Do you have a problem with curious cats? Those neighbourhood pussycats that think a catflap is a community portal, rather than exclusive access for your resident moggy? It’s a common problem in towns across the country, but thanks to some local innovation there is now a timely solution.

Failing to stop neighbourhood cats can have all kinds of ramifications for your home. Cats are territorial, and they’re always on the prowl for a new patch. Cats spread disease quite easily between themselves, and won’t hesitate in eating your moggy’s food.

Cats live in a world of powerful scents, and many believe it to be their most trusted sense. It’s believed a mature cat can sense catnip when diluted 1:1,000,000,000, and it’s this overriding sense of smell that leads them to follow their nose, and through your catflap.

Keep your cat safe

Like all animals, cats have no sense of human borders. Your catflap is just an access route to territory, much the same as a hole in a rock is, or a loose fence post. It’s not just the power to detect scents that make our cats such incredible explorers; it’s the power to leave their scented mark.

Cats have scent glands along the tail, on their temples, their lips, and chin and on the underside of their front paws. They brush these against features, and it’s their way of drawing a line in the sand. I live here now. Naturally, for domesticated cats we want to avoid this kind of bolshie attitude. We can’t eliminate it, it’s instinctual, but one inventor has come up with an ingenious idea.

Hightech Catflap

Dr Nick Hill has invented SureFlap, a device that uses radio frequency identification technology built around your catflap. We agree, it sounds a very futuristic solution to an age-old problem, but the device is proving to be a hit among cat owners across the globe.

The device works a lot like many electric garages. A microchip cat flap is programmed to recognise the ID chip already installed in your cat. When your cat approaches the SureFlap it automatically allows access, and the device is built to allow access for up to 32 different cats, while consistently locking out mischievous intruders.

We like SureFlap because it presents a simple solution, to a big problem. By allowing cats to roam freely between homes we discourage the sense of security our own cat feels at home. For more information, visit the SureFlap website or find them at the SureFlap Facebook page.

Do you have a problem with intruding cats? What’s your favoured solution? Do you think SureFlap fits your needs? What could they do to improve the system? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and fellow readers could really benefit from what you have to say, consider leaving a comment below.

As summer rolls across the country, cat owners are being warned to watch what their feline friends are nibbling on after a Teeside kitty almost succumbed to a deadly flower. Naysayers are often quick to compare cat insurance to a waste of money, but as Britain blooms, a story emerged about one cat that was more than relieved to be fully-covered by the family’s pet cat insurance policy.

A one-year-old Pixie Bob, affectionately known as Bear was rushed into the emergency room by the Reynolds family in Ingleby Barwick after the moggy stuffed his whiskers into a common lily, one of Britain’s most popular houseplants.

The family were alerted when son Oliver (10) saw the distinctive yellow pollen around Bear’s mouth and told his mother, Michelle: “Oliver said ‘why is Bear’s mouth yellow?’ and I realised it was the pollen. At first I didn’t think much of it, and went back to cooking tea, but something kept nagging away at me.

“I went to look on the internet and found that lilies are poisonous to cats, so got him straight to the vets,” said Michelle.

Bear was administered with vomit-inducing drugs by the Copeland veterinary surgery in Ingleby Barwick, and after a turbulent couple of days he recovered well. Now the Reynolds family are urging fellow cat owners to take caution: “We’re so glad he has got better,” said Michelle. “I just want people to know and be on their guard — we got Bear to the vet early and were lucky, but other cats might not be.”

The informative website, Moggies.co.uk has a full list of plants poisonous to cats. It includes other common plants including the beloved poppy, potato and buttercup varieties.

Derek Copeland has 22 years experience as a vet, and treated Bear. He explains what you should do if your cat is caught with his whiskers in the lilies.

He said: “Lilies are fatally poisonous to cats. Eating any part of the plant makes your pet very ill. It causes kidney failure. First your cat will salivate a lot, then wee a lot before the dehydration sets in. Then it is too late.

“If you think your cat has eaten lilies, get them to a vet as soon as possible, where we can give them a drug which causes them to vomit.

“If we get to them early, they can make a full recovery. After a few hours there can be problems, and after that then there is nothing we can do.

“And the best thing to do, if you own a cat, is not have any lilies in your home, and don’t buy them as gifts for people who have cats.”

We certainly learned something from this shocking experience. Did you know cats are allergic to so many common plant species? What flowers have you got in your home? Share your experience with fellow readers.

Dog insurance is one of the more sensitive subjects for dog-owners. “Who are you to tell me how much my dog is worth?” is the knee jerk reaction of many. It’s natural, and understandable for people to feel like that. It’s important that you do your homework, to ensure your next pet insurance policy provides value, and security for you and your dog.

Firstly, it’s not just about death.

The cost of owning a pet can be incredibly high, and — just like us homo sapiens — even when provided with the greatest love and attention, dogs do fall sick. The fact is, the cost of basic veterinary treatment in the UK is rising at above 10% per annum (Datamonitor 2006).

Secondly, it’s not just about your dog’s health.

Aside from worrying about your dog’s health, what if you were to become sick? Is there someone available to look after your dog as well as you do, if you’re in hospital? It’s worth checking your dog insurance policy to see if they cover the cost of kennel fees, should you suddenly find yourself out of action.

Thirdly, it’s not just about health, full stop.

Some policies cover the cost of advertising if your dog has been lost, which can give you peace-of-mind when looking for the best method to find them. Meanwhile, if your dog has turned a bit mischievous, certain policies will cover the cost of damage they cause to the public, property or a third party.

So you see, buying the right dog insurance policy can play a crucial part in the overall quality of life for your dog. Make sure you shop around, and find the most suitable policy — be prepared, as it may not necessarily be the cheapest dog insurance policy available.

There are typically two types of dog insurance:

• Life-long – which will pay out for specific conditions throughout the life of your pet; and
• Time-limited – which only pays out for a maximum of 12-months, per condition.

Both kinds are subject to an agreed maximum payout for vet’s bills and drugs, meanwhile neither type of pet insurance policy will typically cover annual vaccinations, boosters and nail clipping, or spaying and neutering so when budgeting for a pet, bear this in mind.

The cost to insure a dog is typically greater compared to cat insurance, but considerably less than equine horses.

Other factors that may affect the price of your dog insurance might be your location (which is relative to local vet rates), and naturally, the age of your dog.

If you’ve ever had a car insurance policy, then you will undoubtedly notice similarities. For instance, when buying dog insurance you’ll normally be offered a standard excess charge. This means you agree to pay the first part of any claim, it might be £50 or £100 depending on the policy.

Agreeing to a higher excess can often bring the upfront cost of a pet insurance policy down.

Dog insurance is not a cure-all. If your dog has a pre-existing medical condition then you should declare it. Failing to do so, will render your policy void.

This is also worth considering when changing your pet insurer. While your current dog insurance policy will cover emerging conditions, it makes it less easy to change to a new provider if the condition persists.

Conclusion

• Consider your own lifestyle when searching for the best policy for insuring your dog.
• Ask yourself: Are the costs of the excess vs. policy the right balance?
• Be honest about your dog’s health. Insurers are experts in their field, and can often help to work around.
• Shop around; try at least five — and be bold, ask for a discount. They can only say no.

We talk a lot here at Simply Pet Insurance about vet bill increases but it seems as if our warnings are being backed up by research from around the pet insurance world with yet another insurer suggesting that average bills are now reaching almost £600 a year!

Data from Saga Pet Insurance reveals that the average annual vet bill is now £598, double that of 2006 and increasing at twice the rate of inflation since 2008.

And even worse is the news that the prices can be even worth if you live in the North of the UK, with vet bills then reaching almost £650 a year on average.

The findings by Simply Pet partner Saga back up similar findings by Sainsbury Pet Insurance, who went on to say that some pet owners are being forced to put their beloved dogs and cats down because of a lack of money to pay for operations.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said: “As vet bills are vastly surpassing inflation, pet insurance is therefore a vital tool to help owners budget for unforeseen costs of care for their cat or dog that may arise in the future.

“Especially for those aged over 50, whose income is already being squeezed at both ends in the current climate.”

Vet fees were said to be rising by more than 12 per cent every year.

To compare cat insurance or compare dog insurance follow these links now.

Compulsory third party dog insurance looks like becoming a reality if plans unveiled by the UK government today get the nod Simply Pet Insurance can reveal.

Measures set out by Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, will make microchipping of dangerous dogs and third party dog insurance the law in a bid to protect us from the growing menace of so called ‘status dogs’.

According to official figures dog attacks have risen 12 fold in the past five years and the government is keen to stamp them out.

Speaking about the dog insurance plans he said: “Britain is a nation of animal lovers, but people have a fundamental right to feel safe on the streets and in their homes.’

“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the sole purpose of intimidating others.”

The package of measures will also include compulsory dog insurance for all to ensure that anyone attacked by a dog receives compensation.

Any owner not taking out such cover through a site like Simply Pet Insurance would receive a fine.

Much of the legal framework stems from the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which used to be held up as an example of the poor quality of legislation passed by MPs in haste but has actually proved a resilient and useful law over the past 19 years.

If you are a dog owner and have a view on the story then please leave your comment below this article, or to find the best third party dog insurance for your pet follow this link to our compare dog insurance tool.

It may seem like a very unlikely occurance but incredibly a poll of vets has revealed that 56% of them have had to put pets down because their owners could not afford the vets bills to save them, a new survery has found.

Furthermore, a staggering 88 per cent of vets claim that they have experienced situations where owners have rejected a recommended course of treatment or operation because they could not afford to pay for it.

Speaking about the findings, commissioned by Sainsbury pet Insurance their manager Joanne Mallon said: “It should be an essential item on a prospective owner’s list when weighing up whether to purchase an animal or not. Doing without insurance is simply false economy and worse still could result in some heart breaking family decisions being made later down the line.

“Advances in veterinary science mean that our pets can get the best treatment possible these days, but these improvements including everything from more sophisticated scans to cancer treatments come at higher costs and the financial burden is being felt by pet owners. Despite this, the vast majority of our pets are not insured so their owners have no protection against large veterinary bills.

“Vet fees are increasing by around 12% a year, and as a result of this we may see more animals needlessly being put down because their owners cannot afford it.”

The research from Sainsbury’s Finance revealed that 63 per cent of vets believe that the cost of treating a skin tumour on a cat or dog has increased over the past year alone.  Vets were found to report increases in the cost of treatment for a number of other conditions also. These include dental trauma, for which 53 per cent of vets report an increase in the cost of treatment, gastroenteritis (65%), lameness (61%) and diabetes (57%).

As well as taking out pet insurance to ensure there is help to pay for any surprise veterinary bills, the findings reveal that some owners could also be doing more to improve the overall health of their pets.  The vets surveyed said that nearly one in ten (9 per cent) of the cats they see are obese and an additional 29 per cent are slightly overweight.  The corresponding figures for dogs are 12 per cent and 33 per cent.

For many, it can be difficult to select and provide a gift that is needed and will be cherished for a long time. As the abundance of holiday giving is upon us, Simply Pet Insurance suggests providing the gift of good pet health. It could be the very best gift for a family member, your parents or your children with pets. Purchase a year of pet insurance coverage for those you love.

Today most pets are truly regarded as members of the American family. Over 60 percent of households have at least one dog, cat, bird, or other companion animal. Many have more than one. There are more than 75 million pet dogs in the U.S. and Canada and nearly 85 million pet cats.

According to a recent national survey by pet retailer PetSmart; of 1,000 dog and cat pet owners, 95 percent of pet owners say they’ll give their pet a gift or special treat this holiday season. Also, pet retailer PETCO, reports that for many pet owners, their animal companions are a big part of their holiday plan. Out of nearly 800 pet parents who responded to a 2008 survey, more than 90 percent said they include their pets in holiday celebrations; 67 percent said they would include their pet in a holiday photo session, 62 percent sign holiday cards on behalf of their pets; two-thirds said they will wrap gifts for pets; and more than a third said they will dress up their pet for the holidays – and plan to prepare a special holiday meal for their pet.

Pet health insurance provides a financial safety net for pet owners, and often gives them the ability to provide a higher level of care to their ill or injured pets. Every day, pet health insurance spares pet owners the excruciating decision to limit veterinary care for beloved pets, or even to euthanize them, due to economic limitations.

According to Simply Pet Insurance’s in house expert: “The current economy makes pet insurance critically important for pet health and the financial wellbeing of all pet owners. Many pet owners simply don’t have the disposable income to cover emergencies or even routine pet health care. As we choose special gifts for those we love, pet health insurance should be considered as a most special gift that can provide a critical need throughout the year.”

Simply Pet Insurance also reminds all pet owners to be mindful of the following cautions during this festive time of the year:

Do not provide any forms of chocolate.

Do not provide table scraps or foods not specifically prepared for our pets.

Secure or remove garbage and food scraps from the kitchen before sitting down to dine.

Adjust your pets’ feeding time to occur as you are serving dinner for special occasions and add a special pet treat as part of the pet meal.

Plan and provide short periods of special one-on-one time for walks and just providing focused attention during special occasions.

Our pets will adjust better to the additional activities taking place in the home, if a little bit of special attention is provided.

Other cautionary “tails” to share during holidays include avoiding poinsettias and tinsel, especially with cats in the house. Dogs can become ill after consuming Christmas tree standing water, though generally not life threatening. On the other hand, there are many positive examples of great things pet owners can do to correctly spoil their pets. Provide a special holiday trip to the groomer or provide a nice shampoo wash and dry at home. Hang a stocking with correct treats and toys. A new toy with a bit of cat nip is okay for our feline friends. Just remember, pets are aware it is a special time of the year and all of the festivities can cause our pets to get into mischief and potential painful trouble. Also check with your veterinarian for the preferred 24 hour emergency pet hospital in your area for care after hours and have the phone number with your other important emergency information.

To ensure you pet is covered during the Christmas break use our unique Compare Pet Insurance tool to select the very best and most cost effective pet insurance for you now.

Pet insurance policies are something we obviously talk a lot about here at Simply Pet Insurance and for good reason – they can save you an absolute fortune in vets bills IF YOU BUY THE RIGHT POLICY!

Our advice is all based around giving you the very latest information to help you become a smarter and more informed pet insurance consumer and in this latest article we take you through, in detail, how to choose pet insurance.

Insurance plans specialising in providing health care for animals began in the eighties and has grown ever since as vet bills increase, along with pet ailments and accident rates.

As insiders we know that pet insurance pays the provider of health care, in this case the veterinarian, according to a schedule established by the insurance company. From the point of view of the pet insurance company policies are great as they can make money from them, but with the cost of vet work now increasing their job is getting harder.

The most simplistic pet insurance plans ensure that treatment costs are covered up to a limit set annually for the duration that the animal requires treatment. Pay more though and you can get this extended or set as unlimited – and even get it to cover dental work and things like public liability.

One thing to consider when looking at the cost of insurance is your pet’s age, health and race because it is a complex area. As your pet ages, the probability of an increasing number of visits to your veterinarian is almost certain and therefore a policy will help you to avoid financial problems.

For the best deals on pet insurance visit our pet insurance comparison tool now, which features only the best value policies in the UK.

Just like almost all financial products today pet insurance policies can now be very quickly and easily compared  to help you make the best buying decision for your cat or dog and Simply Pet Insurance has developed a unique compare pet insurance tool to make it even easier than before.

With the cost of pet health care going through the roof due to a dramatic improvement in the standard of care in the industry more and more pet owners are looking to compare pet insurance in a bid to find the best cover at the best rates to avoid a shock vets bill.

By examining various insurance companies thoroughly you’ll see that they offer different prices, and accordingly different levels of cover. The last thing you need with a sick pet is to find out that the medical expenses aren’t quite covered.

There are pet insurance companies that offer massive amounts of cover, lifetime cover, overseas travel cover even, and the very best make it onto our compare pet insurance tool, which can be found by visiting either our compare cat insurance or compare dog insurance sections of this site.

And if you are looking for pet advice why not use our vast directory of pet insurance tips articles designed to help you buy smarter.

Pet insurance is being offered as a top  job perk to keep the very best employees from jumping ship according to research from the USA this week.

Hundreds of companies including Google and Blockbuster offer pet insurance as a supplementary benefit to attract and retain employees.

An “overwhelming wave” of interest has seen the size of the pet insurance industry more than double since 2002. More than 1 million pet owners across the USA are spending about £300 a year to insure their pets.

It’s a smart positioning strategy for companies that want to compete for top employees.

“Good companies listen to their people and adapt to them,” said Simply Pet Insurance’s in house indusrty expert.

Many companies are afraid their best employees will leave when the economy recovers, but offering competitive benefit packages is one way to retain them, he said.

To get pet insurance for your dog, cat or for equine insurance visit the relevant section on our website by following these links now.

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