There are four main types of kitten insurance, but do you know what each of them means? Here's a quick overview:

• Lifetime pet insurance: This is the most comprehensive insurance policy available and covers your pet up to a certain annual limit, which gets reinstated every year as long as you renew your policy.
• Maximum benefit kitten insurance: This type of policy protects your pet for each health issue it develops up to a maximum amount. Once the limit is reached, your cat is no longer covered.
• Time-limited pet insurance: Time-limited policies work similarly to maximum benefit but cover your kitten's health issues for a specific period rather than an amount.
• Accident-only pet insurance: This is the most basic pet policy available, only protecting your pet against accidental injury. If your kitten becomes ill, you'll need to pay the vet fees.

We believe all kittens deserve the best care, which is why we only offer lifetime policies at Purely Pets. Speak to our friendly team today to pick the level that suits you.

Every level of lifetime protection from us includes cover for:

• Death from illness*
• Accidental death
• Complementary treatment
• Advertising and reward for lost or stolen animals
• Overseas emergency care
• Cruciate injury treatment
• Dental issues *

As each cat is unique, and so are your circumstances, there's no one price fits all when it comes to your premiums. Factors that influence the price of your cover include:

• Breed
• Your location
• The type of cover and level of protection you require
• How much you paid for your pet

To get a quote based on your needs and budget, speak to our friendly team today.

Your kitten's tiny features make it one of the most adorable creatures on the planet, but their small frame is also what makes them more vulnerable to certain conditions.

Feline distemper

This condition is very rare but if a kitten catches it, it can prove fatal. The nasty virus attacks their developing immune system, totally destroying it and making treatment almost impossible.

Affected cats become severely ill, showing a lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea with white mucous.

Luckily, one of the essential vaccinations your kitten can get from a very young age is feline distemper, protecting them against the deadly condition.

Intestinal worms

The thought of worms in your kitten's tummy is unpleasant and they can make them very ill. These parasites, roundworm being the most common, burrow into the intestinal wall, causing:

• Diarrhoea
• Weight loss despite eating more
• Dull coat

Again, preventative measures are available by using worming products every 1 to 3 months. Speak to your veterinarian regarding which treatments are the most effective.

Upper respiratory infections

Feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus can be deadly in very young kittens. Cats pass on these respiratory infections from other animals carrying the bacteria.

In most cases, you'll notice sneezing and perhaps a runny nose or gloopy yellow discharge in the eyes. Your kitten's condition is more serious if they stop eating and are having trouble breathing. Whichever symptoms they show, an emergency visit to your vet is on the cards.

Fleas and ear mites

The sooner you spot fleas, the better chance you have of preventing them from spreading around your home and even onto you! The tiny pests cause excessive itching, which can lead to sores.

Prevent your kitten from becoming a host by staying up to date with flea treatments.

Ear mites transfer from one animal to another just like fleas, but they are even smaller and harder to see.

Watch for crumbly white flakes in your cat's ear, scratching around the area and head shaking. Treatment usually involves ear drops to get rid of the infestation.

Allergic reactions

It's not only us humans who can be allergic to food and other environmental factors. Your small kitten could develop an allergic reaction to:

• Food
• Insect bites
• Medication
• Pollen

Tell-tale signs include excessive scratching and sore spots where they've scratched too much. If food or medication is the cause, you might also notice vomiting and diarrhoea.

For most allergies, there isn't a specific veterinary treatment available, so you need to work on eliminating the cause from your kitten's environment.

You can learn more about other common cat health problems that can surface at any time in their life elsewhere on our site.

Bringing home your furry bundle of joy is exciting for everyone, but you need to make sure your family, home and kitten are fully prepared to give them the healthy and happy life they deserve. We've got you covered with these kitten care tips.

Environment

Set up your small cat's space with:

• A bed
• Food and water bowls
• Litter tray (away from food zone)
• Scratching post
• Selection of toys
• Places to hide

You'll also need to kitten-proof your home by keeping them out of cupboards and away from other household hazards like wires, toxic chemicals and small spaces they could get stuck in.

Nutrition

When you first bring your four-legged family member home, you should keep giving them the same food they had before (if you know what it was).

This familiarity will help them settle into their new home. If you wish to switch to a different kitten food, you'll need to do so gradually by introducing it into their normal food a little bit at a time.

Their small stomachs mean you need to feed them little and often – about four times a day is ideal. Once they reach 6 months old, twice a day is best.

Grooming

The key to successful grooming is starting young. Short-haired kittens only need a quick brush once a week, but long-haired breeds might need it daily.

Speak to your vet if you need help with other parts of grooming like nail clipping and tooth brushing.

Health care

Your most important job as a pet parent is keeping your kitten healthy. This means protecting them with cat insurance and staying on top of preventative health measures like vaccinations and flea treatment.

You'll also need to brush their teeth regularly to lower their risk of dental disease and get them microchipped in case they get lost. Don't forget to neuter your kitten to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Training

Many felines are already toilet trained when they get to their new home, but don't worry if yours isn't.

Make sure the litter tray has enough room inside to manoeuvre, that you scoop it twice a day and refresh it with a deep clean at least once a week. If your cat isn't going in the right place, direct them to the litter box. Never punish your kitty for toileting elsewhere as this often makes the situation worse.

If you're hoping to let your feline come and go as they please, you'll also need to train them to use the cat flap. Use positive reinforcement and treats to reward progress and repeat the process until your pet learns how to use it properly.

Absolutely! Here at Purely Pets, we insure cats from just 8 weeks old. We also offer cat insurance policies with no upper age limit, so your feline friend can stay protected through every stage of their life.

No, cat insurance usually increases with age, especially once your feline becomes a senior as it's more likely to develop serious health concerns.

Vaccinations are considered non-emergency veterinary care and a routine part of budgeting for your new feline friend. Remember, if your animal falls ill from something that a vaccine could have prevented, insurers won't cover it.

If your kitten has a pre-existing condition, it won't be covered by your policy. Protect your furry friend before it develops an illness, or you'll have to cover the cost of treatment yourself.

Yes. If you've adopted more than one kitten, you can take out a multi-pet policy with us.

If your cat disappears, we'll reimburse any advertising or reward up to the maximum sum mentioned on your policy.

Yes. If you've adopted more than one kitten, you can take out a multi-pet policy with us.

Yes, when an accidental oral injury occurs, we'll help with the cost of treatment. After 12 months, we'll also cover any new dental illness that develops in the 2nd year onwards. If you want to know more about the cover provided for dental care, get in touch with our helpful team.

Ideally, you'll give your beloved cat the most comprehensive protection possible, which could mean covering them with a lifetime pet policy. This way, your cat gets covered up to a certain amount every policy year for ongoing protection.

Some breeds cost more to protect than others because they are at a higher risk of predisposed conditions. In general, mixed breeds (moggies) are cheaper to cover than pedigree pets.

Some breeds cost more to protect than others because they are at a higher risk of predisposed conditions. In general, mixed breeds (moggies) are cheaper to cover than pedigree pets.

A cat that lives inside might not be at risk from traffic or fighting with other felines, but there are still indoor risks that they need to be protected from.

Your cat could get poisoned by a houseplant or cleaning chemicals. They could choke on leftovers from the kitchen. Or they could get injured in a fall. Any one of these incidents could see you turning to your indoor cat insurance for help.

Don't let pet insurance costs sway you from getting proper protection for your feisty feline. We've got a few ways you can reduce your premiums:

• Choose to pay a higher excess in the event of a claim.
• Insure more than one pet with us and enjoy a discount.

Want to know how much you could save? Call Purely Pets today to get a cat insurance quote.