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Original poster

Help need to decide to stop pet insurance.

8 replies

Allofaflumble · 19/10/2015 10:49

Hi All

My poor old cat has CKD. He is around 16 years old, an estimate as we acquired him not knowing, and the initial vet aged him younger than our present vet.

I am currently paying nearly £45 pm pet insurance but his tablets are costing less than that and if the worst came to the worst I could ask for a prescription and get them for a lot less on internet. I do however pay willingly at present as my vet is an independent and I want to support him as much as possible.

We have more or less decided that when the time comes we will not put him through any stressful interventions etc. and the vet has said there is not much more treatment they can offer. I am taking him tonight for his yearly check up and will ask again if there are any other options.

The insurance is due for renewal and I know they will up it again by £3-5 pounds per month.

Has anyone else made this decision? I keep saying just one more year but I am wondering now if this is the time to stop it.

Also is it true that if the pet dies you still have to pay the premiums until the end of the year?

He is currently on Fortek tablets daily. He seems contented, sleeps (a lot!) but still goes out for a stroll around the garden and loves affection.

He is not losing weight and still has a huge appetite! Which is good, so I understand.

OP posts:
RainbowFlutterby · 19/10/2015 10:56

I've stopped RCat's insurance this year on the understanding that if something happens to him that can be fixed easily(ish) then we will find the money no matter what.

Part of my reasoning is that RCat has 2 long term conditions that are no longer supported by the insurance and he doesn't go out.

I have had 2 cats pass away and insurance has been stopped immediately, no problems.

Original poster
Allofaflumble · 19/10/2015 11:06

Thanks for that. I have another month or so to ponder on it. My cat never goes outside the garden either and he is only out for a few minutes.

OP posts:
RainbowFlutterby · 19/10/2015 11:13

Same as RCat. He'll sun himself on the patio for a bit or drink out of a puddle (why, WHY do 'they' go on about always providing fresh water when it would seem nothing but a puddle will do Grin), but no further than that.

It was a hard decision to make, I kept thinking "what if", but I put the money I was spending on the insurance aside each month to deal with the "what ifs".

Original poster
Allofaflumble · 19/10/2015 11:43

Yes its a shame we don't have a crystal ball. I would have a nice little cat nest egg if I had just put the money aside for his treatment. Bless him.

You just want to do the right thing and be a responsible owner though. :)

OP posts:
OlympicBonfire · 20/10/2015 08:31

I don't have insurance for either my horse or my dog. Horse is 21 and dog 11. I decided about 4 years ago when premiums rocketed but I do put money away each month which I am very strict with and its for emergencies only. So any standard vets visits (vaccinations, lameness investigations etc) I pay for from my income. I have just over £4000 saved but I know that one emergency operation would probably wipe that out - hence trying not to fritter it away on smaller things.

Good luck - it's difficult to know what to do for the best sometimes

minime8 · 20/10/2015 08:35

I stopped my dog's insurance when the premiums went up but they would no longer cover his long standing health issues. It's a tough call, but I knew at that time that I wouldn't put him through any major interventions as he had too many problems. Sad

SuburbanRhonda · 20/10/2015 19:41

I've just cancelled my cat's insurance under similar conditions.

She has CKD and hip dysplasia. Premiums are going up and up and I also have to pay the first £75 per year and 20% of every claim. She has fortekor, metacam and seraquin - all a fraction of the price online.

I don't feel bad because I have another cat who is still insured (she has hyperthyroidism) and they get my money for her drugs and blood tests.

I wouldn't ever feel obliged to financially support a vet, independent or not Hmm

BuggersMuddle · 20/10/2015 20:53

I have never had insurance for BuggersMoggy, but that's only because he was already quite old when we managed to get him 'officially' transferred to us, even though we'd had him for quite a while.

The reasoning was:

  • Premium for older cat who had never previously been insurance was £££ (lot more than £45)
  • We have a good income and savings, so vet costs not an issue.
  • Any really expensive treatment would likely be a big intervention and at that point we'd have to consider whether it was the right thing for that cat given his age, moreso than financial considerations

I think pet insurance in general is a really good idea and if I was taking in a young rescue, I'd certainly go down at route. For us with a 16 year old cat who is nonetheless in rude health, it didn't make sense. It may be the same for you.

I do realise the irony in my 2nd point about income as with the prices quoted for BuggersMoggy you would have had to have a fairly good income (or live quite cheaply) to afford the premiums Sad

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