05-06-2017, 10:57 AM
I don't have insurance for my cat, but have enough savings to pay a vet if/when it happens. That said, my cat is a very independent and wilful creature, so I'm not sure how much treatment I'd put him through. Even as a kitten he was like that. When I had him neutered at about eight months, the vet called up about six hours earlier than I was due to collect him. For a second I panicked - had something terrible happened? No. He had woken up and was VERY ANGRY, please could I come and take him away as soon as possible because he'd already injured two vets. ;-)
Much as I love my cat, I wouldn't opt for invasive procedures unless the outcome was clear. e.g. I'd pay for surgery to heal a fracture, but possibly not exploratory surgery for a mysterious illness. Problem is I can't explain to him what is happening. I could possibly have kept my previous cat alive a bit longer, but she also hated the vet and it seemed kindest to let her go. It really wasn't the money. I'd have paid every penny I had if I thought it would actually help.
But anyway, my view is that I insure things I cannot afford to cover myself. For anything where I can absorb the cost then I don't insure. Occasionally that hurts my bank balance, but overall I have saved money. But if I didn't have savings, I would absolutely get pet insurance. It would break my heart to lose a loved pet because I couldn't pay.
Much as I love my cat, I wouldn't opt for invasive procedures unless the outcome was clear. e.g. I'd pay for surgery to heal a fracture, but possibly not exploratory surgery for a mysterious illness. Problem is I can't explain to him what is happening. I could possibly have kept my previous cat alive a bit longer, but she also hated the vet and it seemed kindest to let her go. It really wasn't the money. I'd have paid every penny I had if I thought it would actually help.
But anyway, my view is that I insure things I cannot afford to cover myself. For anything where I can absorb the cost then I don't insure. Occasionally that hurts my bank balance, but overall I have saved money. But if I didn't have savings, I would absolutely get pet insurance. It would break my heart to lose a loved pet because I couldn't pay.