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Best American Shorthair Pet Insurance of 2024

Lisa Scott

When it comes to our cats, we are often willing to do anything to keep them healthy. Choosing the right pet insurance for your American Shorthair can be important to maintaining their health and happiness throughout their life. We’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.

Super-extensive accident & illness coverage

$20,000

Coverage Up To

90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Pumpkin offers high-quality pet insurance plans for cats and dogs as well as an optional non-insurance preventive care plan for vaccinations, key tests and wellness exams, which will help to keep your pet happy and healthy through their life. You can travel with your pet in Canada or the US and can get access from any licensed vet in these countries. The platform is entirely digitized and serves as a one-stop-shop for all your pet's healthcare needs.

Pumpkin will cover up to $20,000 for dogs and $15,000 for cats annually.

What we like

  • Extensive coverage on multiple health issues
  • Optional preventive care plan that reimburses in full for annual wellness exams and vaccines
  • No exclusion on breeds or older pets
  • Offers a Fur Family Discount on multiple pets
  • Healthcare coverage in Canada and the US

What we don't

  • Pre-existing health conditions not covered
  • Pumpkin only covers dogs and cats

Pumpkin Advertiser Disclosure: Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Products, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (“Pumpkin”) (NPN #19084749) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company (NAIC #21113, Morristown, NJ) and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customeragreement. Paid Endorsement.

Multiple options for wellness plans

$100,000

Coverage Up To

90% - 100%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

Wagmo began by providing stand-alone pet wellness coverages. Today, it has expanded its portfolio to include customizable pet insurance coverage.

What we like

  • Customizable policies
  • Variety of wellness plans
  • Fast reimbursements
  • High incident limits
  • Visit a vet of your choice

What we don't

  • 15 day waiting period on accident policy

Affordable prices with a fast reimbursement process

$100,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Lemonade has earned a stellar reputation in the pet insurance industry with its affordable monthly premiums and fast reimbursement of claims with its AI technology. This technology has attracted thousands with its customizable policies and provides comprehensive coverage on illness and accidents to dogs and cats.

What we like

  • Customizable plans so you only pay for coverage that your pet needs
  • Claims are reimbursed in minutes
  • Affordable monthly premiums starting at $10/month
  • Comprehensive wellness plans to keep your pet in good health
  • Pay deductible once per year and not per incident

What we don't

  • Lemonade is only available in 33 states
  • Certain hybrid breeds may be denied

Short waiting periods on accidental coverage

$25,000

Coverage Up To

50% - 100%

Reimbursement

Overview

MetLife Insurance offers pet insurance for cats and dogs and is known for the shortest waiting periods in the industry.

What we like

  • No restriction on breeds and pet age
  • Customizable annual benefit limits
  • Short waiting periods accidental coverage
  • Flexible deductibles from $50 to $2,000
  • No incident limits

What we don't

  • Wellness treatment not included (optional add-on)
  • Pay first out of pocket and reimbursed later

Quick claims process

$10,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Spot will insure older animals and provides a multi-pet discount when you insure two or more pets

What we like

  • Multi-pet discount
  • No upper age limit
  • Quick claims process
  • Fast and simple filing of claims
  • Optional no lifetime limits or caps on payouts

What we don't

  • Customer service limited to weekdays
  • 14 day waiting period

Pre-existing conditions and 6 pets covered for $24/m

$3,000

Coverage Up To

100%

Reimbursement

Overview

Pawp offers pet owners an emergency fund up to but not exceeding $3,000 annually. The platform is different from other traditional pet insurance agencies as it does not require you to provide a medical examination report before enrolling your pet. Whether your pet is healthy or has been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition, you can still enroll it and access the emergency fund when the need arises.

With no deductibles and low monthly premiums as low as $24, the digital platform will protect your furry friend during an incident and save money from large vet expenses. Although the agency does not provide any limitations on age, it is best to insure your pet while still young and be prepared in advance when an emergency occurs.

What we like

  • Monthly premiums as low as $24
  • Allows coverage on 6 pets for $24 a month
  • Allows enrollment of pets with pre-existing conditions
  • 24/7 unlimited access to Pawp’s virtual vet doctors

What we don't

  • Coverage is restricted to healthcare emergencies only
  • Does not offer wellness coverage
  • Emergency funds can be accessed only once per year

Provides holistic therapy coverage

$15,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Fetch covers various conditions and offers holistic therapy coverage.

What we like

  • Covers examination fee during vet visits
  • Holistic therapy coverage
  • Comprehensive dental coverage
  • No penalty for multiple claims
  • No upper age limit for the pets

What we don't

  • Offers a single plan
  • No preventive care plans
  • No multi-pet discount

No age limit on pets - older dogs and cats are covered

Unlimited

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

Prudent pet has excellent coverage for your pet regardless of their age. The insurer can customize your plan from illnesses, medications, accidents to preventive care that will fit your pet's needs and financial situation. This plan will give you peace of mind that you won't break the bank with unlimited coverage if an emergency occurs since treatments tend to be more expensive for older pets.

What we like

  • Older cats and dogs are covered
  • Customize your plan to fit your pet's needs and financial situation
  • Customers from US can get covered in Canada as well
  • Unlimited live vet chat if an issue occurs with your pet
  • 10% multiple pets discount

What we don't

  • Pre-existing health conditions not covered
  • Wellness add-ons can get expensive

Is pet insurance worth it for an American Shorthair?

We love our cats and want the best for them. Getting the right food, giving them plenty of attention, and ensuring they have everything they need are all part of keeping them healthy and happy. A large part of taking care of our cats is by getting the right pet health insurance for them.

Just like any other cat breed, American Shorthair cats are susceptible to certain health issues that may require medical treatment throughout their lives to deal with certain issues. While it is necessary, however, medical treatments for American Shorthairs can become costly, especially for more serious medical ailments. To help you cover the costs associated with treating these issues, you can take advantage of available pet insurance plans.

Pet insurance for your American Shorthair ensures you can afford the treatments your cat needs without having to worry about the costs associated.

Common health issues for an American Shorthair

American Shorthair cats are healthy breeds overall, but just like any other cat breed, they are susceptible to certain health issues. Some of the most common issues your cat may experience include:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This type of heart disease is one of the most common heart issues for American Shorthair cats. A hereditary issue, this can be determined by a heart murmur. 
  • Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia can develop in American Shorthair cats over time as their hip sockets rub against each other, causing damage. This often leads to cats moving and jumping less to avoid the pain associated.
  • Renal failure: Renal failure is caused by the kidneys failing to properly cleanse waste from their blood and regulate cats’ hydration.

What does pet insurance cover for an American Shorthair?

Pet insurance coverage will help alleviate the costs associated with medical treatments and procedures for your American Shorthair. Depending on the type of pet insurance coverage you get for your cat, you may be eligible for injury-only, illness-only, or injury and illness coverage. Some of the most common treatments and procedures covered include:

  • Torn ligaments or broken bones: If your cat injured itself while jumping or playing, your pet insurance coverage will cover the costs associated with treatment. 
  • Blood and urine tests: Tests to diagnose your cat’s health issues are often required to move forward with treatment. These tests are usually covered by pet insurance plans.
  • Medication: Some injuries or illnesses may require medication to help your cat get better. Pet insurance will cover the costs associated to ensure your cat gets the medication it needs.

Pet insurance covers a range of treatments but does not cover everything. Some insurance providers may not cover certain pre-existing conditions which require a lot of medical attention to treat. Before you sign up for pet insurance, you will want to make sure your cat’s needs are fully covered.

How are pet insurance premiums determined for an American Shorthair?

Pet insurance premiums are determined by a number of factors. Here are some of the main things taken into consideration for pet insurance premiums:

  • Age: Depending on your pet’s age, you may be required to pay more or less on average for their monthly insurance premium coverage. The older the pet, the more likely they are to have a higher premium.
  • Plan details: The more variety of medical treatments and procedures your insurance plan covers, the higher your monthly premium is likely to be. Additionally, if you’ve got a higher coverage cap or lower deductible, you can expect to pay a higher monthly premium to cover it all.
  • Medical history: If your cat has experienced more serious medical conditions during its life, it is likely to have a higher monthly premium for its pet insurance coverage. 

Additionally, some pet insurance providers will have caps for the cats they cover under their plans. Old cats, or cats that have certain types of medical issues, may not be eligible for coverage under certain plans. Ahead of moving forward with a plan, be sure to check that your cat will be covered.

How to choose the best pet insurance plan for an American Shorthair

Choosing a pet insurance plan for your American Shorthair cat can be difficult, as there are plenty of plans to choose from. To help you make the right decision, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Determine your budget: Various pet insurance plans offer different prices for their coverage that range significantly. Ahead of looking into specific plans, determine a budget that you are comfortable with so you can narrow down available plans.
  • Compare plan details: Each plan offers different forms of coverage in what types of treatments and procedures they cover, as well as their specific coverage caps, deductible amounts and more. Compare and contrast different plans to determine which one makes the most sense for your pet, and will cover the most treatments you anticipate your cat needing.
  • Read plan reviews: Customers who have your potential pet insurance plan often leave reviews on their experience with the provider. Read these reviews to get a good idea on how the provider handles claims processes, and customer service inquiries to determine what your experience will be like with coverage under these specific plans. We’ve also established a review for these prodcuts that may be benficial for you.