Is there any point in buying insurance for an older cat? 

Mouthy Money Your Questions Answered panelist, Caroline Allen, answers a reader’s question on the pros and cons of pet insurance for an older cat. 

Q Is there any point in buying pet insurance for my eight-year old cat? 

A Cats can live for 20+ years so we would recommend buying pet insurance for your eight-year-old cat if you can.

In fact, regardless of their age, we would generally recommend owners buy pet insurance if possible as unexpected veterinary bills can be costly and understandably many owners would not be able to find several thousand pounds should their pet become seriously unwell or injured – which is the reality if you don’t have insurance.  

Pet insurance gives you peace of mind that you don’t need to compromise on vital vet treatment for your pet. 

As pet insurance prices increase with age the premium will be more expensive, this is because as your cat gets older the risk of them developing a health condition increases.  

You are also likely to have to pay a percentage of any claim as well as the excess when insuring an older pet. It is important to think if this is something you will be able to afford before you buy a policy. 

It is also important to do some research to find out what different providers cover as there are many different policies with different levels and lengths of cover. Some may have upper age limits on new policies too – for cats, this is generally from eight weeks of age up to their 10th birthday but each policy provider may differ.  

If your eight-year-old cat has a pre-existing condition, for example kidney disease, which can be common in older cats, then it is important to understand that most insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions so you will need to cover those costs yourself. This is why we recommend thinking carefully before changing a policy for an older pet with pre-existing health issues.  

Always be honest about your pet’s previous health issues and make sure you understand the exclusions on the policy before committing to anything.   

If you’re struggling to find a policy which will cover your old cat with any pre-existing conditions, it’s worth chatting to your vet as some practices will offer payment plans so that you can pay vet bills in instalments rather than one lump sum.   

Like all payment services this is subject to strict financial services, so not all practices will be able to offer this service and it will only be suitable in some situations. Some charities such as the PDSA and Blue Cross also offer financial assistance for veterinary care for those who are eligible.  

If your cat requires on-going medication and you’re struggling to pay the costs, vets can write a prescription to use online or take to a pharmacy where the price may be lower. Your vet will need to charge for writing the prescription, which goes to help the running cost of the clinic, but buying some medication this way can still reduce overall costs. 

Another option is to put some money into a separate savings account in case of unexpected health issues with your cat.  

Veterinary treatments have advanced so much in recent years, which mean that previously untreatable conditions are now more manageable. However, as there is no NHS for pets all these advances come with a cost.

Sometimes there are less costly options available, but these may not be as effective, for example. It is really important to be open with your vet about any cost limitations and accept that the treatment available may be more limited.

It is important not to feel guilty about this, but to focus on the best outcome for your cat’s wellbeing that is available within the funds you have.  

Caroline Allen is the Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA where she has worked for over eight years. Caroline spent nearly twenty years as a GP vet in London before she joined the RSPCA. She is a trustee of the BVA- Animal Welfare Foundation. She studied veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge and has a one year old rescue dog, a lurcher called Jess. 

Photo credits: Pexels