If your pet hates are vets' bills, take cover

There are now few things doctors can do for human beings that vets cannot do for animals. Cats and dogs can receive hip replacements, pace-makers and sophisticated cancer treatments. All very well, until the bill arrives.

The cost of even the most mundane of treatments should not be underestimated. A cat's broken leg has been known to cost more than pounds 1,000. The case for suitable pet insurance would seem obvious enough.

Policies cover illness or accident up to a stated limit - normally at least pounds 1,000. Illnesses diagnosed before a policy is taken out are normally excluded. So are vaccinations, preventative treatment, spaying or castration (unless for medical reasons).

Standard cover also tends to include third-party liability (compensation if your dog bites someone, for example), payment of a lump sum on the death or loss of a pet, kennel fees if an owner needs to go into hospital and holiday cancellation when pets need emergency surgery.

Third-party liability, sometimes available under an existing household contents policy, is particularly important for dogs, as any injury or damage to property they cause may become their owner's legal liability. Cats do not need liability cover because they are officially viewed as semi-wild and beyond an owner's control.

Cost, as ever, is the issue. The prices of market leader Petplan are among the most expensive. Its standard dog policy costs pounds 154.55 a year for London, pounds 132.35 for the Home Counties and pounds 115.55 for elsewhere in the UK. Its standard cat plan costs pounds 67.16, pounds 59.36 and pounds 53.36 respectively. Some large breeds of dog attract a pounds 9 a year surcharge.

Most of the other big insurers do not distinguish between geographical region or particular breed of dog. Dog Breeders Insurance, which is among the most competitive of these, offers standard dog cover for pounds 81 a year and cat cover for pounds 39.

Most policies that cost less cut back on the scope of their cover. However, there are some particularly attractive deals where worthwhile cover is provided. Jardine Pet Insurance Services' Moggies & Mongrels policy, which is purely for cross-breeds, costs pounds 51.10 for a dog and pounds 38.33 a year for a cat. Age Concern Insurance Services (Acis), which caters for owners aged over 55, charges pounds 57 a year for dogs and pounds 44 for cats.

Aims' Waggy Tails policy is especially competitive for dogs. For those costing up to pounds 250 it charges pounds 56 a year (an extra pounds 3 a year is then charged per additional pounds 50 of dog value). A relatively low vet fees limit of pounds 700 per claim is the most significant casualty of this no-frills approach.

CGA Direct's pet insurance costs pounds 53 a year for a dog and pounds 39 for a cat. It does not offer third-party liability cover but is worthy of consideration by dog owners who are covered under their household policy.

Most of the main pet insurers cover only cats and dogs. A number of specialist companies, however, do insure unusual pets, albeit at a price. Exotic Direct is the only insurer to cater for all exotic and unusual types of pet.

Theft can be an important aspect of such cover - there have been reports that burglars are increasingly taking parrots along with the video, for example. Golden Valley Insurance is the most established insurer of birds.

In some cases, insurance of unusual pets is essential. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 makes it compulsory for owners to provide suitable third-party liability cover for certain types of animal such as alligators, venomous snakes, some kinds of monkey and even ostriches.

There are also a number of firms specialising in horse insurance. A standard horse insurance policy is likely to provide cover for vets' fees, death, third-party liability, saddlery, reins and the like, and personal accident for the rider.

A competitive quote for a pounds 1,000 horse is likely to be around pounds 110 to pounds 120 a year. Loss of use (from the horse's incapacity) cover is normally available as an add-on. Specialist policies are available - for example for horses aged over 15, low-value horses, horse boxes, equestrian premises and women riders.

South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) offers eight different horse insurance plans. Inquirers are offered a free fact-find and then recommended the most suitable policy. SEIB's policies are notable for the breadth of cover they offer. Even its economy plan, for example, includes loss- of-use cover. Furthermore, its definition of loss of use is less restrictive than that of some other companies.

Policy wording must always be studied carefully because terms and conditions can vary markedly. Some upper limits for vets' fees, for example, are expressed on a per claim basis and others on a per year basis.

Particular attention should be paid to the policy excess (the amount of a claim the policyholder is required to pay himself). In some cases these are a fixed amount but in others they are a percentage of the amount claimed.

The Cats Protection League has just published a leaflet, Where There's a Will There's A Way To Help Cats, explaining how cat lovers can provide for their pet if it outlives the owner - you cannot leave money directly to your pet in your will - as well as how to support the league's work. Send an A5 SAE to The Cats Protection League, 17 Kings Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5PN.

Pet policies

Petplan 0800 282 009 Cats,dogs,horses

Jardines 0121 626 7891 Cats,dogs

Pet Protect 01372 739490 Cats,dogs

Dog Breeders Ins 01202 295771 Cats,dogs,horses

E&L 0800 590561 Cats,dogs, horses

SEIB 01708 850000 Horses

Bankers Equine Direct 01494 603603 Horses

Pet Direct 0345 413131 Cats, dogs

Age Concern 0800 373218 Cats, dogs

AIMS 0800 834866 Cats, dogs,horses

CGA Direct 0800 525200 Cats, dogs

Exotic Direct 01444 482946 All unusual pets

Golden Valley Ins 01981 240536 Birds