Birman insurance

On average, Birmans can live anywhere between 12 to 15 years. Although Birmans are a relatively healthy breed, they are still prone to developing health conditions, including Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Kidney Disease and Obesity.

Although Birmans look very similar to other pointed cats, such as Siamese cats and Ragdolls, all Birmans should have white or 'mitted' paws, a rounded face and a Roman-shaped nose. Birman kittens are born with white fur, with their pointed coats becoming more defined as they mature.

Birmans have medium-length silky coats, with very little undercoat, which means their fur doesn't matt as easily. However, like any cat, they should be groomed at least once a week to help keep their coat healthy and clean. They may require more attention around their ears and privates, were the long hair can get dirty or matted. It may need a careful trim and wipe with a damp cloth from time to time.

Cat insurance helps cover the cost of veterinary treatment if your cat falls ill or suffers an injury. Some cat insurance providers will also pay you a lump sum if your cat passes away, if they’re either lost or stolen, or if they cause damage to another person’s property.

If your cat were to develop an ongoing health condition, the amount of money you would need to pay in vet bills could rise considerably. The question you need to ask yourself is, if my cat gets ill or injured long-term, how will I find the money to pay for all the treatment they need?

Cat insurance isn’t mandatory but may be worth considering. Think of it as a financial safety net that’s there to protect you against unexpected costs. After all, you never know when your cat could fall ill or suffer an injury.

The average pet insurance claim can be as much as £793, but that amount can run into the thousands if your cat were to develop an ongoing condition. Ultimately, you have to balance the cost of cat insurance premiums against the risk of incurring a hefty vet bill. But keep in mind that as your cat gets older, it may be more likely to fall ill, which in turn can raise the cost of your cat insurance.

It’s easy to think that if you keep your cat indoors, then you’re protecting them from illness and injury. But that’s not always the case. Cats that spend too much time indoors can suffer with obesity, diabetes, urinary conditions and exposure to household toxins.

Like most animals, cats need to exercise for their physical health. Lack of exercise can lead to boredom and stress, which in turn can have a negative impact on your cat’s health. For example, if your cat is not getting enough exercise, they can start to put on weight. Just like humans, excess weight is harder to shed the older your cat gets.

Another big health risk in indoor cats is what’s known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease , or FLUTD for short. FLUTD mostly occurs in older, overweight cats that don’t exercise enough, or that don’t consume enough fluids as part of their diet. If FLUTD is left unchecked, it can result in a urinary tract blockage, something that could be life-threatening to your cat.

So, whether you choose to keep your cat indoors or out, it’s worth thinking about getting cat insurance. Even if your cat stays mostly indoors, there’s always the possibility that they could fall ill.

Insurance for your cat can start as soon as possible! Our cover starts for cats and kittens aged eight weeks and over.

We cannot cover claims arising within the first 14 days of your insurance starting and pre-existing illnesses and conditions are not covered.

There are various factors that can affect how much you pay for cat insurance. For example, protecting your cat on an accident only policy can keep the cost down. But there are other factors too, including:

Where you live

Veterinary treatment prices vary up and down the country. So, if you live somewhere where vet costs are higher, you can expect to pay more for your cat insurance.

How old your cat is

As you might expect, older cats are at a higher risk of developing a health problem. So, the older your cat the more expensive your cat insurance is likely to be.

What breed your cat is

If you own a pedigree cat, it’s likely you’ll have to pay more to insure it. Some cat breeds are more prone to certain illnesses, which again is likely to up your premiums.

Some cats love to wander and some love to stay at home. Whether your cat is a house-cat or not, it may be worth getting insurance for your cat to help with the cost of unexpected vet fees.

You can choose from either our Accident Only cover or our Accident and Illness cover and get up to £12,000 towards annual vet fees for your cat.

Our cover starts for cats over eight weeks of age. We cannot cover claims arising within the first 14 days of your insurance starting and pre-existing illnesses and conditions are not covered.

Before you start looking for cat insurance you should think about:

Your cat's age

It can be harder to get cat insurance when your cat is older than eight years old, or younger than eight weeks old. At petGuard, we can start to provide cover for kittens aged over eight weeks old.

Pre-existing conditions

petGuard is unable to cover any pre-existing condition your cat might have.

You never know what’s around the corner. If your cat were to fall ill or get injured, could you cover the cost of the vet bill? If your cat is older and the illness or injury turned into a long-term condition, the costs could spiral. All things considered it might be best to cover your pet sooner rather than later. Just be aware that there are some restrictions around when you can get your pet insured. At petGuard, we can start to provide cover for cats aged over eight weeks old.

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Most cat insurance providers, including petGuard, are unable to cover your pet if they have a pre-existing medical condition.

Standard cat insurance policies usually last for a 12-month period. After this time, you’ll need to renew your cover.

Your pet's age

We will not pay claims for any pet under eight weeks of age.

The use of your pet

We will not pay claims for any pet being used for breeding purposes.

Pre-existing conditions

We will not pay for any pre-existing conditions that have been investigated, treated or you have seen symptoms of before the start of your policy.

We will not pay claims under any section excluded on the policy wording. Click here to find out more.

Yes. Depending on the type of cover you select we are able to cover treatment provided that it is related to an injury or illness.

No, we cannot provide cover for pets that are used for breeding. There are special policies for their specific risks, and we suggest you speak to your vet or local insurance broker for help finding suitable cover.

We offer a choice of three annual benefit levels. You can insure up to the chosen limit each year and provided that we are able to offer renewal and you renew without a gap in cover the benefit will be reinstated for the next period of insurance. This means that you can claim for chronic or ongoing conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart, or skin conditions whilst the policy remains in force.

Yes. You must be a UK resident and domiciled in the UK.

Yes there is an excess you will need to pay in respect of each illness or injury for which you wish to claim each year. These are as follows:

Veterinary Fees

For each illness or injury arising during each period of insurance your excess will be:

• For pets under eight years of age at time of treatment: The first £150.
• For pets older than eight years of age at time of treatment: The first £150 plus 20% of the remaining cost of treatment.

Holiday Cancellation - The first £75 of the claim

Accidental Damage to Third Party Property - The first £75 of the claim

Accidental Damage to Pet Accessories - The first £50 of the claim

Emergency Expenses - The first £50 of the claim

Third Party Liability - The first £250 of property damage claim

We need some details about you and the pet you wish to insure together with either bank account or debit/credit card details for payment of the premium.

We look at a number of factors including the age and breed of the pet, the risk of chronic or recurring conditions associated with certain breeds, the area the pet lives in and any claims history.

If you later find that your chosen cover no longer suits your needs, we cannot downgrade your policy to a different level during the policy term or at renewal. Cancelling your policy and starting a new one means your pet won't have continuous cover. Any past symptoms or conditions will be seen as pre-existing and won't be covered. Additionally, you can't claim for illnesses in the first 14 days of the new policy.

You can choose to pay in full by credit or debit card. Alternatively, you can take advantage of our interest free monthly payment option and simply spread the payments out, without any additional cost.

This is something we are able to do provided that your vet is happy with this arrangement.

As the insurance policy is a legal agreement between us and the policyholder, we can only set up a policy with the person who will be named as the policyholder.

Most airlines will allow you to take a cat or dog on the plane, either in the cabin or down below in cargo. Before booking your flight, check with the airline that they can in fact, fly your pet. You may have to book in advance, with some airlines charging additional fees for traveling pets.

Your pet will need pet travel documents before they can fly, as this will need to be presented to the airline when checking in your pet. Depending on where your pet is flying from and where they are flying to, they will need to have certain vaccinations and treatments for illnesses such as rabies or tapeworm. You will most likely need to proof of the vaccinations and treatment from your vet.

If you're traveling abroad, or simply going away for a few days in the UK, it’s still a good idea to prep your pet for the journey. Such preparation measures could help reduce the stress levels in your pet, help you understand how best your pet travels, and help make the journey that little bit easier for both you and your pet.

• Before taking your pet on any long car journey, take them on short drives close to home, while slowly increasing the amount of time spent in the car. This will not only help them get used to being confined in a car, but it could help them overcome travel sickness if they suffer from it.
• Avoid feeding your cat or dog right before traveling, as the motion of the car, train or plane could upset their stomach. Make sure they have plenty of water, so they are well hydrated.
• Before any long journey, consider the health of your pet. Are they fit and healthy enough to travel? Make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations and treatments and be sure to check if they need any additional ones, as this could be a requirement of certain countries or airlines.
• To help ensure your pet is comfortable while traveling, make sure they have plenty of water, (food but depending how well they travel on a full stomach), toys to keep them occupied, and a comfortable place to sleep and rest. Most importantly, they need to be secured while traveling, whether it be in a crate that is large enough for them to sit in, stand and move around in, or strapped in using a proper pet seat belt for the car.

If you don't want to take your cat or dog on holiday with you, then why not consider the following instead:

• Leave your pet with a friend or family member
• Have a qualified pet-sitter come around to your home, to feed, walk and check-up on your pet
• Take your pet to a reputable kennel or cattery