Pet owners know that their pets become an integral part of their lives. For cat owners, when you first bring that little bundle of fur home as a kitten, the last thing you think of is them being unwell. But the responsibility falls on the pet owner to get the best veterinary care for your pet.

Advancements in veterinary science have made all kinds of treatments available to heal and cure your cat. Because of new technology and medicines, the cost of vetenary care has increased considerably, and cat owners can be faced with very high and unexpected bills.

To have an X-ray or anaesthetic at the vets alone can run up a very high bill. Cats are prone to road accidents, broken bones, teeth problems, not to mention injuries from other cats . Older cats too suffer from long term heath issues such as kidney failure, diabetes and arthritis. All of which can be very costly.

This is why cat insurance is advisable. A cat insurance guarantees that the medical expenses incurred on your cat is met in part on in whole by the insurance company, depending on your policy.

Most registered veterinary clinics accept pet insurance and some companies will give you a discount for more than one pet. Insuring your cat means that you guard against unexpected expenses as well as acting against inflation as prices rise at your vets. Medical expenses that look affordable now, may look enormous in a few years time.

Insuring your cat will give you peace of mind that no matter the medical emergency, you will always be able to afford the vets bills. Also as your cat becomes older and prone to age related conditions, your cat insurance will pay for itself. Getting your cat insured while still young, ensures coverage for accidents and illness which may occur at a later stage.

As well as the medical expense benefits, many insurance companies include in the policy cover for advertising if your cat is lost. They may well offer insurance for a cancelled holiday due to your cats illness and help towards boarding your cat if unwell while you are away. For this reason it is well worth doing some research in to a variety of insurance companies and the terms and conditions they offer you.

The advantage of having insurance for your cat is that you just take your cat to your favorite vet, pay for the treatment and then file a claim with the insurance company. The one downside with this is that you may be initially out of pocket before being reimbursed. Make sure you take your claim form along with you to save any delay getting your money back.

After completing the form by either yourself or your vet, you need to attach copies of receipts and invoices and send it to your insurance company who will review your claim.

When looking for an insurance company there are several things you should look for in the small print. There are now many companies that handle pet insurance from supermarket chains like Tesco in the UK or Walmart in the US, to big insurance companies such as Petplan. Each company offers very different terms and conditions.

Before you decide on a company check terms such as how much excess you will have to pay. Which conditions will your cat not covered for? Some companies will not cover dental heath. What is the upper age limit that they will cover? This is usually 10 years old, but if they have been insured from a young age with the company, they remain covered.

Will you have to contribute towards any expenses. With Petplan, once your cat turns 10, you have to contribute 20% of the vets fees. And how much will the insurers pay out on any one illness? Will they continue to pay for a long term, incurable condition such as thyroid or diabetes.

The cost of insuring your cat varies from one company to another and depends on the extent of the cover.Most insurance companies insist that your cat is fully up to date with all it’s vaccinations or it will not be covered. Certainly covering your cat from a young age will mean you will always be able to care for your cat with the best possible care at any time, without having to worry about finding the money for a huge vets bill.