. . . to not have pet insurance?

[RedPandaFluff]

We have two Maine Coons and they've been insured all their lives. They're now ten years old, which is getting on a bit for this particular breed, and the monthly insurance cost is going up from £60 to £85. Not only that, but even if we claim, there is a big excess (£150-£250) and we also pay 25% of the total vets bill, even if it's covered.

They're both in good health, no pre-existing conditions, neutered and indoor-cats only. Would I be mad to put the £85 in a savings account each month instead, and hope they don't get ill for at least a couple of years?

YABU - your cats will keel over the second they're not covered; get the insurance

YANBU - pet insurance is a racket and you should definitely risk it

@amiadoormat
Yes, they are oriental cats, but I used to have orientals alongside moggies and there was no difference in the premiums of same-age cats.

I am guessing there will be more restrictions/limits on The Animal Friends policy as a £12 premium is really low. With PetPlan it is cover for life with nothing excluded and they cover all dental work, which some other insurers don't.

I'd always have at least accident insurance, at any age. Someone I work with just had to spend £10k out of pocket to get his indoor cat's broken arm fixed because it jumped out of an open window. Even getting it amputated would have cost several grand. Would people really take the risk of putting a young otherwise healthy animal PTS in that scenario rather than just being insured?

My cat's premium went up by about £10 a month this year, I shopped around and managed to get it for half the price through another supplier. It's worth shopping around.

I don’t insure my dogs. It would be over £100 a month. I just put that away for vet bills if I ever need it.

Most vets do something like this. Personally i think it's a lot. I've just taken my dog for his annual booster and i think it was fifty quid.
I don't trim his nails. I walk him. I get flea and worm stuff either off amazon or the petshop. And it doesn't cost £130.

OP… definitely get it. I didn’t get it as it’d had just not got around to it and am now really regretting it 🙈

Our lovely 10 month old cat got into a fight with a a horrible un-neutered cat a few weeks ago and what started off as a relatively affordable trip to the vets escalated into him having to get surgery which has cost us in the region of £2k.

Our older cat who is now 18 has been insured his whole life and only ever has to visit the vet for check ups but you never know.

Both cats now have insurance. A very costly lesson learned.