Will your contents cover protect against pet damage?

Crizzy

Crizzy

Crizzy

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Joined
31 May 2007
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2,473
Location
Bristol
Mine won't, which is understandable really. I mothballed my speakers when I agreed to get a kitten with the wife, the kitten is now a year old and seems to have gone through its crazy town phase. I was thinking about getting the speakers back out, however a quick call to my insurers reveals I've got no protection should the cat decide they'd make nice new scratching posts.

I would quite happy switch insurers for a company that would provide cover for peace of mind, but obviously I need to balance cover cost against the cost of the speakers. They are not very expensive speakers in the world of AV, they were £750 new about 6-7 years ago, but now I have a house and a child so throwing that sort of cash at some new speakers is not as easy to justify as it was the past! Plus I really love those speakers so it would be such a shame if they were scratched to pieces.

I thought of selling for some nice bookshelves, I'm still thinking this might still be the best option, however I don't imagine they would be very easy to shift! Or if anyone has any suggestions (bar maiming the cat of course) I am all ears?

Thanks all.
 
1 cat....try having 22 :)

Scent mark the speakers. When a cat scatches something it's generally doing it to mark territory (they have glands on their paws) not to sharpen claws as most of the world believes.
 
You have 22 cats?! Wow, must be a mad house with that lot?

Thanks for the suggestion, what does scent marking involve, does it work for you?
 
Yeah it can be! Some of them are satan reincarnate..

Does it work for me..no. Our cats are mostly strays we've taken in over the years, so any sort of training is pointless. Cats you've had since young can be trained. We just keep formal rooms closed off to cats. They generally mooch around outside until dec/jan anyway, then it gets intresting as the dominate cats start fighting for prime real estate in front of the log burners

to scent mark- take a freshly worn peice of clothing and rub that over the speaker.
 
shift them on gumtree or avforums.

buy bookshelfs off avforums.

wall mount the bookshelfs up high (standing human head height or higher). brackets costs £27 a pair off amazon.
 
I have an axa policy that covers accidental damage. No idea if that's extended to pet damage but worth having a look.
 
Just an update - I brought my speakers out of their temporary retirement about 4 weeks ago and to my surprise and delight the cat has no interest in them at all.

I guess it was worth keeping them out the way while he was a kitten and now that he is a bit older he's much more calm and already has his favourite scratching spots, but even those he rarely uses now.

If he does go to crazy town on them I'll have an excuse to go and buy some nice new bookshelves anyway! But I'm fairly confident they'll be ok now.
 
Actually - will most likely find that A/D doesnt cover domestic pet damage. In fact you will find most household insurance policies specifically exclude such damage.

You will find a general policy exclusion in your policy booklet excluding damage caused by chewing, tearing, scratching or fouling etc by domestic pets. Alternatively it will be excluded under the AD cover itself. If not you have found an unusual policy!

Chewing by vermin etc is often also not covered and excluded in a general policy exclusion.

If you are in doubt from reading a specimen policy booklet, speak to the insurer and ask the question specifically.
 
Crizzy said:
That's what I thought but you'll need to check - mine definitely doesn't.
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I'm sure lots of people slip and drop their stuff down stairs after they sustain damage that insurance wont cover.

Not surprised the cat's weren't interested, they like a solid surface but not hard, things like sofas, divan beds etc are much easier targets as its firm but they can get their claws in.
 
Wait till your cat right in front of one the speakers and then quickly switch it on at full volume.... :D

Do that a few times and am sure your cat will keep a good distance from them...
 
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