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Why it’s important to insure your pet

Our pets are more than just animals. For most owners, they’re a much-loved member of the family. And pet insurance is an important way of looking out for them.

This guide looks at the incidents, conditions and scenarios pet insurance can help protect your cats, dogs and rabbits against, with insights and tips from a vet who’s treated hundreds of them.

A man cuddles his pet dog on a sofa

Peace of mind your pets are protected 

If you own a dog, cat or rabbit and want to make sure they enjoy a comfortable life, getting them covered with the right level of pet insurance is essential.

It can help cover potentially high veterinary costs if your pet is injured or falls ill. It can contribute towards finding them if they get lost or are stolen. It may also reimburse you for losses or expenses, such as having to cut short a holiday to be home for your pet.

Compared with the potential costs, pet insurance may be a small price to pay. It could mean you avoid financial difficulty or a potential heart-breaking decision if your animal needs life-saving treatment but you can’t pay the bill.

This article looks at the protection it offers, whether your home is a pooches’ palace, a cats’ castle, a rabbits’ realm, or you share it with a mixture of all three.

What does pet insurance cover? 

Pet insurance policies vary in the cover they provide. Typical features include:

Veterinary fees. We’ll cover how these can add up in the next section. Injury or damage caused by your dog to a third party (such as another dog or its owner).

  • The death of your pet due to an accident or illness
  • Help finding your pet if they go missing. If it’s a dog or cat, they must be microchipped
  • Compensation if they’re stolen or stray and aren’t found. Again, dogs and cats must be chipped)
  • Paying kennel or cattery fees for your pet if you or a family member is hospitalised
  • Having to cancel your holiday if your pet is injured, falls ill or dies
  • Taking your pet overseas in certain circumstances
  • Access to veterinary advice services

Compare pet insurance from several different providers, to make sure your pet – and you – will have the level of cover and reassurance that’s right.

Check the policy documents closely and carefully consider the level of protection you’d need in different scenarios. For instance, the amount of cover provided for veterinary expenses.

Understanding the costs of pet ownership  

The costs of owning a pet can add up over time. There’s more than just the purchase cost to consider. There’s also the monthly food bill, bedding or accommodation (such as an outdoor hutch for a rabbit), routine check-ups and vaccinations, and regular treatment to prevent them getting parasites like fleas or ticks.  

All that’s before unexpected vet bills due to accidents, injuries, illness or the onset of long-term health conditions. Vet fees can vary depending on where in the UK you live, the breed, age and size of your pet, the severity of any conditions it lives with, and other factors.  

If your pet is injured or falls ill, you’ll usually pay a consultation fee just for a vet to see them, unless the practice is run by a charity or other non-profit organisation. Any treatment, such as surgery or medication – will cost extra on top. 

Pet insurance claims often run into hundreds of pounds. And while not all claims are for vet bills, it's worth noting some treatments and surgeries can cost significantly higher. More on that later.

It’s important to think about whether you could afford to pay such costs if you didn’t have insurance in place and, if you couldn’t, what that might mean for your pet.  

Veterinary surgeon Anna Foreman with her ginger cat, Spud (Image: Anna Foreman)

Why choosing the right level of cover matters  

Anna Foreman (pictured) is a veterinary surgeon currently practicing in Cambridgeshire. She’s often faced with owners who have neither a pet insurance policy nor the money to pay for the treatment their animal really needs. It’s a situation that can lead to difficult decisions. 

“We always want to give animals the gold standard of care as it’s what’s best for the animal,” Anna explains. “For instance, if they have a fracture, the gold standard would be to fix it. If the owner can’t afford that, they might opt for amputation instead. It costs less and does improve on the animals’ current predicament, but it’s not the ideal outcome.” 

If an owner can’t afford to pay for treatment of any kind, an animal charity may step in to help fund it. But that’s not guaranteed, and owners can instead face the heart-wrenching situation of their pet animal being either rehomed, or even worse, humanely euthanised.   

“Faced with such costs and hard choices, many realise too late that having pet insurance could have avoided such difficulties. That’s why it’s so essential.”

How much cover is right for your pet? 

It’s easy to underestimate how much veterinary treatment can cost and therefore the level of pet insurance cover needed. Let’s look closer at some examples. 

“I meet people regularly who think £500 to £1000 pounds of cover will be enough,” says Anna. “The reality is that doesn’t cover much – perhaps a couple of consultations, taking a blood sample, and sending it off to a lab to be processed. 

“All of that must happen for us to diagnose and treat whatever condition we identify. It’s like doing the diagnostics on a car so that a mechanic can pinpoint the problem and perform the fix.” 

Once the diagnosis is in, the high cost of treating an issue or condition can shock owners. Here are a few examples.

  • Treating a cat with diabetes can cost around £1,000
  • Treating a dog with diabetes can cost over £2,000
  • A fractured femur in a pedigree cat cost over £8,000
  • Claims for spinal surgery often cost between £8,000 and £10,000

Source: Association of British Insurers (June 2023)

That’s why it’s vital to check what policies do and don’t cover, and the level of benefit they provide in each case. For instance, will they pay for diagnostic checks such as CT or MRI scans?

While policies that cost less may seem attractive or sufficient, they’re unlikely to provide as much protection, so choose carefully.

What to look for in a pet policy 

On the veterinary costs front, Anna recommends owners consider three key areas when choosing their pet insurance policy: 

“The first is big one-off bills, such as for a trauma or accident. Things like a dog or cat getting hit by a car or a rabbit picking up an injury, perhaps from fighting. The right insurance can help cover those costs. 

“The second is the cost of ongoing treatment for lifelong conditions such as skin allergies, arthritis and diabetes. They may not cost a lot each month, but they add up over the animal's whole life.  

“And the third area pet insurance can help with is the cost of conditions that may need treatment in future,” adds Anna. “For example, a young animal might have a heart murmur today that doesn’t need treatment, but later in life it may develop symptoms that need monitoring and treatment to reduce the risk of heart failure. Lifelong policies specifically may help with the costs of that.”

Common levels of cover 

Pet insurance policies from different providers vary. Here are some typical cover options.

  • Time limited cover: Covers each condition for a limited time or until the maximum payout is reached, whichever comes first
  • Maximum benefit cover: Provides a fixed amount per condition. Once this maximum is reached, further claims for that condition are excluded
  • Lifetime cover: The most comprehensive option. It resets the maximum cover amount each year. It covers chronic conditions for the pet's lifetime, as long as they started after the policy began

“I’d always go for lifelong cover,” explains Anna. “It provides the maximum cover and the most peace of mind in the event of the unexpected.”

Are there any exclusions, restrictions and other watchouts? 

Here are some other points to keep in mind when choosing a pet insurance policy.

Pre-existing medical conditions

  • Remember, if your pet has been diagnosed with any pre-existing conditions before you buy your policy, those conditions won’t be covered by most insurers
  • Past conditions may only be covered if the animal has been symptom and treatment free for a defined period. This is usually at least two years but varies by insurer

Gaps and limits in the cover provided

  • What insurers will pay out for and how much varies. Make sure you’re clear on any limits and exclusions up front
  • Check, for instance, how much of the costs of veterinary treatment will be covered by your policy. Will you be expected to pick up a percentage of the bill?

Check the policy excess

  • Whenever you make a claim, you’ll pay a certain amount of ‘excess.’ The insurer will pay out for the remainder of costs you’ve incurred or compensation you’re due
  • Usually, the higher the excess you choose the lower your monthly premiums will be for cover. Work out the balance of excess to premium cost that suits you

Annual price increases

  • If your pet insurance automatically renews each year, the cost of the cover it provides is likely to change. This is calculated based on the likelihood you’ll need to claim as your pet gets older. The chances of this tend to increase with age

Routine treatments

  • Most routine treatments are unlikely to be covered by your pet insurance. They’re all part of your regular animal upkeep
  • Policy exclusions usually include spaying and castration, flea and worming treatments. Vaccinations, dental check-ups and work, plus grooming, bathing and other cosmetic treatment also tend to excluded

Check the details and terms of any policy to make sure you’re happy with what’s covered and what isn’t before you buy.

Read our common questions for more on he benefits of pet insurance for dogs, cats and rabbits and the common conditions it can help safeguard against.

Put protection in place for your much-loved pets

Pet Insurance

Common questions

  • Getting dog insurance can help safeguard your dog’s health and wellbeing. Make sure you read up on the scenarios it protects against. Would you be able to afford the potential costs involved if you didn’t have cover in place?

    What and how much different providers cover varies. A typical policy will help pay for vet fees, death due to an accident or illness, and for advertising and a reward if your animal gets lost, stolen or strays.

    Policies often also cover for cancellation of your holiday if your dog is unwell. They may cover taking your pet overseas, or boarding fees if you need to stay in hospital. Some offer access to a veterinary helpline for advice and assistance.

    It’s important to compare different pet insurance policies from different providers carefully and make an informed choice. Cheap pet insurance might seem good value but may not be long term if it doesn’t cover a condition your dog’s faced with.

  • Vets’ costs be significant, often catching owners off guard. We asked vet Anna about common conditions in dogs that pet insurance can help cover.

    “At least once in their life, especially when they’re young,” she says, “dogs are likely to present with some sort of wound, fracture or trauma from one incident or another, perhaps when they’ve been out walking or playing.

    “Dogs will eat what they want to, given the opportunity. The consequences of that can include gastrointestinal disorders.

    “As their age increases so do the chances of conditions like arthritis developing. Skin allergies are another common condition, as well as the ear and anal sac disease they can lead to.

    “As they get older, we see more inflammatory and cancerous conditions, specifically affecting the gastrointestinal tract because it’s such a large organ. We also see urinary infections and disorders such as stones and other issues affecting the bladder and kidneys.

    “Dogs can also suffer from a lot of endocrine disorders that affect the organs. For instance, they can develop diabetes, hypothyroidism [low thyroid level] and Cushing's disease [high hormone level]."

    Pet insurance ensures your dog gets necessary treatment for accidents, injuries, and ongoing conditions. Compare policies carefully to find the best coverage for your pet.

  • Cats are the most independent and potentially furthest-roving of any pet animal. That can be both a blessing and a curse. Their ability to do their own thing can also mean they’re exposed to more risks. They’re also more difficult to train than dogs, which adds to their unpredictability.

    Even if your cat is staying indoors, it’s not impervious to illness, injury or developing a lifelong condition that needs ongoing treatment. Which means taking out pet insurance can offer much-needed protection and financial assistance.

    A typical cat insurance policy should cover:

    • The cost of vet bills
    • The death of a cat from an accident or illness
    • Advertising fees and a reward if it goes missing, strays or is stolen
    • Holiday cancellation if they’re unwell
    • Taking your cat overseas
    • Boarding fees if you stay in hospital
    • Access to a veterinary helpline

    Cat insurance UK providers vary, so compare their cover types and limits for different scenarios. Make sure you’re clear on the difference between time limited, maximum benefit and lifetime cover so you can get the protection your pet really needs.

  • “Arthritis is a quite common in cats,” explains vet Anna. “It often goes undiagnosed simply because people don't really exercise them in the way they do dogs. The signs can be subtle and trickier to pick up on.

    “Clues to look out for include them not jumping up onto surfaces as much as they used to or walking with a stilted gait. They may also overgroom their front end because they can’t easily stretch to groom their backs. Or their ears may become dirty because they can’t scratch them with their back legs.

    “Lots of cats, especially older cats, develop conditions such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism [an overactive thyroid]. They’re very common, lifelong, ongoing conditions that can benefit from monitoring and management but often go undiagnosed. Things to look out for include the cat losing weight or drinking more water than usual.

    Stress disorders are another common occurrence in cats, adds Anna. “These can lead to overgrooming and even urinary problems”.

    Of course, there’s always the risk of accidents with cats, such as being bitten by another cat when fighting or getting hit by a car.

    “Cats are pretty road wise overall, but as vets we see incidents ranging from a simple cut to massive trauma that requires life-saving treatment. It’s important to make sure you’re prepared for the costs at all ends of that scale.”

  • If you keep your cat indoors then it’s protected from some of the dangers its fellow felines may face in the outside world. Its risk of injury from fighting with other cats or being struck by a vehicle, or the chance of it straying and getting lost, are generally reduced. But there’s always the chance it could sneak out of a door or window left open by mistake.  

    What’s more, indoor and outdoor cats alike can potentially develop medical conditions that need veterinary attention and perhaps ongoing medication and treatment. If you were on holiday when they became ill, you may need to cut short your break to get back for them. Or, if you spent time in hospital, you may need a local cattery to accommodate them for a while. These are all scenarios that pet insurance can help you prepare for – and lessen their financial impact if they do come to pass. 

  • On average, pet rabbits live longer these days. So it’s important to protect them against the unexpected, from their first hops to their later years.

    "Rabbit insurance is a precaution in case something goes wrong. This might be an unexpected injury that needs immediate attention. Or it could be an illness or the onset of a condition that needs lifelong monitoring and treatment.

    The costs of veterinary treatment for rabbits can run into hundreds or even thousands if surgery or ongoing medication and management are needed. Pet insurance can help cover such expenses.

    An insurance policy for rabbits may also help you pay for boarding fees if you need to stay in hospital. It may also finance a reward and spreading the word if they get lost or stolen.

    Rabbit insurance policies vary and the cheapest cover may not always offer good value. Always check the policy documentation and terms closely.

    Make sure you’re selecting a level of cover that will offer the protection you need for your pet rabbit. And look out for any exclusions or limitations in the policy that may catch you out later.

  • We asked vet Anna about the conditions she sees most often in rabbits.

    “Arthritis is a regular one,” she says. “It reduces mobility, which can also lead to other issues, such as being unable to properly groom themselves and developing unpleasant conditions such as fly strike.”

    Anna says dental issues such as overgrowth due to poor diet are also common in rabbits. “This can lead to malocclusion, which is misalignment of the front and back teeth, which in turn can cause dental diseases. Rabbits are often seen dropping food from their mouths and losing weight as a consequence.

    “Rabbits can also suffer from bacterial respiratory diseases such as pasteurellosis, and urinary issues such as bladder stones.”

    Vaccinations are a vital way to help safeguard rabbits against conditions that might otherwise be fatal to them, such as myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease.

    “Some insurers cover these conditions, but that shouldn’t stop you getting your animal vaccinated against them,” Anna warns. “Rabbits hide illness very well, which make these conditions difficult to spot until it’s sometimes too late for us to do much about them. Making sure you take steps to prevent them is the best protection.”

  • The cost of pet insurance will depend on several factors: 

    • The type, age and breed of animal you need cover for 
    • The number of animals (multi-pet policies may be better value, but it’s not a given) 
    • The type and level of cover you need for different scenarios 
    • How much excess you’re prepared to pay yourself in the event of a claim (a higher excess can reduce the premiums you pay for cover) 

    Of course, another factor is the insurer you choose. Make sure you’re comparing cover and costs from several providers.  

  • Most insurers provide a discount if you insure multiple pets with them but it’s important to shop around. Check what it would cost to buy single-pet and multi-pet policies to cover your animals, from the same provider or a mixture. It’s always important to compare pet insurance to make sure you get the best value for the types and level of cover you need.  

  • The age limits for pet insurance policies tend to differ for dogs, cats and rabbits. They may also vary by provider too, so always check the policy wording carefully. 

    At Post Office, our dog insurance can start any time from when they’re 8 weeks old right up to their 5th or 8th birthday, depending on the breed.  

    We’ll provide insurance for cats from 8 weeks old up to their 10th birthday, and rabbit insurance from 8 weeks old up to the animal’s 5th birthday. 

How we help protect your pets

  • Dog insurance

    Protect your puppy or dog in case of unexpected vet bills, loss or theft, and conditions they develop in future with Post Office Dog Insurance.

  • Cat insurance

    Whether your stays indoors or goes out, our cover helps protect them against the unexpected, including unexpected vet bills, loss, theft and more.

  • Rabbit insurance

    Rabbits are much-loved members of the family too, and need protecting. Post Office Rabbit Insurance can help give the reassurance you need.