preventative care. That’s it in a nutshell. No fine print, no loopholes. Make sense?
Can any cat be insured with Trupanion?
We only offer to start cat insurance policies for kitties that are between eight weeks and one year old. Compared with older cats, kittens tend to be pretty healthy, and by covering pets that have a similar level of risk and who start on an even playing field, we can offer more affordable monthly premiums while covering a wide range of claims, both major and minor. Not to worry: We will continue to insure your kitten as it ages, but an older cat can’t start a policy with us. It skews the policy pool so that kitten owners would see their cat insurance premiums be driven up by the higher cost of insuring "mature" cats. This won't happen with Trupanion—we guarantee it.
Not all cat insurance is created equal. We are too polite to point fingers, but some cat insurance companies charge low premiums but wind up covering very little. Other cat insurance companies will cover more types of illnesses and disorders, even rare and costly ones, but make up for it by charging deductibles and a hefty monthly premium. They might also raise your premium as your kitten ages or as you submit more claims—neither of which will happen if you insure your kitten with Trupanion.
Is there anyone who wouldn't need cat insurance?
Well, if you don’t own a cat, you don’t need cat insurance. But seriously, the only person we can think of who wouldn’t need cat insurance is one who has about $20,000 to $30,000 at their disposal. Oh, and who is able to spend it all on their cat’s care at a moment's notice.
Even if you do have a healthy savings account, think about what a $2,000 vet bill really costs you. Yeah, you can afford to pay it, but what are you giving up? A long overdue vacation? A down payment on a condo or car? A new razor scooter? And what if that bill is just the tip of the iceberg? Having cat insurance is a great way to ensure not just the health of your cat, but the health of your bank account. Think about how hard you’ve worked to build up a nice nest egg and how quickly you’d give it up for your cat. With Trupanion cat insurance, you don’t need to make this choice.
Speaking of bank accounts, is cat insurance going to drain mine?
Not in the least. Our monthly cat insurance premiums are totally affordable. Truth is, you probably pay more for your cable bill or takeout for two at your favorite Thai restaurant. When you think about how much you love your kitten and how much vet care can set you back these days, you can’t afford not to have cat insurance.
Because of the advances in veterinary medicine, cats today are better able to recover from serious injuries and illnesses. However, it all comes at a price, and that’s no joke. Fixing a cat’s broken leg can run up to $2,000. Treating cancer in cats can cost thousands of dollars.
With such high veterinary costs, most owners who don’t have cat insurance are faced with terrible scenarios: taking out sizable loans, maxing out credit cards, and worst of all, being forced to give away or put down a pet they can’t afford to care for. Get Trupanion cat insurance and you can rest easy, knowing you’ll never have to make such a heartbreaking decision.