How to really find cat insurance for older cats - age 15

[2018name]

I keep looking but it is not until you go into the small print of policies that you see on most that although policies may cover older cats aged 15+, policies need to be started at an earlier age than that. Does anyone know where I can search for policies to commence to cover older cats or where at least this restriction is pretty clear at stage 1? Many thanks.

I always understood that you can't!

I liked to change ours recently as the cost had gone up to a stupid amount. I couldn't find anywhere that would insure my 15yo. I ended up cancelling our expensive policy and I'm just setting some money aside each month.

not sure this is right as my vet suggested I insure my cats for future conditions they may get but maybe she is confused.

I think it's very unlikely that you'll be able to find insurance for a cat that has already reached the average life span age. Possibly, if you call providers, you could get cover just for accidental injury. It's something I've never tried. If you could find a provider to give normal type cover then the premiums would be likely to be astronomical.

Try a company called Agria, some of our adopters have successfully got insurance with them for senior cats.

Thanks very much all - viccat I will try that - thank you.

We just lost our 15 year old cat. She had mouth cancer. She was insured, but because of her age we decided against all tests and biopsies, the vet was convinced it was mouth cancer from the start.

We just didn't want to put the poor old girl through it.

She lasted about 5 weeks after diagnosis, we had her put to sleep as soon as we thought it was affecting her.

My point I suppose is that if she/he was ill would you put her through expensive treatment anyway?

Just put £20 a month away Instead.

Partyfops so sorry to hear about your cat. It is very sad and must be upsetting. I do not even want to think about this scenario for my recently inherited cats as we also love them dearly as you must have loved your cat too. But I would like the option in the case it was not something awful but treatable although not sure what that might be.

Quite honestly if someone will cover them it will likely be extremely expensive for very limited cover and make better sense to just put x amount away every month .

Im with Argos, £15 a month for a 14 year old cat.

Presumably that's not new insurance & you've had it for a while?

Ok tried Agria - they were lovely but they only insure for age 9 and under unless it is October (or November) until December when they will consider all ages - how odd is that as a policy?

I looked at cover about four years ago (for my then 13 year olds) and what I found (sorry can't remember the company was extortionate). From my experience, not sure it's worth it.

My boy (at 17.5 years) had fast progressing CKD, my previous vet did one inhouse blood test to confirm it but were useless in offering options to keep him comfortable, so I transferred him to another vet six weeks later. He was booked in for various tests, but new vet could tell his was seriously ill so did their own in house blood test again for quick which showed he had days. First vet cost approx £80, second new vet only charged me £60 despite having him all day.

My girl is over 18.5 now. She's had hyperthyroidism for two years. Very easy to treat in first 18 months, probably cost me £60/65 pm. Then became uncontrolled and she started resisting tablets so Jan-Mar cost me approx £500 until we got her balanced. Many policies don't pay out for conditions after a year, so this largest bill would not have been covered.

She's now senile, can hardly hear and we believe totally blind, so I wouldn't put her through lots of treatment as I want her to enjoy her last bit of time. She was awful last week and cost me £130 for two vets visit, mini blood pressure check and ABs (I can't believe she's picked up by the way).

my oldie isn't insured (got him when he was 14yr, and already had h
thyroid issues...).... to be honest if something was really expensive to treat, it probably won't be in his interest to do it.....

i did manage to get out of a sales talk very quickly though ....

after renewing house insurance
--salesman: can we interest you in pet insurance ? ..very competitive...blah blah blah...
--me: do you insure 19yr old cats?
--salesman: er no...

never shut up a sales man so quickly

Forgot to say, if you really want to take out pet insurance, search on moneysupermarket.com and see if anything comes up for an oldie.

thanks - am still looking :)