Texas (TX) Cat Insurance FAQs

What is cat insurance and why is it useful in Texas?

Cat insurance is the best way to save money when visiting the vet for medical reasons. Insurance offers reimbursements and coverage for regular veterinary visits and medical emergencies. To keep insurance active, you will be required to pay a monthly fee. Some insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions. It is highly recommended you get insurance as soon as your kitten is old enough. Most companies want your feline to be eight weeks old at least. in the case of an adult cat, check with your desired insurance company beforehand to see if they will cover your cat’s condition.

Cat insurance is useful because Texas can get very high pet emergency room bills. These can total over $10,000 for chronic illnesses and serious diseases. This forces uninsured pet owners to make difficult decisions like the devastating choice of euthanization. Insurance presents an option.

How old does my kitten need to be to get insured?

The minimum age a kitten must be before many insurance companies will insure it is 8-weeks-old. There is typically no age limit to applying for cat insurance but it is highly recommended that you apply for insurance as early as possible. Investing in cat insurance early on will help during critical illness detection. Therefore, when you encounter any conditions, even the smallest ones, your insurance company covers them.

Medical conditions are critical since most insurance companies will not cover pre-existing conditions. Catching these conditions early is critical and will end up saving you significant amounts of money, especially if you have a purebred cat. Purebreds often have more medical and health issues than mixed-breeds. Invest in pet insurance as soon as possible and keep in mind, that younger animals are typically much cheaper to insure. So, at the age of 8-weeks-old, your cat is going to be much cheaper to insure than later on. In the long run, you are saving more by insuring your cat.

How worth it is to get cat insurance in TX?

Vet bills can become expensive quickly and accidents are inevitable. Always be prepared so that your veterinarian bills do not skyrocket when accidents do happen. One day you leave your new pair of sneakers lying around and the next minute you are in the hospital because your cat swallowed the extra pair of laces. Emergency surgery to remove that string could cost thousands of dollars. With your insurance company, prices are cut into pieces so you never have to make difficult decisions or ask yourself, “what if” later on. With your monthly premium payment, insurance companies help minimize the amount you pay out-of-pocket. Unfortunately, Texas is quite expensive compared to other states, which is just another reason to invest in cat insurance.

What is covered and what’s excluded with cat insurance?

Every insurance has its own coverage. In most cases, accidents and illnesses are covered unless explicitly included. Most insurance providers typically cover anything “sudden and catastrophic” like broken bones, infections, and swallowing foreign objects. Sudden events are beyond you and your dog’s control. On the other hand, insurance companies may exclude pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions include cancers, ailments, and illnesses present before the time of application. A pre-existing condition is not eligible for claims, but you may speak to your desired insurance provider about potential options include “wellness packages” which allow for routine packages, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, etc. Wellness packages can cost additional each month but they save you a lot of money each year. Many providers now offer “wellness” packages that usually cover things like vaccinations, routine check-ups, heartworm prevention, etc.

How does reimbursement work?

Insurance companies provide reimbursement as a way to give back on the money you spend at the veterinarian. Think of reimbursements like a refund or complimentary contribution toward your veterinarian bill. Reimbursements work alongside your deductible to save you the most money out of pocket possible through your maximum annual benefit. Let us imagine considering going to the hospital and receiving a $10,000 veterinary bill. Ouch. Not so much when you have a $500 deductible with a 90% reimbursement. Pretend that you have already met $300 of your deductible. If you receive a 90% reimbursement, you will receive $9,800 after meeting your deductible. Deductibles and payments can work in one of two ways. You either have to spend the money out-of-pocket first and then submit a claim or work with a company like Trupanion which pays directly to their in-network vet.

Is it better to have a lower deductible – what’s the sweet spot?

Lower deductibles typically mean higher monthly payments. Higher monthly payments mean you pay less out of pocket when there is a medical emergency. Assess your financial situation before investing in an insurance policy that you cannot afford. Insurance agents and online, user-friendly calculators make getting quote easier than ever before. Many people choose between a $250 and $500 deductible. This seems to offer a broad range of comfortable coverage and additional benefits, too. Anything less than $250 might be bear bone and not be worth investing in.

Are there any restricted cat breeds for homeowners insurance in Texas?

Unless it is stated otherwise, there are no breed restrictions for any cat breeds for homeowners in Texas.

5 Useful Strategies for Keeping Your Cat Safe & Healthy in Texas

1. Give Your Cat Plenty of Water

Texas heat can get brutal which is why you must make sure your cat is staying hydrated. Provide them with plenty of fresh water that is kept far away from their food source and changed at least once per day. If possible, you should give them water from a running water source like a cat water fountain. Cat fountains filter out debris from the water and also satisfied your love for natural, running water.

2. Keep Your Cat Indoors

Despite their innate desire to explore the outdoors, cats can get into trouble if they go too far. Coyotes and other large predators are dangerous to your cat. Many people declaw their cats which makes combatting predators even more of a challenge. Small critters can be dangerous too since they carry rabies and zoonotic diseases. The potential conditions that squirrels and other small animals can carry make these small critters hazardous to you and your cat.

3. Make a Home for Feral Cats

A feral cat does not have to be mean and aggressive toward humans. The outdoor cat you feed is still considered feral since it does not live inside. Just because a cat lives outside does not mean it should be treated poorly. Supply your outdoor feral cat with water, a sufficient home for the bitter Texas winter, and enough food throughout the day.

4. Put Ice in the Water Bowl

It is scorching hot in Texas. Put some ice in your cat’s outside water bowl to accommodate for the hot weather. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, you would be surprised with how much they drink every day. It is always better to have too much water than not enough.

5. Leave on Your Cat’s Claws

Declawing your cat is inhumane and painful for the cat. Without claws, your cat is unable to defend itself. Even indoor cats need claws if they accidentally escape. Furthermore, declawing a cat means when they come face-to-face with large predators, they have no way to fight.

Conclusion

Cat insurance in Texas is a must. It keeps your cat safe and healthy as they grow up and learn to navigate their way through the world. We highly recommend investing in cat insurance as soon as your kitten is old enough to apply (8 weeks old). The sooner you get your cat covered, the better. Getting cat insurance as a kitten prevents restrictions like pre-existing conditions. To save yourself from catastrophic problems and difficult decisions, insure your cat. Cat insurance can save your kitty companion’s life.

Ready to get started? After countless hours of research, we’ve found that Lemonade pet insurance consistently performs the best with the lowest monthly premiums.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology for Texas (TX) Cats

We ranked the best pet insurance policies for Texas (TX) Cats based on a variety of important factors including the following:

• Average monthly price for a 2-year-old Texas (TX) Cat with a $500 deductible located in the 77054 zip code (Please note: prices will vary greatly based on your location)
• Coverage and benefits
• Key policy details including accidents and illnesses, surgeries, annual check-ups, cancer treatment, lab tests, and more
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Reimbursement percentage
• Annual benefit amount
• Technology and user experience
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews

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