Is pet insurance worth it for a European Shorthair?
The European Shorthair is a medium-sized cat breed that has been around for centuries. Making it known for its exceptional personality and high intelligence makes it an ideal pet for families with children or other pets.
Medical treatment for your European Shorthair can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick European Shorthair can quickly add up, costing up to a few thousand dollars. In these situations, you don’t want to be in the middle of a crisis and have to choose between your beloved cat and the affordability of their medical treatment.
To prepare for these unexpected circumstances, consider investing in pet insurance. It can help you afford your cat’s medical treatments and procedures while focusing on recovery.
Pet insurance can also provide peace of mind that your cat can be covered for the necessary treatments when it has an accident, injury, or illness. This includes (but is not limited to) broken bones, cancer treatment, harm caused by another animal, and prescriptions for chronic conditions. Therefore, pet insurance can be essential and beneficial for your pet.
Common health conditions for a European Shorthair
Typically, a European Shorthair has a longer lifespan than the average cat, and you can expect your cat to live somewhere between 14 to 20 years. However, like all cat breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your cat could develop, such as:
- Hip Dysplasia (HD): HD is a genetic disorder where the hips of your cat’s joints become malformed and loose, which results in pain and arthritis in later life. X-rays can detect the condition at an early age (approximately 3-4 months). If HD is present, it can be treated with medication, but this will not prevent the development of arthritis or any other complications associated with this disease.
- Hyperthyroidism: This condition occurs when there is an overproduction of thyroid hormones by your cat’s thyroid gland, resulting in hyperactivity, weight loss, and increased appetite. Treatment involves daily medication, which helps regulate your cat’s hormone levels back to normal.
- Epilepsy: This condition causes seizures, which can be full-body or isolated convulsions. If a European Shorthair has this condition, it may have attacks when it’s excited or stressed out. They are entirely normal and healthy when they’re not having a seizure. Epilepsy is diagnosed by taking an MRI scan of the brain and blood work.
- Down Syndrome: This is a condition where the cat has an extra copy of chromosome 21, which causes intellectual disability and physical defects such as heart defects and cleft palate. It does not mean the cat will have Down syndrome; it just means that there is a genetic predisposition for it to develop later in life.
- Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS): FHS is also known as Cat Scratch Disease. It is caused by bacteria from another cat’s saliva introduced through scratches or bites into your cat’s bloodstream.
What does pet insurance cover for a European Shorthair?
Pet insurance covers a range of diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for your cat. Depending on the pet insurance plan, you may be substituted for injury-only, illness-only, or combination. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
- Diagnostic and blood tests: If your pet has an illness or injury, pet insurance can cover the costs of diagnostic tests and blood work. These tests can help determine what’s wrong with your pet and guide treatment decisions.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Pet insurance covers the cost of treatment for congenital or genetic disorders. Examples include heart disease, cancer, and hip dysplasia.
- X-rays and surgeries: Your pet’s veterinarian may recommend X-rays or surgery to correct a problem or diagnose an illness. Even if your pet is insured, you may have to pay out-of-pocket costs until your insurance provider reimburses you later.
- Medication and hospital stay: A veterinarian may prescribe certain medications for your cat’s condition or administer IV fluids during surgery. Pet insurance can help pay for these costs and hospital stays if your cat requires round-the-clock care.
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments, but not preventative or wellness care. Regular check-ups with the veterinarian will not be covered under most pet insurance plans. You will need to take advantage of an individual wellness plan or see if the provider has any add-ons for wellness visits. Most providers do have it as an add-on.
Moreover, most insurance providers will not cover pre-existing conditions before registering your pet for coverage. Review everything your potential pet insurance plan covers and what types of pre-existing conditions they exclude to ensure your pet will be eligible for coverage.
How much does pet insurance cost for a European Shorthair?
This cat breed typically weighs between 8 and 16 pounds when fully grown, and males tend to be larger than females by 5 pounds or more at maturity. The average cost of pet insurance for a European Shorthair is $46.50 per month or $561 per year.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a European Shorthair?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your European Shorthair (included but not limited to):
- Age: Older pets tend to be more expensive to insure because they’re more likely to develop chronic conditions and require more treatment.
- Location: The cost of living varies depending on where you live. The price of pet insurance premiums will also vary depending on where you live due to the price of veterinary care in that area.
- Gender: Male cats can be expensive to treat and may increase your premium costs. Male cats are also at risk for testicular cancer, leading to costly treatments if it’s caught early enough. Female pets tend to be healthier than male pets until they reach their senior years, and this means female pets will typically pay lower premiums than male pets of the same age.
- Medical history: If your pet has had any significant illnesses or injuries in the past, this will impact your premium. If it’s been diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease, expect higher premiums down the road when those conditions become more severe.
- Deductible: This is how much you need to pay before the insurance company pays out any money. For example, if your deductible is $100 and your pet needs surgery, you need to pay $100 before they pay anything else.
- Reimbursement rate: How much money you get paid for each condition or illness covered by your policy. This can vary depending on your pet’s state and what type of treatment it needs.
- Coverage amount: This refers to how much money you can receive from your insurance company over your pet’s policy lifetime. This number mustn’t be too high because you will pay more in premiums than what you receive in benefits if it is.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a European Shorthair
Many pet insurance options are available for a European Shorthair, so how do you choose the best one? Here are some key factors to keep in mind as you are deciding on the right plan:
- Budget: The budget for pet insurance should be considered because it may affect the type of plan you would like to purchase. If your budget is low, you may want to consider a lower premium pet insurance plan. However, if you are willing to pay more for your pet’s health care coverage, more options are available to you.
- Customer Feedback: Customer feedback is essential when choosing which pet insurance company is best for your needs. You can find out what other customers think about specific companies by reading reviews online or talking with friends who have purchased insurance plans for their pets.
- Conditions covered: Some pet insurance plans only cover specific conditions, while others include coverage for all diseases and injuries that occur within their terms and conditions. Ensure that any pre-existing conditions are included in your plan so they can be treated without additional costs incurred by the owner or family member responsible for paying the monthly premiums on time each year.
- The reimbursement rate refers to how much money a company will pay out per condition or illness covered under its plan. A higher reimbursement rate means more money back in your pocket if something happens to your pet while insured by that company, but it also means that premiums may be higher.
- Coverage amount: The coverage amount is the essential information you need to know about any pet insurance plan. It tells you how much money will be paid out by the insurance company if your cat requires treatment. The higher the coverage amount, the more expensive the monthly premium.
- Deductible: A deductible is money that must be paid out-of-pocket before your pet insurance kicks in and begins paying claims. Choosing a deductible that works with your budget and financial situation is essential. Some plans have no deductible, while others may have.