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The Best Pet Insurance for European Shorthair Cats

As pet parents, we always want the best for our fur-babies. We strive to provide them with a happy and healthy life, and that includes giving them proper medical care when they need it. Since unexpected vet bills are a major financial burden, pet insurance has become a must-have for emergencies. How do you know what is the best pet insurance for your European Shorthair? In this blog, we'll explore the options and compare the benefits to help you make an informed decision.

The first (and most important) step is to know exactly what kind of benefits your European Shorthair needs.

European Shorthair Health Risk Profile

With unexpected vet bills ranging from $1,000 for a minor incident to $50,000 or more for a major emergency, choosing between our savings and our fur-baby can become a reality for many. Here’s an idea of how likely European Shorthairs are to rack up big vet bills.

For European Shorthairs, your best bet is to make sure there are no reimbursement limits on your pet insurance.

10 Inherited Health Problems in European Shorthairs

Here’s a quick peek at 10 inherited health problems in European Shorthairs. Be sure these conditions are not excluded from your benefits:

1

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

This is a common heart condition in cats where the heart muscle thickens and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. This can lead to heart failure and other serious health issues.

2

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

This is a genetic disorder where cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and become less efficient at filtering waste from the body. This can eventually lead to kidney failure.

3

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

This is a group of eye conditions that cause the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) to degenerate over time, leading to vision loss and eventual blindness.

4

Hip dysplasia

This is a genetic joint condition where the hip joint doesn't develop properly, causing arthritis and pain.

5

Distal neuropathy

This is a nerve disorder that affects the limbs, causing weakness, difficulty walking, and loss of sensation.

6

Osteochondrodysplasia

This is a genetic disorder that affects the growth and development of bones and cartilage, causing short, stubby legs and other skeletal abnormalities.

7

Sphincter dysfunction

This refers to problems with the muscles that control the opening and closing of the bladder and/or anus, leading to incontinence and other urinary and digestive issues.

8

Cystinuria

This is a genetic condition where an amino acid called cystine accumulates in the urine, leading to the formation of bladder stones.

9

Familial renal cysts

This is a genetic condition where fluid-filled cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and leading to kidney failure.

10

Glycogen storage disease type IV

This is a rare genetic disorder where the body can't break down a type of sugar called glycogen, leading to a buildup of glucose in the liver and other organs, and causing a variety of health problems.

This is where pet insurance comes in. …Or, does it?

Depends on what do you mean by “best” pet insurance.

As you know, pet insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers veterinary medical expenses when your European Shorthair becomes sick or injured. Depending on the policy you choose, pet insurance can cover a wide range of medical expenses, including surgery, medication, and hospitalization.

However, it’s important to understand that coverage exclusions exist in all pet insurance companies, which limit the effectiveness of even the best pet insurance. More importantly: because pet insurance is a type of property insurance, it does not provide the same level of benefits we expect in our human health insurance.

Many pet parents find out too late that all pet insurance excludes pre-existing conditions, and this can be a major deal-breaker. Plus, without pre-existing condition coverage, you can't switch pet insurance companies without losing coverage on all previous health problems after your European Shorthair is sick or injured. Better hope you choose wisely the first time, because there are no do-overs with pet insurance.

As you can see, pet insurance is an option to cover (some) big vet bills, but it’s far from perfect.

What’s the best pet insurance for European Shorthairs?

Luckily there are pet insurance alternatives for European Shorthairs, such as pet medical cost shares. Pet medical cost sharing allows pet parents to pool financial resources to cover eligible pet medical expenses.

"Unexpected pet medical expenses can happen at any time."

Of the available options, Pawamedics pet medical cost share is the best pet insurance alternative for European Shorthairs. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Pawamedics' focus is on providing better benefits and value than any pet insurance offers.

Unlike pet insurance, Pawamedics includes pre-existing conditions on a phased-in basis, and offers unlimited reimbursements for pet medical expenses. All your European Shorthair’s conditions are included in benefits, whether they are the inherited conditions above or something else entirely. Plus, medications are always included with Pawamedics, making it a simple and straightforward way to cover your European Shorthair's medical expenses.

Pawamedics pet medical cost share Membership benefits include illness, injuries, and wellness care for European Shorthairs.

Unexpected pet medical expenses can happen at any time. Waiting until you already have big pet medical costs to sign up is always too late to get help with current expenses. But even if your pet already has big vet bills, getting pet insurance, joining a pet medical cost share, or finding another pet insurance alternative now will avoid big pet medical costs in the future. As pet parents, it's up to us to make sure we provide the best care possible for our beloved pets, and Pawamedics can help us achieve that goal.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we do not accept compensation for our blog posts, nor for reviewing, recommending, or linking to others.

Disclaimer

This website is not a substitute for medical/veterinary counsel, financial counsel, or legal counsel. Please always consult an appropriate qualified professional for advice on your specific situation. Information provided by this website may not be accurate or complete at any given time. Pawamedics disclaims all liability regarding any actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this website.

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