Pet Insurance for older cats

Like humans, cats can slow down as they approach their senior years. You may start to see changes to their dental health, vision and hearing, while joint conditions like arthritis could affect their movement. 

Older cats can also suffer from illnesses such as dementia, diabetes, cancer, kidney and liver disease and thyroid problems.

The vet bills for these conditions can be very expensive. According to the Association of British Insurers, treatment for a cat suffering from soft tissue sarcoma (a malignant tumour) can cost more than £12,200.

Meanwhile, if your cat had an accident and broke their leg, the surgery could have a price tag of nearly £2,000.

Unfortunately, the extra medical care needed for most older cats can mean higher premiums for pet owners.

If your cat has a pre-existing health condition, we’re afraid this is unlikely to be covered by a new policy. Note that when we say “pre-existing health condition”, we mean signs or symptoms of undiagnosed injuries or illnesses, as well as diagnosed issues and any physical abnormalities.

That’s why it’s so important that if you take out lifetime insurance, you renew it each year and avoid letting it lapse. That way you’ll know your cat will continue to be covered for any health conditions they may develop.

If your cat has a pre-existing condition and you’re struggling to get them insured, you may be able to find a specialist insurer that will provide cover, but be warned that it could be expensive.

Pet insurance premiums are determined by a range of factors, such as the age of the animal, the breed, their health and where you live. For example, if you have a pedigree cat such as a Siamese, they can be more expensive to insure because they tend to suffer from inherited diseases. If you have a moggy, they are usually cheaper.

Taking out a new policy for a senior cat is likely to be pricier than insuring a kitten, due to the extra health issues they often have.

With John Lewis Pet Insurance, owners of pets aged 9 years or over make a co-payment of 20% on the rest of the vet’s treatment costs, in addition to your chosen standard excess.

You can select an excess of £60, £80, £100, £140 or £250 (or £500 for vet fee levels of £5,000 and above) for the treatment of an accident or illness. By choosing to pay more when you claim, we can bring your premium down. However, be aware this will increase the amount you pay when you need to make a claim.